News in Russia and the war in Ukraine

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday rejected a suggestion that Russia might join peace talks in 2024 on terms set by Kyiv.

“It is completely inappropriate,” Peskov told reporters about the issue, reported the Russian state news agency Tass.

There are two sources told NBC News Last month, US and European officials quietly announced “sensitive” talks with Kyiv on terms it might be willing to negotiate.

Ukrainian officials and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have maintained that Ukraine is not willing to give up any territory to Russia, and will not participate in any talks to show this.

— Jenny Reid

Ukraine began using trains on Thursday to meet a border blockade by Polish truck drivers, said Ukrzalynitsya, Ukraine’s railway line.

The first train deployed in the operation moved 23 trucks across the border from Ukraine to Poland, a statement said.

Officials are working on ways to speed up the process and efforts are underway to get the trucks to the other side, to Ukraine.

The drivers who are moving on the border pass, it is said.

Polish truckers began blocking key roads in Ukraine last month to protest the terms of EU access for Ukrainian trucks. The blockade has caused high prices for fuel and some food items as well as delaying the delivery of drones to the Ukrainian army.

Valeriy Tkachyov, deputy director of the commercial department at Ukrainian railways, first told the Interfax Ukraine news agency that the train was loaded and ready to go.

Tkachyov said that the Ukrainian and Polish sides are coordinating technical issues.

“As soon as this test train passes and everything is in order, we will introduce this on a large scale,” said Tkachyov.

Ukrainian authorities say about 3,000 trucks are blocked on the Polish side of the border and authorities have been unable to agree terms with protesters to stop the movement.

The main demand of Polish migrants is to stop Ukrainian truckers from getting free access to the European Union, something Kyiv and Brussels have said is impossible.

— Reuters

The hardest part of the winter is to come, the Ukrainian intelligence service said on Thursday, warning that Ukraine needs to strengthen its air defenses ahead of attacks. of Russia on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

“Russia maintains special skills to produce various types of weapons. It is a serious challenge for the security and defense of Ukraine and the pro-Ukrainian alliance. We need more support. The most difficult part is the winter is ahead,” said representative Andrii Yusov. The Main Intelligence Directorate in the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, said during a national telethon on Thursday, reported the media Ukrinform.

Russian sales are much lower compared to last year and the beginning of the whole attack, Yusov said, but he warned that the threat of Russian missile and drone attacks in on the scope of the government and the power of Ukraine remains the same.

Ukraine is bracing for another season of heavy attacks on its power grid after last year’s experience of attacks and blackouts. Ukrenergo is a government owned power company said April Russian forces have used 1,200 missiles and drones to attack Ukraine’s defense forces since October 2022. Among them, 250 of those weapons hit their intended targets, more than 40% the electrical system was damaged, said the operator.

Ukrenergo described last winter as “the most difficult heating season in the history of Ukraine’s energy system,” and said that “no European power has experienced such a severe damage attempt.”

— Holly Elliott

An emergency spending bill that would have provided billions of dollars in new defense aid for Ukraine and Israel was blocked in the US Senate on Wednesday as Republicans stepped up their demand for tougher immigration control measures in the America’s border with Mexico.

The vote was 49 in favor to 51 against, leaving $110.5 billion less than the 60 votes needed in the 100-member Senate to pave the way for debate to begin, threatening President Joe Biden to provide new aid before the end of 2023.

The vote was along party lines, with both Senate Republicans not voting along with Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who often votes with Democrats but expressed concern about funding the “system.” military war now” against Palestine.

The bill would provide about $50 billion in new defense aid for Ukraine, as well as humanitarian and economic aid funds for the government in Kyiv, along with $14 billion for Israel. fighting Hamas in Gaza. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, also voted “no” so he could reintroduce the measure in the future.

After the election, Schumer noted the dangers if Ukraine falls, saying that it is a “serious moment that will have lasting consequences for the 21st century,” which threatens the collapse of Western democracy. Republicans say it’s important to make their case for immigration policy and control of the southern border.

“Today’s vote is what the Democratic leadership needs to show that Senate Republicans mean what we say,” Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement. speech on the floor on Wednesday. “Then we will vote. Then we will begin to achieve America’s national security priorities, including here at home.”

Even if the bill passes the Senate, it still needs to be approved in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, where many Republicans voted against aid to Ukraine, including Speaker Mike Johnson.

— Reuters