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[1/2] U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin meets with Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov to discuss how to help Ukraine defend itself, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, January 20, 2023. But the major focus is on whether Germany will send Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine or at least approve their transfer from third countries. Leopard tanks are seen as especially suitable for Ukraine as they are widely in use, meaning several countries could each chip in some of their tanks to support Ukraine. Government sources in Germany have said it would move on the Leopard tanks issue if the United States agreed to send Abrams tanks to Ukraine. Poland could send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine even without Germany’s re-export approval, a deputy foreign minister said on Friday, ahead of a crunch meeting on weapons for Kyiv.

☆ Analysis: Western military aid girds Kyiv for counterattacks despite tank deadlock
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Tom Balmforth | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The latest U.S. aid includes 90 Stryker armoured personnel carriers (APC) and 59 Bradley fighting vehicles with powerful canons - adding to 50 Bradleys pledged earlier this month along with French and German infantry fighting vehicles. A group of nine European states, including Britain and the Baltics promised on Thursday to deliver heavy artillery, air defence, ammunition and infantry fighting vehicles and battle tanks sought by Kyiv. Zagorodnyuk said he believed infantry fighting vehicles were a clear endorsement of Kyiv's counterattack plans, also noting the importance of large donations of ammunition. Berlin said earlier this month that it would send 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles before the end of March; Paris said it would send AMX 10-RC armoured combat vehicles, which are seen as tank destroyers. In an interview with the Economist in December, Ukraine's top general, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi said he needed 300 tanks, 600-700 infantry fighting vehicles and 500 howitzers to help his forces push back the invaders.

☆ Ukraine expects decisions on tanks at Western defence leaders' meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Tom Balmforth | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

"We are, in fact, now waiting for a decision from one European capital, which will activate the prepared chains of cooperation regarding tanks," Zelenskiy said in a video address on Thursday night. German government sources have said Berlin would move on the Leopard tanks issue if Washington agreed to send Abrams tanks to Ukraine. Ukraine needed the tanks to defend itself, recapture occupied land, and did not plan to attack Russia, Zelenskiy told ARD television on Thursday. "From Washington to London, from Paris to Warsaw, you hear one thing: Ukraine needs tanks. Nearby towns also were shelled by Russian forces - including Klishchiivka, just south of Bakhmut, the Ukrainian military said.

☆ What Attacks on Russian Air Bases Tell Us About Moscow’s Vulnerabilities
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Watch: New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern Says She’ll Step DownNew Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Thursday that she would step down, saying she “no longer had enough in the tank.” During her more than five years as leader, she steered the country through the pandemic and faced tough economic challenges. Photo: Kerry Marshall/Getty Images

☆ Top US general says Ukraine war has become an 'absolute catastrophe' for Russia, estimating it's suffered 'significantly well over' 100,000 casualties
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( John Haltiwanger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Milley on Friday said Russia has suffered "significantly well over" 100,000 casualties in Ukraine. Milley urged Putin to end the war, saying it had become an "absolute catastrophe" for Moscow. Milley said that the "tremendous amount of casualties" suffered by Russia included "regular military, and also their mercenaries in the Wagner Group and other type forces that are fighting with the Russians." "Putin could end this war today," Milley said, "It's turning into an absolute catastrophe for Russia." Germany would need to grant permission for the Leopard tanks to be exported by other countries, and so far, that hasn't happened.

☆ Zelenskiy says Ukraine will still have to fight for supply of modern tanks
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 20 (Reuters) - Ukraine will still have to fight to ensure a supply of modern heavy armor, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday after Western partners failed to agree on whether to provide German tanks. A meeting at the Ramstein Air Base broke up without a decision on whether Germany should send Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine, or permit other countries which have them to do so. Zelenskiy said in a video address that the Ramstein meeting would strengthen Ukraine's resilience and expressed confidence allies would support Kyiv as much as possible. "Yes, we will still have to fight for the delivery of modern tanks, but every day we make it more obvious that there is no alternative to taking a decision about tanks," he said. Reporting by David Ljunggren, Editing by Rosalba O'BrienOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Western forces on Friday agreed increases to their military support for Ukraine, but Germany wavered on further EU tank deliveries despite mounting calls from Kyiv and fellow allies. He stressed that he intends for Berlin to be prepared if and when a decision is taken on Leopard 2 tanks. Ukraine has repeatedly asked for battle tanks from its Western allies, with Germany's Leopard 2 units being of particular interest. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has insisted that receiving supplies of Western tanks must outpace another Russian attack. In the hours before the meeting, the Kremlin said that Western tanks for Ukraine would "change nothing" and would not stop Russia from achieving its goals, Reuters reported.

