Ukraine “will lose the war” if the United States Congress does not approve military aid to help it resist Russia’s invasion, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. “It’s important to specifically address the Congress: if the Congress doesn’t help Ukraine, Ukraine will lose the war,” Zelensky said Sunday during a video meeting of the Ukrainian fund-raising group UNITED24. “If Ukraine loses this war, other countries will be attacked. This is a fact,” he said. Zelensky’s warning, among his starkest since the war began more than two years ago, comes as Congress has for months refused to pass a package of aid for Ukraine, leaving Kyiv to battle manpower and ammunition shortages while an emboldened Russia pounds Ukraine’s cities with missiles and tests for weak spots along the front line. The US Senate passed a $95.3 billion foreign aid bill with assistance for Ukraine and Israel in February, but House Speaker Mike Johnson has so far refused to hold a vote on passing the package for Ukraine. Zelensky previously told CNN that “millions” could die in Ukraine’s war with Russia if US lawmakers do not approve the aid package. When Russia launched its invasion in February 2022, it thought it would take Kyiv in days and the rest of the country in weeks. In what proved to be a disastrous miscalculation for Moscow, Ukraine repelled the initial assault on its capital and, later in 2022, reclaimed some of the territories overrun by Russia. The frontlines have since been largely static, with Russia continuing to occupy around a fifth of Ukraine’s territory. Despite optimism that Ukraine could reclaim more of its occupied territories, its counteroffensive in the summer of 2023 failed to significantly pierce Russia’s defenses. Ukraine’s then-Commander in Chief conceded the war had entered a “stalemate.” Since the start of this year, Russia – enjoying a huge advantage in manpower and technology – has attempted to seize the initiative, bombarding Ukraine’s cities with missiles and forcing Ukraine to retreat from the eastern town of Avdiivka. Franz-Stefan Gady, an associate fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told CNN the war in Ukraine had entered a “transitional phase.” “Russia is conducting probing attacks along the front line. It is trying to advance where it can. And it is preparing what seems to be a future offensive down the road,” he said. While European countries have tried to replace US aid, Gady said there was “no substitute” for the support Washington can provide. “This year, Ukraine really needs US support. There’s certain weapons systems, certain logistical support which the European countries simply cannot provide to Ukraine” such as air defense systems, he said. Also on Sunday, Zelensky warned that “in the coming weeks Russia will be more and more insistent on dragging nuclear weapons into the debate, threatening, playing with this matter.” In a separate post on X, he thanked UNITED24’s ambassadors for “continuing to draw US attention to the Ukrainian people’s fight for freedom and independence.” Source: CNN

Ukrainian air defenses intercepted more than two dozen drones fired by Russia on Kharkiv, the Ukrainian army said. The attack killed at least six people and damaged residential buildings. Russia launched missile and drone strikes on Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv, killing six and injuring 11, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on Saturday. Ukraine's National Police released images of the damage caused by the attack, including fires that had broken out on the streets and next to buildings. Attacks on Kharkiv, near the Russian border, have been intensifying in recent weeks. It has suffered extensive damage in the two years of war. Kharkiv a target for a new offensive  Air defenses intercepted 28 out of 32 drones and three of six missiles fired by Russia, the military said. Fighting along the approximately 1000-kilometer (620 miles) front line that stretches across the south and east Ukraine remains largely deadlocked. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has, however, warned Russia could attempt a new offensive in late May or early summer. Zelenskyy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, told Politico in an interview published on Thursday that he saw Kharkiv as the most likely target for a new Russian offensive. Attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure The attack on Kharkiv came a day after a Russian strike on the southern city of Zaporizhzhia killed four people and wounded more than 20.  Ukraine's internal ministry Saturday updated the wounded toll in the Zaporizhzhia strike to 23, which included two children.  The US think tank, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), said this week the goal of Russia's escalated attacks on civilian areas and the country's power grid might be to compel Ukraine's army to deploy air defense systems away from the front line. The think tank added that this would allow Russia to provide more air cover for its ground operations on the battlefield.  

