" The war in Ukraine could last for years".
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this in an interview published today by the German newspaper Bild.
"We have to be prepared for it to last for years," he added, suggesting "not to weaken support for Ukraine, even if the costs are high , not only in terms of military support, but also due to the rising prices of the Ukraine. energy and food ".
"The costs of food and fuel - he underlined - are nothing compared to those paid daily by the Ukrainians on the front line ". Furthermore, if Russian President Vladimir Putin were to achieve his goals in Ukraine, such as when he annexed Crimea in 2014, "we would have to pay an even greater price," he warned.
Finally, he urged the Alliance countries to continue delivering arms to Kiev. "With additional modern weapons, the likelihood that Ukraine will be able to repel Putin's troops from the Donbass would increase."
From Russia comes the attack by Russian Foreign Minister Serghei Lavrov : by arming Ukraine, he said in an interview with Rossiya 1, the United States "is trying to achieve what it announced long ago, namely that Russia must to stand in his place, that Russia has no right to its own voice in international affairs, that Russia must obey the rules invented by the United States. That's all. I think they understand very well that they will not succeed . "
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The day by the hour:
Lavrov: "The US wants us to obey, they won't succeed"
Arming Ukraine, the United States "is trying to realize what they announced long ago, namely that Russia must stand in its place, that Russia has no right to its own voice in international affairs, that Russia must obey rules invented by the United States. That's all. I think they understand very well that they will not succeed. " This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Serghei Lavrov in an interview with Rossiya 1, the first channel of the Moscow state TV, which was picked up by TASS.
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Medvedev: "The EU could disappear before Ukraine enters"
"And what if the EU also disappears by then? It makes me think about what scandal, what sacrifices have been made on the altar of EU membership and what deception of the expectations of unhappy Ukrainians? In order not to bring bad luck ... ". The former prime minister and former Russian president, now vice president of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Dmitri Medvedev, returns to attack on Telegram threatening Europe in a post where he analyzes Ukraine's EU accession process. Ukrainians will be under "scrutiny for decades. Therefore, the real deadline is mid-century. Not before," he said.
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Berlin announces emergency measures after Russian gas cut
Germany will take emergency measures to secure gas supply in the face of Russian supply cuts, particularly with increased use of coal-fired power plants. This was announced by the German government. "To reduce gas consumption it is necessary to use less of it to generate electricity. Instead, coal-fired power plants will have to be used more," the Ministry of Economy said in a statement.
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United Kingdom: "The morale of the Russian troops is unstable, cases of desertion"
"Ukrainian forces have probably defected in recent weeks, but Russia's morale is likely to remain particularly unstable. There have been cases of entire Russian units refusing orders and clashes between officers and their troops." This was supported by the daily British intelligence bulletin as reported by Ukraninska Pravda. "Many Russian personnel from all ranks are also likely to remain confused about the war's objectives. The morale problems in Russian troops are likely to be so significant that they limit Russia's ability to achieve operational objectives."
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US actor Ben Stiller in Lviv
American actor Ben Stiller is in Lviv, on the border between Ukraine and Poland, as UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador to meet Ukrainian refugees. "UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Ben Stiller is today on the border with Ukraine to meet families whose lives have been torn apart by war and violence, to share stories about the human impact of war and to amplify requests for solidarity ", the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said. "I just arrived in Poland, ahead of World Refugee Day, to meet people whose lives have been affected by the war in Ukraine," tweeted the Hollywood star.
(Unioneonline)