☆ Ukraine war live updates: NATO allies to make a decision on battle tanks for Kyiv; Wagner Group could have up to 50,000 troops in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda at a press conference after their talks in Kyiv on May 22, 2022. Poland is ready to take "non-standard action" and send Ukraine two of its Leopard tanks if Germany opposes the move, Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Pawel Jablonski said. "I do not rule out that we are ready to take such a step," Jablonski was quoted by Reuters as telling a private radio station. "At the moment we are trying to make Germany not only agree these tanks being sent by Poland or other countries, but also to do so themselves." Germany has been slow to approve sending heavy weaponry to Ukraine for fear of provoking Russia.

☆ Finland promises 400 million euros of aid to Ukraine, could add Leopards
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The new donation would triple the total value of Finland's defence aid to Ukraine, bringing the total so far to 590 million euros, the Defence Ministry said in a statement. "I can only say that this package does not include Leopard tanks. Finland had earlier indicated it could send the German-made Leopard tanks if there were agreement among allies. The defence ministers of Finland and Sweden are to sign a Statement of Intent (SoI) on support for Ukraine in Ramstein later today, the Finnish ministry said. Under that agreement "Finland supplies defence materiel to Ukraine, and Sweden expresses its readiness to support Finland as necessary," it said.

☆ EU's Borrell: Europe prepared to provide heavy tanks to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MADRID, Jan 20 (Reuters) - The European Union's foreign policy said on Friday some European countries are prepared to send heavy tanks to Ukraine and he hoped a decision to provide them will be made at defence ministers' talks at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. NATO and defence leaders from about 50 countries were meeting on Friday at Ramstein, the latest in a series of arms-pledging conferences since Russia invaded Ukraine nearly 11 months ago. The main focus at the talks is on whether Germany will allow the re-export to Ukraine of its Leopard 2 tanks, which are used by armies across Europe. "I think Ukraine needs the combat arms and heavy tanks that it has asked for and some European countries are prepared to give and I hope that is the decision that is taken," he added. However, Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles, who is not attending the Ramstein talks, told reporters she did not expect any political decisions on tanks there.

☆ Poland ready to send Ukraine tanks even if Germany opposes it -deputy FM
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WARSAW, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Poland could send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine even without Germany's re-export approval, a deputy foreign minister said on Friday, ahead of a crunch meeting on weapons for Kyiv. The issue looks set to dominate talks between Western allies at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Friday. "I do not rule out that we are ready to take such a step," Pawel Jablonski told private radio RMF FM referring to the possibility of sending tanks to Ukraine even if Germany opposes it. Lithuanian Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas said on Thursday several countries would announce sending Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine at the Ramstein meeting. However, Germany has yet to receive a request from any country for permission to re-export German-made Leopard tanks to Ukraine, a German government source said on Thursday.

☆ U.S. and Germany head for showdown over tanks for Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Ukraine pleaded on Thursday for the West to finally send it heavy tanks as the defense chiefs of the U.S. and Germany headed for a showdown over weapons that Kyiv says could decide the fate of the war. But the meeting’s success could depend on whether it brings heavy tanks, which Kyiv says it needs to fend off Russian assaults and recapture occupied land. “The question of tanks for Ukraine must be closed as soon as possible,” he said. Britain added to the pressure by breaking the taboo on heavy tanks last week, offering a squadron from its fleet of Challengers, though far fewer of these are available than Leopards. Opening his meeting Pistorius, Austin described Germany as one of Washington’s closest allies and thanked it for its support for Ukraine so far.