Pro-Russian Telegram channels are allegedly spreading misinformation about Ukrainian military and politics, fueling debate over a potential ban of the platform. This is the type of message one might come across on Ukrainian Telegram channels:  "The Armed Forces of Ukraine are recruiting homeless people." "Ukrainians are going to surrender Kharkiv." "Ukrainian border guards were allowed to open fire on those trying to flee Ukraine." These messages, monitored by the Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation, are distributed by allegedly pro-Russian Telegram channels apparently to sow panic and disinformation about Ukraine's military affairs and political establishment. The speed and anonymity of Telegram have heightened the debate over whether to block the platform in Ukraine. This issue has reached political circles, with discussions now within the Ukrainian parliamentary committee on freedom of speech, who raised their concerns about the platform. What is Telegram? Banning Telegram is not an easy step to take. Its rapidly growing popularity in Ukraine has made it the most popular resource for news consumption. Before the Russian invasion three years ago, only 20% of Ukrainians used Telegram as a news source. In 2023, Telegram is showing growth of up to 72%. Telegram is incredibly popular globally, with around 700-800 million monthly users. While WhatsApp reigns supreme, Telegram is widely used in Eastern Europe, as well as in India, Indonesia, the United States and Brazil.  A key feature of Telegram is anonymity. Anyone can create their own channel there and write anything while remaining anonymous. This means people can often publish unverified content, photos or videos. Ian Garner, historian and analyst of Russian culture and war propaganda, says this anonymity makes Telegram "the Wild West, where there are no rules, no control, and you have no idea what's real, what's true, who to trust, whether to trust anyone at all." Who pulls the strings? Initially created by Russian entrepreneur Pavel Durov and his brother Nikolai, Telegram has, for its part, renounced Russian influence and moved its office to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Durov earned the nickname "Russia's Zuckerberg" for launching Vkontakte, the country's largest social media platform, at the age of 22. Vkontakte was among those banned in Ukraine in 2017. Ukrainian authorities first raised concerns about the influence of Russian social media and websites after the Russian annexation of Crimea and its first offensive against Ukraine in 2014. But Telegram has now become a vital source for real-time updates on air sirens and missile strikes in Ukraine. With many Ukrainians displaced or abroad and lacking access to televisions, some Telegram channels have become fully-fledged media outlets.  These channels were established by media figures, political analysts and bloggers, but the anonymous ones have become the biggest threat, as they often publish unverified information and outright lies. Nevertheless, their influence has escalated swiftly, prompting Ukrainian government officials to establish their own Telegram channels in response. Today, nearly every village head, regional council leader, city mayor, and even the president maintains official channels on Telegram to disseminate information directly to the public. One of the most popular Telegram channels in Ukraine is "Trukha," which stands for "True Kharkiv," referencing the city near the Russian border, though it covers news about the whole of Ukraine and has over 2.5 million subscribers. It stirred controversy when it was allowed to attend President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's closed meeting with journalists in October last year. "Trukha" was anonymous for a long time and faced accusations of spreading misinformation and sharing prohibited content, such as videos or photos of the aftermath of Russian missile strikes. Despite its questionable reputation, it was invited to Zelenskyy's year-end press conference in 2023, while other professional media were reportedly denied access.  To ban or not to ban? The Ukrainian parliamentary freedom of speech committee is not the only one to be concerned: Andriy Yusov, a representative of Ukraine's military intelligence, views Telegram as a threat to "information and not only information security" of Ukraine. Oleksiy Danilov, ex-secretary of Ukraine's National Security Council, has echoed these concerns, particularly emphasizing worries about the anonymity of channels on the platform. Meanwhile, users seek answers to another question: What about freedom of speech? Some Telegram users have expressed worries that a ban would violate their freedoms. But a ban is unlikely, says Diana Dutsyk, head of the Ukrainian Media and Communications Institute and a member of Ukraine's Commission on Journalistic Ethics. She points out that Telegram is used by the president's office, which indicates there's a lack of political will for such a measure. But there is still a conflict between security concerns and Telegram's necessity. "Considering its significance as a key tool for political influence, especially in possible elections, immediate blocking seems improbable," Dutsyk stressed. Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, chairman of the Ukrainian parliamentary freedom of speech committee, said that the discussion is ongoing, with no final decision yet, and they [authorities] are working to avoid a ban. The committee does not have the power to ban Telegram in Ukraine, but it can provide recommendations. The Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council would make the ultimate decision. A Telegram ban could be the last possible step if the cooperation with Telegram won't work, according to Yurchyshyn, "because the price of such holes in information security, which allow Russian propaganda to penetrate into Ukrainian information products easily, is very high in our country. A matter of life and death for our citizens."

