The latest news on the war between Russia and Ukraine | Wilnesh News

Pope Francis’ No. 2 said in a newspaper interview on Tuesday that the first condition for any talks to end the war in Ukraine is that Russia should stop its aggression.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry summoned the papal nuncio on Monday, expressing “disappointment” at Francis’ previous remarks that Ukraine should “show white flag courage” and open talks with Russia to end two years of war.

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin told Corriere della Sera on Tuesday that the Vatican was pressing for a ceasefire and that “the aggressors should first stop firing.”

— Reuters

Russian authorities said Ukrainian drones struck seven regions overnight, including the Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Leningrad, Moscow, Orel and Tula regions.

The Russian Defense Ministry said its air defense systems destroyed and intercepted 25 Ukrainian drones over the region overnight, according to a statement published by the TASS news agency.

“Tonight, the Kiev regime’s attempt to launch a terrorist attack on objects in the Russian Federation using 25 aviation-type drones was prevented,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement reported by TASS news agency.

“In Moscow (2 drones), Leningrad (1 drone), Belgorod (7 drones), Kusk (11 drones), Bryansk (1 drone) The air defense systems on duty in the Tula (1 drone) and Orel regions were intercepted and destroyed (2 drones) areas,” the ministry said.

In a separate report, the TASS news agency quoted the Defense Ministry as saying it had thwarted another attempt to attack the Belgorod border region with missiles and artillery strikes. The TASS news agency stated that “Russian air defense forces shot down a Tochka-U missile and eight RM-70 Vampire multiple rocket system shells of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Belgorod region.”

Nizhny Novgorod Governor Gleb Nikitin said in a separate report that Russian energy infrastructure in the region had been targeted.

“In the morning, the Kostovo Industrial Zone, a fuel and energy complex, was attacked by a drone. Now special forces are working on the scene, using all necessary forces and means to focus the fire on one of the oil facilities. “Processing plant,” he says on his website telegram channel.

CNBC could not immediately verify the claims, and Ukraine has not commented on these latest alleged attacks. However, Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Russian territory with drones before, particularly targeting energy and fuel infrastructure such as refineries.

— Holly Elliot

NATO held an accession ceremony for Sweden, the 32nd member of the transatlantic Western alliance, which officially joined last week nearly two years after first applying to join the organization.

The Swedish flag was raised for the first time at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, as Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson delivered speeches.

Stoltenberg said: “Sweden has high-end capabilities, first-class military power, and defense expenditure accounts for more than 2% of GDP.”

“Sweden’s accession once again shows that NATO’s door remains open. No one can close it. Sweden takes its rightful place at the NATO table under the protective shield of Article 5 – the ultimate guarantee of our freedom and security. Guaranteed. All for one, one for all.”

Stoltenberg said in a separate speech that Ukraine was “closer to NATO membership than ever before.”

— Natasha Turak

Russia produces three times the number of artillery shells for its army than the United States and Europe produce for Ukraine. CNN reports explain.

The report quoted NATO intelligence estimates as saying that “Russia produces about 250,000 artillery ammunition per month, or about 3 million per year.”

The report states that the United States and Kyiv’s European allies simultaneously have the capacity to produce approximately 1.2 million munitions per year for shipment to Ukraine.

“The U.S. military has set a goal of producing 100,000 artillery rounds per month by the end of 2025, less than half of Russia’s monthly production,” the statement added.

That number may now fall as Congress stalls on approving more military aid to Kyiv.

— Natasha Turak

The Belarusian Defense Ministry said it was launching inspections to assess the combat readiness of its armed forces. Announced on Telegram.

“The Armed Forces have begun inspections of the combat readiness of military formations and units,” the ministry wrote in its post, according to a Russian Google translation. “The inspections are comprehensive. Personnel must be moved to designated areas and conduct a series of exercises and training , including live fire.”

The inspections will involve the movement of military equipment, and civilian transport as well as movement in public areas and roads may be restricted as a result, the statement said.

Belarus is one of Russia’s closest allies, with longtime President Alexander Lukashenko providing logistical support and training grounds for his soldiers during Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

— Natasha Turak

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said at Sweden’s official accession ceremony that Sweden’s formal membership of NATO last week showed that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s goal of weakening Ukraine has failed.

“When President Putin launched a full-scale invasion two years ago, he wanted to reduce the number of NATO and strengthen control over neighboring countries. He wanted to destroy Ukraine as a sovereign country, but he failed,” Stoltenberg said, standing in Sweden Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said next to him. Before the raising of the Swedish flag outside NATO headquarters in Brussels.

“NATO has become bigger and stronger,” he added.

In May 2022, after Russia invaded Ukraine, Sweden applied to join the military alliance for the first time, ending its historical non-aligned position. However, the country’s accession has been blocked by member states Turkey and Hungary. Hungary voted for the country to join the union just last month.

— Natasha Turak

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on state television after meeting Trump in Florida that former U.S. President Donald Trump would “not give a penny to Ukraine for its war with Russia” if re-elected .

“He will not invest a single penny in Ukraine’s war with Russia, so the war will end because it is clear that Ukraine cannot stand alone,” Orban said on Sunday night.

“If the Americans don’t give money and weapons, and the Europeans don’t give money and weapons, then this war will end. And if the Americans don’t give money, and the Europeans can’t finance the war themselves, then the war will end. ”.

Orban has long maintained friendly relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, refused to send weapons to Ukraine and maintained active economic ties with Moscow despite EU sanctions. He met Putin in China last October despite criticism from other European leaders.

— Natasha Turak