Latest news about Russia and the war in Ukraine

The British Ministry of Defense said that “arming Russia with energy will likely remain a coercive tool” against Ukraine and the world.

“Russia is very likely to continue to use energy as a weapon for global economic gain and political influence, demonstrating the nexus between energy, security, and political and military objectives,” the department said in an intelligence update on X, formerly known as. Twitter, Monday.

Throughout the two-year conflict with Ukraine, Russia has focused many of its attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, often leaving thousands of Ukrainian civilians without electricity and water during the coldest times of the year.

Russia, one of the world's largest oil and gas producers, continues to rely on oil and gas export revenues to finance its budget and war machine. India and China are among the countries that are still buying Russian oil and gas while Western countries look to reduce their imports of Russian goods. However, there has been some disagreement among Ukraine's allies over Russian imports, with more Russia-friendly countries such as Hungary and Turkey looking to strike energy deals with Moscow.

The UK noted that Russian kinetic strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure had caused widespread electricity shortages across the country, “while Russian President Vladimir Putin has globally used energy policy to undermine international energy security.”

“By reducing gas flows to Europe, by restricting pipeline exports and changing payment terms, Putin sought to undermine unity across Europe against Russia’s illegal war,” the ministry said.

– Holly Eliatt

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that sending Western forces to Ukraine is not “out of the question.”

Macron said after a meeting of European heads of state and other Western officials in Paris, during which more aid to Ukraine was discussed, that the possibility of sending ground troops to Ukraine was discussed publicly but no decision had been made.

Macron said: “There is no consensus today to send troops officially, publicly and with approval on the ground. But in terms of dynamics, nothing should be ruled out. We will do everything necessary to ensure that Russia cannot win this war.” .

The president did not provide further details about which countries might consider sending troops, but said France “is not opposed to sending them.”

Macron said Ukraine's allies discussed the need to increase and accelerate aid and military supplies to Kiev, as well as the need to close sanctions loopholes that allow Russian companies to obtain components from countries that have imposed European or allied sanctions.

He said the European Union “will impose further sanctions on companies and countries that facilitate this sanctions circumvention.”

– Holly Eliatt

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday that without new U.S. military aid, his country will not be able to defend the Black Sea shipping lane that has allowed Kiev to export millions of tons of grain to global markets, Reuters reported Monday.

Ukraine launched the shipping corridor hugging its western Black Sea coast near Romania and Bulgaria in August, a month after Russia withdrew from a landmark year-long agreement – brokered by the United Nations and Turkey – that allowed nearly 33 million tons to be safely exported from the Black Sea. Metric tons of grain Ukraine.

The British Foreign Office said this month that Ukraine was on track to export all grain from the 2023 crop despite Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports and infrastructure.

“We have created the new route in the Black Sea,” Zelensky told CNN in an interview, calling the shipping corridor a “huge success” because it has so far allowed the export of about 30 million tons of grain and other agricultural products. .

– Reuters

Hungary voted on Monday to approve Sweden's application to join NATO, ending months of diplomatic negotiations and finalizing Stockholm's membership nearly two years after it submitted its first application to join the military alliance.

Members of the ruling party led by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban were opposed to Sweden joining NATO amid the country's criticism of democracy in Hungary.

Sweden applied to join NATO in May 2022 after Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine, departing from its previous political approach of military non-alignment.

Read the full story here.

– Karen Gilchrist, Sophie Kiderlin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov discussed economic ties and support at a meeting on Monday, Zelensky said in a post on social media platform X.

“I appreciate Bulgaria’s support for our efforts to expand trade flows and restore normal shipping in the Black Sea and Danube regions,” Zelensky said. “We have agreed with Bulgaria to accelerate the development of logistics and infrastructure in our region.”

Infrastructure on the Danube River in southern Ukraine has been crucial to the country's grain trade since Russia last year halted a previous agreement that allowed the safe passage of grain and other goods traded across the Black Sea.

-Sophie Kiderlein

Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny was about to be released in a prisoner exchange at the time of his death, Navalny's ally Maria Pevchikh said on Monday.

Speaking on YouTube, Pevchikh – who claims Russian authorities killed Navalny, which he denies – said Navalny and two US citizens were about to be exchanged for Vadim Krasikov, an FSB hit man serving a life sentence. . Governance in Germany.

– Reuters

The Kremlin announced on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan after the Russian presidential elections scheduled for mid-next March.

“Before the elections, no,” Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday when asked when the meeting might be held.

“But preparations are underway to hold contacts at the highest level, and we have repeatedly confirmed this,” Interfax news agency quoted Putin as saying.

Peskov explained, “These contacts will take place at a time that suits the agenda of the two presidents.”

Putin will travel to Turkey to meet Erdogan, a leader who has managed to maintain friendly relations with Russia despite Turkey's membership in NATO.

– Holly Eliatt

The Ukrainian army confirmed on Monday its withdrawal from the village of Lastochkini in eastern Ukraine, marking another setback on the battlefield after two years of war.

Army spokesman Dmytro Lykhovy told television, “Units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces withdrew from the village of Lastochkini to organize defenses… and prevent the enemy from advancing further in the western direction.”

Russian forces have made several large and small advances in recent weeks, including capturing the industrial city of Avdiivka, as well as two small settlements west of the city.

– Holly Eliatt