France has overtaken Russia on the list of the biggest weapons exporters, a study from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute has found. The United States has reinforced its global dominance in arms sales. Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing war has driven new arms purchasing in Europe in dramatic fashion, with US manufacturers being the main beneficiaries, according to a new study from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). From 2019 to 2023, the worldwide trade in weapons declined by 3.3% overall from the 2014-18 figures, but the amount of arms imported by European countries in that period doubled compared with the previous five years. At 55%, the lion's share of arms sales to European countries came from the United States. This was up 20 percentage points from the previous period. US's global dominance Mainly thanks to sales to European countries, the United States increased its overall weapons exports by 17%. Stateside producers delivered arms to 107 countries, more than in any other period studied by SIPRI or any other exporting nation. "The USA has increased its global role as an arms supplier — an important aspect of its foreign policy — exporting more arms to more countries than it has ever done in the past," said Mathew George, director of the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme. "This comes at a time when the USA's economic and geopolitical dominance is being challenged by emerging powers." Unsurprisingly, Ukraine is the European country where weapons imports have most dramatically increased. From 2019 to 2023, Ukraine went from being a minimal importer and a site of domestic production to being the No. 4 weapons buyer in the world, after India, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Imports increased 6,600% compared with the previous period. In 2023, Ukraine was the No. 1 global arms importer. However, its allies offered rather than sold many of the arms it received in the fight against Russia. The United States, Germany, and Poland were Ukraine's top three suppliers. Russia's exports slip The five biggest arms exporters worldwide were the United States, France, Russia, China and Germany. France overtook Russia to claim the No. 2 spot. Russia's exports fell by 53%. French sales surged 47%. In 2019, 31 countries were still receiving weapons from Russia. By 2023, that had dropped to 12, with India and China, which have kept up trade in oil and gas with Russia, being by far the most significant customers. "In other cases, the US and European states to some extent, too, have put pressure on countries that have been buying Russian arms before or were thinking of doing that." Pieter Wezeman, one of the authors of the report, told DW. Wezeman said that was "something which we could see very strongly in the case of Egypt, which was going to buy Russian combat aircraft, which was then pressured by the US not to do so and basically has now turned to France to buy advanced combat aircraft." France is pursuing a policy of "strategic sovereignty," Wezeman said. "Basically, it wants to be able to apply military force whenever it wants to without being dependent on weapons from someone else. Therefore, they need an arms industry, but, to be able to have that, you really need to export. Otherwise, it becomes way too expensive." France's weapons industry has been very successful over the past 10 years, Wezeman said, with top sellers being the Rafale fighter aircraft, as well as submarines and frigates. Germany's submarine exports Germany's position as the world's No. 5 arms exporter remained unchanged from 2014 to 2023, with the Middle East as its main customer region. Arms exports from Germany fell 14% over that period, though Wezeman said the decline was relative. The previous five-year period was exceptionally buoyant due to large orders, particularly of submarines. In contrast, the year 2023 on its own was particularly good for the German arms industry. Wezeman said that was "partly related, of course, to the military aid that has gone to Ukraine, but also related to the delivery of, for example, submarines to Singapore and frigates and corvettes to both Israel and Egypt." In contrast to their European counterparts, African countries bought about half as many foreign weapons from 2019 through 2023 as they had in the preceding half decade, primarily driven by a decline in purchases from two major importers. Algeria imported 77% fewer arms products. Morocco's purchases went down 46%. Russia, whose presence on the continent has expanded in recent years, is the No. 1 weapons supplier to countries in Africa, followed by the United States and China.