☆ Biden heads to California to survey damage from severe storms
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Summer Concepcion | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

US President Joe Biden disembark from Air Force One on his arrival at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek on May 20, 2022. President Joe Biden on Thursday will visit parts of California to view areas affected by severe storms and assess additional federal support needed for recovery efforts. The president will survey areas of Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties along the state's central coast, where recent storms caused floods and landslides. Biden is set to meet with first responders, state and local officials, and communities affected by the devastation. He has remained in contact with Newsom and other local officials.

☆ Eleven NATO countries pledge new military aid for Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Andrius Sytas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] British NATO troops stand guard during a news conference of British Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace, Baltic defence ministers and representatives from other NATO members in Tapa Army Base, Estonia, January 19, 2023. REUTERS/Ints KalninsTAPA MILITARY BASE, Estonia, Jan 19 (Reuters) - A group of 11 NATO countries, including Britain and Poland, pledged a raft of new military aid to support Ukraine's war with Russia on Thursday ahead of a crunch meeting on arms for Kyiv scheduled to take place in Germany on Friday. "The West must stay united and continue to support Ukraine with military aid," Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur told a news conference in his home country, held jointly with his British counterpart and other officials. Gathering at a military base, the officials pledged missiles, stinger air defence systems, anti-aircraft guns, machine guns, training, and other equipment and services. Britain, which has already announced plans to send tanks to Ukraine, will also send 600 Brimstone missiles, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said as he outlined details.

☆ Several countries to announce sending Leopard tanks to Ukraine - Lithuania
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TAPA MILITARY BASE, Estonia, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Several countries will announce sending Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine on Friday at a meeting at the German Ramstein Air Base, the Lithuanian defence minister said on Thursday. "Some of the countries will definitely send Leopard tanks to Ukraine, that is for sure", Arvydas Anusauskas told Reuters, about the Ramstein pledges, speaking after a preparatory meeting of 11 nations in Estonia. The total number of armoured vehicles pledged at Ramstein will go into hundreds, Anusauskas said. Reporting by Andrius Sytas; Editing by Alison WilliamsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ No need for German, U.S. tanks to be sent to Ukraine simultaneously -defence minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BERLIN, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Germany's new Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said he did not know of any requirement that Ukraine receive U.S. and German tanks simultaneously, before a meeting on Friday at which future supplies to Kyiv will be discussed. Younger people were also more reluctant to send tanks than older respondents in the survey. A German government source earlier said that Berlin had not so far received any requests for a licence to re-export Leopard tanks. Poland and Finland have already said they will send Leopard tanks to Ukraine if Germany gives approval for export. Berlin has veto power over any decision to export its Leopard tanks, fielded by NATO-allied armies across Europe and seen by defence experts as the most suitable for Ukraine.

☆ Sweden to send infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

STOCKHOLM, Jan 19 (Reuters) - The Swedish government announced a new package of military aid to Ukraine on Thursday that will include armoured infantry fighting vehicles and the Archer artillery system. "Ukraine's victory in this war is of almost indescribable importance," Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told a news conference, adding that Ukraine was fighting for the freedom of all of Europe. Sweden will send about 50 of its tracked and armoured Type 90 infantry fighting vehicles. The government did not specify how many Archer systems it would supply. The focus is expected to be on whether Germany will send its Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine or at least approve their transfer from third countries.

"The defeat of a nuclear power in a conventional war may trigger a nuclear war," Medvedev, who serves as deputy chairman of Putin's powerful security council, said in a post on Telegram. Russia and the United States, by far the largest nuclear powers, hold around 90% of the world's nuclear warheads. While NATO has conventional military superiority over Russia, when it comes to nuclear weapons, Russia has nuclear superiority over the alliance in Europe. Russia's nuclear doctrine allows for a nuclear strike after "aggression against the Russian Federation with conventional weapons when the very existence of the state is threatened". Since Russia invaded Ukraine, Medvedev has repeatedly raised the threat of nuclear chaos and used insults to describe the West.

☆ New German defence minister says he will strengthen army, help Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BERLIN, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Germany's new defence minister said on Thursday it was his task to strengthen the armed forces so that they could do their job at a time of conflict in Europe with Russia waging war against Ukraine. Boris Pistorius was officially made minister on Thursday at a time when Germany is under pressure from Western allies to allow German-made battle tanks to be used in Ukraine to strengthen its defence against the Russian invasion. Russia is waging a brutal war of annihilation on a sovereign country, on Ukraine," Pistorius said after a ceremony with military honours at the defence ministry. "Our task is to make the Bundeswehr (armed forces) strong now, it is about deterrence, effectiveness and readiness. Earlier, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier promised further military support to Ukraine and told the incoming defence minister that Germany's armed forces must once again become capable of protecting the nation.

