27 May 2024

Western officials continue to publicly debate Ukraine's right to use Western-provided weapons to strike military targets in Russia

Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the appearance of foreign military contingents in Ukraine would be fraught with extremely negative consequences, including irreparable ones.

NATO chief calls for the use of allied weapons against Russia  
FRANCE 24 English



MILITARY OPERATION IN UKRAINE
1 HOUR AGO

Scenario with NATO troops in Ukraine cannot be ruled out, says Russian diplomat

According to Konstantin Gavrilov, against the backdrop of Kiev's military failures and the advance of the Russian Armed Forces, NATO states are increasingly realizing the impossibility of inflicting a ‘strategic defeat’ on Russia
27 MAY, 07:27

NATO raises degree of escalation, goes too far in military rhetoric — Kremlin
"This is the reality that we will have to confront further on," Dmitry Peskov underlined
NATO raises degree of escalation, goes too far in military rhetoric —  Kremlin - Russian Politics & Diplomacy - TASS
TASHKENT, May 27. /TASS/. NATO is raising the degree of escalation and going too far in military rhetoric, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said in an interview with REN-TV broadcaster.
The Kremlin spokesman commented on NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg’s proposal for considering the issue again whether Ukraine should be able to carry out strikes with Western weapons against military facilities located on internationally recognized Russian territory.
"NATO is raising the degree of escalation. 
NATO is going too far in military rhetoric. 
It is falling into a kind of military ecstasy. 
This is the reality that we will have to confront further on," Peskov said.

  • At the same time, he emphasized that Stoltenberg's calls for supplying more arms and ammunition to Ukraine and lifting restrictions on their use could not be his personal opinion.
"He is an official. He is the secretary general of the North Atlantic Alliance. This is how we perceive this," Peskov emphasized. 
He added that "our military also knows what is to be done."

"The army continues the special military operation," he stated.

France’s Macron doesn’t rule out troops for Ukraine
Uploaded: May 2, 2024
French president says in interview that ‘if Russia wins in Ukraine, there will be no security in Europe’.

Thousands shelter from Kyiv missile barrage, hours after Biden's national  security adviser visits

Thousands shelter from Kyiv missile barrage, hours after Biden's national security adviser visits

Russia-Ukraine News: Latest Updates, Analysis, and Video on the Conflict  and Geopolitics | NBC News

Russia-Ukraine News: Latest Updates, Analysis, and Video on the Conflict and Geopolitics | NBC News

NEW: Russian forces are reportedly concentrating forces of unspecified size in western Belgorod Oblast near the border with Ukraine, likely to fix and draw Ukrainian forces to the area and prepare for offensive operations that aim to expand the Russian foothold in the international border area in northeastern Ukraine.
26 MAY campaign assessment: https://isw.pub/UkrWar052624
More Key Takeaways:
Western officials continue to publicly debate Ukraine's right to use Western-provided weapons to strike military targets in Russia amid Russian efforts to persuade the West to continue its self-imposed limitations and divide the NATO alliance.
Russia's defense industrial base (DIB) will reportedly manufacture and refurbish three times as many artillery shells as the West will produce in 2024, although Russian shells reportedly suffer from quality-control issues and Ukrainian artillery is reportedly more precise than Russian artillery.
Kremlin officials continue to indicate that Russia is not interested in meaningful negotiations with Ukraine and promote Kremlin information operations that aim to push the West to make concessions on Ukraine's sovereign territory and people.
Russian forces recently made confirmed advances near Svatove, Avdiivka, and Donetsk City.
Former Wagner Group fighters reportedly continue to form new units under Rosgvardia and Chechen Akhmat Spetsnaz.

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Ukraine Army Chief Ready for Possible French Military Trainers

Ukraine Army Chief Ready for Possible French Military Trainers - BNN  Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- Ukraine is preparing for a possible initial visit from French military instructors as the government asks NATO allies to help train Kyiv’s troops to the fight against the Russian invasion, according to commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.

The statement on Monday came after a phone call that the army chief and Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov held with French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu. Syrskyi praised France for its initiative to send instructors to train Ukrainian troops, without saying when they would arrive or for how long.
  • Paris has given no public indication yet that such a visit was imminent. . .
Training troops inside Ukraine has been one of the options discussed since a conference that President Emmanuel Macron convened in Paris in February, according to a French defense ministry official. France continues to work with Ukraine to understand their exact needs, the official said.
With Russia advancing on the battlefield, Ukraine has pushed the US and other NATO allies to send instructors to train its depleted forces and to deliver more weapons and ammunition.
Macron sparked tensions with allies earlier this year when he said “nothing should be ruled out” when asked about sending Western troops to Ukraine.


Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, who was re-elected for a second term on Sunday, has said repeatedly that his country is prepared to send professional soldiers for training missions to Ukraine should Kyiv request it.
Czech President Petr Pavel said in March that sending instructors would be possible, but ruled out combat troops.

EU countries vent anger at Hungary’s blockages of Ukraine aid decisions

The New York Times reported earlier this month that member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization are moving closer to sending instructors into Ukraine to train its troops. 

--With assistance from Ania Nussbaum.



Latest news
May 27, 202420:40


18:32 Spain provides Kyiv with record military aid package, signs security agreement with Ukraine



27 MAY, 09:48
Ukraine’s Syrsky approves admission of French instructors to military training centers
Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s armed forces expressed hope that Kiev's other Western partners would join Paris' initiative


MOSCOW, May 27. /TASS/. Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s armed forces Alexander Syrsky has signed documents that will allow French instructors to visit training centers.

"I welcome France's initiative to send instructors to Ukraine to train Ukrainian servicemen. I have already signed documents that will allow the first French instructors to visit our training centers soon and familiarize themselves with their infrastructure and personnel," ------- he wrote on his Telegram channel following online talks with French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu. 
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov also took part in the negotiations.
  • Syrsky expressed hope that Kiev's other Western partners would join Paris' initiative.
  • Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron did not rule out the possibility of sending Western countries’ ground troops to the zone of the special military operation. 
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky supported this idea, admitting that he could not publicly ask Western partners to send troops to the country, but would like them to do so and would never refuse.

The chief of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, Sergey Naryshkin, said that according to Moscow's sources, this contingent could reach 2,000 men. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted that French instructors along with other representatives of military and special services of European countries were already functioning in Ukraine.

Russia, Uzbekistan to continue defense cooperation — statement - Russian  Politics & Diplomacy - TASS

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CrisisWatch Conflict Tracker | Crisis Group


Ukraine
APRIL 2024

Russian forces intensified offensive to seize strategic town of Chasiv Yar, govt passed mobilisation reform bill, and U.S. approved long-awaited military aid package.

Moscow targeted Chasiv Yar town as airstrikes continued. Russian forces focused their assaults on Chasiv Yar in eastern Donetsk region; Ukrainian military 22 April said up to 25,000 Russian troops were trying to storm area in attempt to capture town by Victory Day on 9 May. Capture of Chasiv Yar would allow Russian troops to advance toward string of strategically important settlements in Donetsk region, which form backbone of Ukraine’s remaining industrial and military infrastructure in region. 

Further south, Russian forces continued slow advance west of Avdiivka after capturing town in Feb, with top commander Oleksandr Syrskyi 28 April announcing troops had withdrawn from three villages; 

Syrskyi also warned of possible Russian offensive against Kharkiv city in north east. Meanwhile, Russian strikes on key infrastructure continued amid dwindling Ukrainian air defence systems. Notably, Russia 11 April destroyed major power plant near capital Kyiv; for first time since full-scale invasion, Russia also targeted gas storage and transfer facilities used to transport its own gas exports to Europe.

Ukraine passed watered-down version of mobilisation law. President Zelenskyy 16 April signed mobilisation reform bill to expand conscription, improve training and offer financial incentives amid recruitment difficulties. However, Syrskyi 9 April convinced govt to remove provisions on demobilisation and rotation of long-serving soldiers. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy 2 April signed bill lowering draft age from 27 to 25 in another attempt to replenish exhausted troops. 

U.S. approved military assistance for Kyiv. U.S. President Joe Biden 24 April signed into law long-awaited military aid package for Ukraine; announcement may prompt Russia to escalate attacks in coming weeks before arrival of new capacities. 
  • Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz 13 April announced Berlin will provide Kyiv with Patriot air defence system; 
  • NATO Sec Gen Jens Stoltenberg 19 April said NATO members would follow suit.
Switzerland prepared to host peace summit. Switzerland
10 April announced Ukraine peace summit on 15-16 June in Luzern city.
  • Zelenskyy 6 April said 80-100 countries will likely join; 
  • Russia ruled out participation, though Bern is reportedly courting other BRICS states, including Brazil, India, China and South Africa, to send delegations.

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