The US Senate has approved a $95bn (£75.2bn) aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan after months of political wrangling. While Democrats were in favour of passing the bill, Republicans were divided and previously voted it down. The package includes $60bn for Kyiv, $14bn for Israel's war against Hamas and $10bn for humanitarian aid in conflict zones, including in Gaza. The bill will now go to the House, where its fate is uncertain. The package, which also includes more than $4bn in funds for Indo-Pacific allies, passed the Senate despite criticism from Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and former President Donald Trump. Lawmakers voted 70 to 29 to approve the package. Twenty-two Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, joined most Democrats to vote for the legislation. "History settles every account," Mr McConnell, a Kentucky senator, said in a statement following the vote. "And today, on the value of American leadership and strength, history will record that the Senate did not blink." Ukraine's leader said he was "grateful" to senators. "For us in Ukraine, continued US assistance helps to save human lives from Russian terror. It means that life will continue in our cities and will triumph over war," President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter. The vote came after an all-night Senate session during which several Republican opponents made speeches in a bid to slow down the process. "Shouldn't we try to fix our own country first?" Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky said on Monday. Some left-wing lawmakers, including Democrat Jeff Merkley of Oregon and independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont, also voted against the bill, citing concerns about supporting Israel's bombing of Gaza. The aid package is a stripped-down version of a $118bn package that Senate Republicans voted down last week. Republicans had initially demanded that any foreign aid be tied to more security measures at the southern border. But after Mr Trump came out against the border provisions, Republicans were divided on the package. Some lawmakers suggested border measures could be added back into the current version of the legislation. Mr Johnson suggested in a statement on Monday night the new bill would not pass the Republican-controlled House of Representatives without such provisions. "House Republicans were crystal clear from the very beginning of discussions that any so-called national security supplemental legislation must recognise that national security begins at our own border," he said. The Louisiana congressman said lawmakers "should have gone back to the drawing board" with the legislation to focus on border security. With Senate passage of the aid bill stripped of immigration measures, Mr Johnson and the House Republican leadership will have to decide whether to bring the package to a vote in that chamber, attempt to amend it and send it back to the Senate, or to ignore it entirely. That last option could prompt those House Republicans who support Ukraine military assistance to join Democrats in filing a discharge petition. This is a rare parliamentary procedure that would circumvent Mr Johnson and force a vote. Some on the left may baulk at the military aid for Israel in the package, however, making such a manoeuvre - which requires the support of a majority of the House - more difficult. After the Senate vote, Mr Johnson said his chamber "will have to continue to work its own will on these important matters". He could divide the different pieces of aid into separate components, or add conservative US immigration reforms. Mr Johnson will be hard-pressed to convince his narrow House majority, which is sharply divided on aid to Ukraine, to follow his lead, however. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, meanwhile, hailed the passage of the bill on Tuesday. He said the Senate was "telling Putin he will regret the day he questioned America's resolve". President Joe Biden applauded the measure, too, saying it would allow the US "to stand up for Ukraine's freedom and support its ability to defend itself against Russia's aggression". The US is one of the largest providers of aid to Ukraine. The White House asked Congress months ago to pass a bill that included foreign aid. This could be Congress's last shot at passing Ukraine aid for the foreseeable future, and Ukraine has warned it may not be able to successfully defend itself against Russia without Washington's backing.   Source: BSS

Russia's foreign minister says he believes only the West can decide when the war in Ukraine ends, given its support for Kyiv. Meanwhile, officials reported drone strikes on both sides of the border. DW has the latest. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Moscow won't discuss nuclear arms controls with Washington while the US supports Ukraine. Lavrov said the West, not Ukraine, would decide when the war ends. He also said Moscow would not entertain the idea of Ukraine ever joining NATO as a condition of peace. There were reports of drone strikes on both sides of Russian-Ukrainian border and a Moscow airport was briefly closed. Here's a look at the latest developments in Russia's war on Ukraine on Thursday, January 18:   US: Russia could infleunce European elections over Ukraine issue The United States believes Russia could attempted to influence upcoming elections in Europe in order to shift sentiments against Ukraine.   "Russia is hoping that the number of elections in Europe this year could change what has been a remarkable coalition and disciplined opposition to its war," Jamie Rubin, special envoy and coordinator for the Global Engagement Center, told reporters on Thursday.   "We do believe that the Russians will conduct information operations throughout Europe to try to change opinion on Ukraine during this election season," he added. European Parliament elections are scheduled for June, while Austria, Georgia and the United Kingdom will also have their own elections.