☆ Davos 2023: What you need to know about the WEF on Wednesday
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Kathryn Lurie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Climate change came to the fore at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting, where U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on business leaders to follow the principles outlined by an expert group to make credible net-zero pledges or risk greenwashing. The United Nations and standard setter the International Organization for Standardization launched the guidelines in November to become a reference text and help organizations come up with solid plans, avoiding slogans, hype and obfuscation. With activist Greta Thunberg set to arrive in Davos and meet International Energy Agency (IEA) executive director Fatih Birol on Thursday, climate change is set to remain centre stage. China could see a sharp recovery in economic growth from the second quarter onwards based on current infection trends after the dismantling of most COVID-19 restrictions, Gopinath said. For daily Davos updates in your inbox sign up for the Reuters Daily Briefing hereEditing by Alexander SmithOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Davos 2023: NATO chief calls for significant boost in arms for Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( John Irish | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Ukraine needs a "significant increase" in weapons at a pivotal moment in Russia's invasion and such support is the only way to a negotiated peaceful solution, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday. "This is a pivotal moment in the war and the need for a significant increase in support for Ukraine," Stoltenberg told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. "If we want a negotiated peaceful solution tomorrow we need to provide more weapons today." Beyond tanks, Stoltenberg said Ukraine needed more air defence systems and armour but also ammunition, spare parts and maintenance capabilities to ensure that its existing weapons continued to function. He said the situation along battlefronts had stabilised over the past weeks, but that the protracted fierce fighting in the eastern city of Bakhmut demonstrated the importance of providing more weapons to support Ukraine.

☆ Fact Check-Video purporting to show plane crash in Nepal on Jan. 15, 2023, dates to at least 2013
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A decade-old video of a plane crash has been shared by social media users who appear to believe it shows the 2023 Yeti Airlines crash in Nepal. At least 71 people, including small children, died in the Jan. 15 crash in Nepal, the country’s worst air disaster in 30 years (here ). Reuters reported on the crash, which happened on April 29, 2013 and involved a U.S.-run cargo plane. The video does not show the 2023 plane crash in Nepal. This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team.

☆ Crashes behind the front lines hint at a looming problem for isolated Russia's Air Force
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Russia lost several combat aircraft to crashes in the final months of 2022. The question is what has changed in Russian aircraft reliability and maintenance? The site where a Russian military aircraft crashed into a residential building in the city of Irkutsk on October 23. REUTERS/StringerFor example, measuring the impact of mobilization on Russian manufacturing is difficult, as is determining how many aircraft parts Russia is covertly importing. In the end, Russian aircraft maintenance may face a mix of problems.

☆ Ukraine closer to receiving modern Western battle tanks, more Patriots
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Tom Balmforth | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/5] Ukrainian servicemen prepare a Polish self-propelled howitzer Krab to fire toward Russian positions, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, on a frontline in Donetsk region, Ukraine January 17, 2023. Ukraine says the tanks would give its troops the mobile firepower to drive Russian troops out in decisive battles. Germany has been the West's biggest holdout on pledging tanks but a Cabinet minister said on Tuesday the issue would be the first to be decided by new defence minister Boris Pistorius. Meanwhile, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Tuesday evening said Ukrainian and Russian forces exchanged fire on the eastern frontline, where neither side has advanced much in recent months. Russian forces also launched 13 air raids and 23 shelling attacks from multiple rocket launchers, it said.

Berlin has veto power over any decision to export its Leopard tanks, fielded by NATO-allied armies across Europe and seen by defence experts as the most suitable for Ukraine. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has stressed the condition about U.S. tanks several times in recent days behind closed doors, the German government source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. This week, Britain raised the pressure on Berlin by becoming the first Western country to send tanks, pledging a squadron of its Challengers. Poland and Finland have already said they will send Leopard tanks if Germany approves them. "The supplies of Western tanks must outpace another invasion of Russian tanks."

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