With former US President Donald Trump likely to win the Republican presidential nomination, there are concerns that Washington’s policy towards Kyiv will change if he wins. In addition, with the US Congress divided over providing more weapons to Ukraine, some fear that Trump will be less inclined to support Kyiv.
However, Mr. Kuleba on January 18 expressed optimism about a potential victory for Mr. Trump. He said: "I will accept the opinion of the American people and we will work with whatever reality comes after the election."
Russian Foreign Minister points out "differences" between President Putin and the West
Speaking at an annual meeting to review Russia's foreign policy activities over the past year, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov pointed out what he said were differences between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Western leaders.
Accordingly, Mr. Lavrov said that Mr. Putin "never threatened to use nuclear bombs," Russian news agency TASS reported.
Asked whether the world situation was evolving like the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, Lavrov replied that the topic had recently appeared "on many political talk shows and roundtables."
“All they (the West) say is that Putin is threatening to use nuclear bombs, although that has never been said, unlike the Europeans or the Americans,” he said.
Western countries have not commented on this statement by the Russian Foreign Minister.
Ukraine attacks oil depot in northern Russia
A security source in Kyiv told AFP on January 18 that Ukrainian forces were behind the attack on an oil depot in the northern Russian city of Saint Petersburg.
Ukrainian rescuers dismantle a residential building destroyed in a missile attack in Kharkiv province on January 17.
The source confirmed that a drone attack planned and carried out by Kyiv targeted an oil depot in the northern region as part of a special operation.
Russia often blames Ukraine for air strikes on areas near the two countries' border. However, attacks in northern regions such as St Petersburg, which borders Finland, are rare.
There was no immediate response to the claim in Moscow, but the Russian Defense Ministry earlier said it had intercepted a Ukrainian drone over Saint Petersburg. Such attacks have been rare in the region.
Meanwhile, Russia accused Ukrainian armed forces of firing more than 30 shells into Belgorod province, which borders the two countries, in the past 24 hours. Moscow also accused Kyiv of sending 14 drones to participate in the attack.
According to Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, Ukraine damaged two industrial enterprises and power lines. A Kamaz truck also caught fire.
Kyiv has not commented on this information.
Ukraine says it clashed with Russia 78 times in one day
According to statistics from the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, on January 18, the Ukrainian and Russian armies had 78 clashes on the front line.
“Over the past day, 78 clashes have taken place. In total, the enemy has carried out 9 missile strikes and 128 air strikes, as well as 77 attacks with multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) on Ukrainian military positions and populated areas,” the report said.
Ukrainian soldiers take part in military exercises on the border with Belarus on January 17.
Kyiv said the strikes from Moscow had killed and wounded many civilians, but did not provide details. Many residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure were also severely damaged.
Russia has not commented on the report from Ukraine.
NATO announces 90,000-troop exercise
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) announced on January 18 that the bloc will begin its largest military exercise in decades, Steadfast Defender. Gathering about 90,000 soldiers and lasting for several months, this exercise is aimed at testing the allies' capabilities in the event of a conflict with a capable opponent like Russia, AFP reported.
US General Christopher Cavoli, supreme allied commander of NATO (SACEUR), revealed that Steadfast Defender will last until the end of May, and involve units from all 31 NATO member states along with Sweden, a country that is applying to join the bloc.
Russia pulls out of fishing deal with UK
The Russian government said on January 18 that it had approved plans to scrap a Soviet-era fishing agreement with Britain that allows British fishing vessels to operate in and around the Barents Sea.
The Izvestiya daily reported earlier in the day that the Russian agriculture ministry had submitted a draft law that would allow Moscow to withdraw from a 1956 agreement that bans London from fishing in waters rich in cod and haddock.
According to Izvestiya, the move is in response to Britain tightening economic sanctions against Russia in response to the conflict in Ukraine. The Russian cabinet's approval of the plan was also confirmed by a government spokesman.
The bill still needs to be approved by the Russian parliament and President Vladimir Putin before becoming law.
He has not commented on this information.
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