US ‘Brokered’ Pakistani Weapons Transfer to Ukraine In Lieu Of IMF Bailout – American Media ClaimsAn investigation by the American nonprofit news organization, The Intercept, has revealed how Washington brokered a deal by which secret Pakistani arms sales to the US helped to facilitate a controversial bailout from the International Monetary Fund. Although numerous reports have pointed out that Pakistan has been supplying weapons to Ukraine, these were dismissed as false reports, with neither the Pakistani nor Ukrainian side responding to queries. The revelations, “U.S. Helped Pakistan Get IMF Bailout with Secret Arms Deal for Ukraine,” on September 17, 2023, exposed a devious design more sinister than could have been imagined with the complete involvement of the United States in a ‘Bombs for Bailouts’ plan offered to Pakistan. With access to secret documents and insiders, The Intercept broke the story about a brokered deal that allowed Pakistan’s military to postpone elections, deepen a brutal crackdown, and jail former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Once Khan was ousted and the Pakistan military was at the helm, Islamabad emerged as a supporter of the US and its allies in the Ukraine war. Pakistan was then rewarded with an IMF loan. Backhand Deal Entered In Secret According to the in-depth report, a month before a June 30 deadline for the IMF’s review of a planned billion-dollar payment, Pakistani Ambassador to the US Masood Khan sat down with Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu at the State Department in Washington, D.C. on May 23, for a meeting about how Pakistani arms sales to Ukraine could shore up its financial position in the eyes of the IMF. The Intercept says, “Lu told Khan at the May 23 meeting that the US had cleared payment for the Pakistani munitions production and would tell the IMF confidentially about the program.” On June 29, a day before the original IMF program expires, the IMF announced that instead of extending the previous series of loans, the bank would enter a “Stand-By Arrangement” — with fewer strings attached, more favorable terms, and valued at US$ 3 billion. A source within the Pakistani military leaked papers and emails to The Intercept about the arms transactions to buy Pakistani military weapons for Ukraine, with US officials including American and Pakistani contracts. As part of this arrangement, even the UK’s Ministry of Defence entered a deal with the Pakistan Ordnance Board to supply arms to Ukraine. Slew Of Arms Reach Ukraine From Pakistan As Ukraine grappled with shortages of munitions and hardware, the presence of Pakistani-produced shells and other ordinances by the Ukrainian military has surfaced in open-source news reports about the conflict. However, neither the US nor the Pakistanis have acknowledged the arrangement. Headquartered in Wah Cantt, Punjab, Pakistan, the Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) have provided a range of arms and ammunition to the Ukrainian Military. These include: 122mm Yarmuk HE-Frag rockets, 122mm howitzer shells, 155mm artillery shells, M4A2 propelling bag charges, M82 primers, PDM fuses, M44A2 120mm HE mortar bombs, 130mm shells, 40mm RPG7 HEAT ammo, 12.7×99 MM armor-piercing cartridges, 12.7×108 mm bullets, and 7.62×54mm bullets Since Washington brokered the deal, Pakistan has stepped up military supplies to Ukraine via a German port, simultaneously with the Poland route, to transfer rockets for use in multi-barrel rockets. Quid Pro Quo Will Be Military Helicopter Parts To Pakistan As an acknowledgment of Islamabad’s help, Ukraine will supply spare parts for Mi-17 helicopters to Pakistan. The spare parts and helicopter engine, worth US$1.5 million, will be provided by the Ukrainian company Motor Sich JSC to Pakistan. Of course, the quality of Pakistani weapons is another matter. Ukrainian military leaders have reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of rockets supplied by Pakistan. There are reports of Pakistani ammunition causing injuries to Ukrainian soldiers. Zelensky’s commanders from the 17th Tank Battalion are complaining about the poor-quality rockets. The commander in Bakhmut of Ukraine’s eastern region said the missiles from Pakistan are “not of a good quality.” Meanwhile, as increasing reports of Pakistani supplies of weapons to Ukraine surfaced, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova visited India in April 2023. She tried to assure New Delhi that Ukraine, for many years, “has had military contracts with Pakistan” and that Kyiv’s relations with Islamabad are not targeted against India More recently, Ukraine and Pakistan have come out in the open about reports claiming Pakistan supplied weapons to Kyiv amid war with Russia. On July 20, Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba held a joint press conference where they agreed to reinvigorate their bilateral agreements. A planned ‘Ukrainian-Pakistani Commission on Economic Cooperation’ will likely be inaugurated soon. Pakistan is set to supply fresh arms consignments as Ukraine faces a depleting Western weapons stockpile amid a ‘failed counter-offensive’ against Russia. According to a report in the Economic Times, close on the heels of the Ukrainian foreign minister’s visit, Islamabad has approached a Gulf state for shipping the next consignment of arms to Kyiv via Poland. Pakistani shipping firm Project Shipping contacted a shipping firm in the Gulf to identify vessels bearing US flags to ship cargo of 150 containers of 25mm cartridges to Ukraine. Pakistan Sets Up Firm In Warsaw For Ukraine Arms Pakistan defense trading firm Kestral Trading has established a firm in Warsaw, under the name ‘Balferrten Investments’ to take care of the logistics of supplies to Ukraine. But even as Pakistan is said to supply weapons to Ukraine to make profits constantly, Russian President Vladimir has signed a memorandum to develop Afghanistan’s thermal coal power sector. While Pakistan was already expected to be part of the energy deal with Russia and Iran, including Afghanistan is likely to irk Islamabad given the current tussle between Islamabad and Kabul over border issues. When it comes to doing business with the West during the war, Pakistan has again found its ground in the Ukraine war, just as it did almost four decades ago during the Afghan war and after 9/11. At the start of the war in February 2022, Pakistan sent military and humanitarian assistance to bolster Kyiv’s ground forces. Now that these reports of brokered deals over the IMF bailout surface, it would not be far-fetched to reflect that Pakistan was removed from the FATF grey list when it began supplying weapons and other aid to Ukraine at the bidding of the West. Discredited for being a terror state, Pakistan is now using the Ukraine war to regain its favored status as a faithful ally of the West.

Saudi Arabia began talks on resolving the Ukraine war on Saturday, Saudi state media reported, despite no delegation from Russia taking part. Senior officials from some 40 countries including the US, China, South Africa and India are attending the discussions in the Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah. Ukraine and its allies hope the two-day conference will lead to an agreement on key principles for a peaceful end to the 17-month conflict and win over non-Western countries that have so far stayed neutral over the conflict due to close ties with Moscow. Ahead of the summit, aides to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's said the delegates would look into his 10-point peace plan, which includes Russia withdrawing from Ukrainian territory and returning Crimea to Kyiv's control. It is not clear whether the talks are aimed at producing a joint statement.  Brazil Foreign Policy Advisor Celso Amorim underscored the importance of bringing Moscow into the dialogue, saying, "Although Ukraine is the biggest victim, if we really want peace, we have to involve Moscow in this process in some form."   On Saturday, DW spoke with Charles Kupchan, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) in Washington, DC, about the conference and what it means for Kyiv.  Kupchan said: "It gives Ukraine an ability to try to appeal to the court of world opinion, to get major countries that have been on the fence — Saudi Arabia, Brazil, India — to get them onto its side. I don't think we're going to see anything concrete emerge from this conversation, but it is a step forward." The US analyst went on to say: "I do think it's important that China is there. The fact that China has gone despite Russia's absence says to me that the Chinese are carefully hedging away from their unstinting support for Moscow in this war." What did Ukraine, Russia say ahead of the talks? "I predict that the conversation will not be easy, but the truth is on our side," Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine's presidential office, said in an interview broadcast on Friday. "We have many disagreements and we have heard many positions, but it is important that we share our principles," Yermak, who is heading the Ukrainian delegation said. "Our task is to unite the whole world around Ukraine." In his nightly video message Friday, President Zelenskyy said, "a fair and honest end to Russian aggression will benefit everyone in the world. Everyone!" Although Russia has not been invited, the Kremlin has said it will keep an eye on the talks. While the conflict rages, Ukrainian, Russian and international officials say there is no prospect of direct peace talks between the two sides at present. Saturday's meeting follows Ukraine-organized peace talks in Copenhagen in June that were designed to be informal and did not yield an official statement. Riyadh hopes to play mediator Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest crude exporter, works closely with Russia on oil policy but has touted its ties to both sides and positioned itself as a possible mediator in the war. It has backed UN Security Council resolutions denouncing Russia's invasion as well as its unilateral annexation of territory in eastern Ukraine. Riyadh also helped mediate a prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia last year. Under de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom has sought a bigger role on the world stage and has pushed to expand ties with major powers outside the old framework of its relationship with the US. In May, the kingdom hosted Zelenskyy at an Arab summit in Jeddah, where he accused some Arab leaders of turning "a blind eye" to the horrors of Russia's invasion. Beijing also wants to broker peace China has also mooted a mediation role for itself in the conflict. Beijing describes itself as a neutral party but Western nations have criticized its close ties with Russia. In March, Beijing brokered a resumption of ties between Saudi and its arch-regional foe Iran. Beijing said Friday it would send its special representative for Eurasian affairs, Li Hui, to Jeddah. Like China, India has maintained close ties with Russia and refused to condemn it for the war and while ramping up imports of Russian oil. CFR analyst Charles Kupchan told DW: "it's important to have these conversations going because ultimately we will likely get to a point where it's time to shift from the battlefield to the negotiating table. China has an important role to play here, mainly because if anybody has influence over Putin, it is Xi Jinping. We will need China to lean on Moscow at the appropriate moment."

NATO members have said they want Ukraine in the alliance when the time is right, as Turkey drops its opposition to Swedish accession on day one of two-day summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. A summit communique issued by NATO leaders meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Tuesday, said, "Ukraine's future is in NATO." The document said thatKyiv would be asked to join the military alliance when "members agree and conditions are met." No hint was given as to when that might be. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, "there has never been stronger language for membership in NATO." Zelenskyy dissatisfied at 'weakness' of position But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced disappointment over the situation, saying it would be "absurd" if no time frame for membership were given. "I traveled here today with belief in a decision, with belief in partners, with belief in a strong NATO, a NATO which does not doubt, which does not lose time," he told a crowd of thousands of cheering, flag-waving Ukraine supporters in Vilnius alongside Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda. Zelenskyy thanked Nauseda for Lithuania's, "clear, honest and courageous position." Then the Ukrainian leader said, "every soldier expects… our every citizen, our every mother, our every child…" wants certainty from NATO, "is that too much to wish for?" Olexander Scherba at Kyiv's Foreign Ministry told DW that NATO's position on Ukraine membership in recent years had been "one big lie," saying that Ukraine was already "doing NATO's job and defending Europe."  Speaking on ARD television on Tuesday evening, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said, "I understand the dissatisfaction and impatience, particularly in the situation Ukraine is in, I have complete sympathy." "But nevertheless, the assurance is there: Ukraine will become a NATO member, as soon as the preconditions are met. That's an agreement that hasn't previously existed with such clarity," Pistorius said. Summit hosts Lithuania praise Ukraine Nauseda has staunchly backed Ukraine, and Lithuania was the first NATO member to send Kyiv weapons before Russia's February 24, 2022, invasion. Speaking alongside Zelenskyy, he said, "Ukraine is buying us time with their blood, so we can prepare and give a strong retort to Russia." The Baltic States — Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — were the last to become part of the Soviet Union when they were annexed in 1940, and the first to declare independence when it collapsed in 1990.  Still, NATO does not accept countries that are involved in ongoing conflicts, thus sealing Ukraine's fate while it remains under attack from neighboring Russia. Further conditions to be filled by Kyiv are effectively clamping down on corruption as well as modernizing the country's armed forces. Eastern NATO members who feel the threat posed by Russia, have been far more eager to extend a hand to Kyiv, yet the US and Germany, for instance, fear the consequences of NATO ultimately getting drawn into an open conflict with Russia. Nevertheless, Ukraine is enjoying unheard of assistance, with Germany announcing €700 million (roughly $770 million) in new military aid before the start of the Vilnius summit. France and Norway, too, have recently delivered new longer-range missiles. US President Joe Biden has offered Kyiv a security guarantee similar to the one Washington maintains with Israel, for example, but Kyiv has been hesitant to put too much faith in such US promises with another presidential election coming up there in November 2024. Turkey supports Sweden NATO membership after a year of stalling While in Vilnius, Biden thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his "courage" and "diplomatic efforts" on day one of the summit after it was announced that Ankara would drop more than a year of opposition to Stockholm's membership bid. NATO boss Stoltenberg had spoke of Turkey's change of heart on Monday, saying Turkey would put acceptance of Swedish membership to a vote in parliament — though no date was given when — in exchange for increased security cooperation and Stockholm's assistance in reviving Turkey's floundering EU membership bid. Increased trade and investment were part of the deal as well, and the US rushed to hint at new F-16 fighter jets for Turkey after years with the possible deal on ice. Turkey had presented an ever-growing list of demands before the announcement. Initially these had to do with members of the Turkish and Kurdish diaspora living in Sweden and then focussed on the arrest and extradition of Erdogan's perceived political opponents. Sweden has indeed tightened control over the activities of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been fighting an insurgency against Turkey for 39 years and whom Turkey considers terrorists. In an agreement signed between the two on Monday, Stockholm also promised to clamp down on the YPG, the PKK's Syrian wing. In the hours after Erdogan's change of tune on Sweden, several US officials hinted that a long-frozen Turkish bid to acquire F-16 fighter jets from Washington could be revitalized. Though purportedly not related subjects, Biden said the US would work with Turkey to "enhance defense and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area," after he welcomed news of Ankara's about face on Sweden. The US recently balked at a deal that would have seen 40 F-16s going to Turkey as a result of perceived unreliability from the NATO partner, given its hostility with fellow NATO member Greece, its purchase of Russian air defense technology, and other issues.  Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was "certain" Turkey's decision to relent on Sweden would have "negative consequences." Turkey and Russia have for years maintained close if tense relations, with Erdogan siding with Moscow and the West in different situations. On Tuesday, the EU's only other hold-out, Hungary, said acceptance of Sweden's membership bid was now simply a "technical matter." Other NATO commitments and tomorrow's slate One other area where members found agreement was in the need for NATO countries to devote "at least 2%" of GDP to defense spending. Previously, this figure was given as a NATO target, not a basline.  German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that Berlin "will be in a position to do just that next year." On day two of the summit, the newly-formed NATO-Ukraine Council will convene for the first time. The body aims to improve coordination between Kyiv and alliance members.

Ukraine Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has reiterated his commitment to work with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to elevate bilateral relations between the two countries to new heights during their recent telephone conversation.  Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her optimism regarding the seamless transportation of food crops from Ukraine, stating that Bangladesh desires an immediate cessation of ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, known as the "bread basket of world," can easily supply food to countries facing food shortages. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, under the leadership of the United Nations, expressed full support for the "Black Sea Crops Initiative" and extended gratitude to all those involved in such initiatives. She expressed her hope that in the coming days, significant steps would continue to be taken in this regard. Ukraine Denys Shmyhal urged the Bangladesh Prime Minister to stand by Ukraine in international arenas, particularly within the United Nations and other forums.  Sheikh Hasina stated that Bangladesh is devoted to the principles and policies of the United Nations and holds deep respect for regional and international cooperation. PM Hasina called for all opposition to be peacefully resolved and urged universal adherence to this policy.  She expressed her sadness over the loss of innocent lives, including children, due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.  Sheikh Hasina emphasized that the path of peace not only benefits Bangladesh but also promotes the welfare of humanity, as war does not bring prosperity to anyone. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina concluded their conversation by wishing Ukraine Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal good health.