Tag: Europe

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said on Friday he and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had discussed the war situation in Ukraine and ways of strengthening Kyiv's military capabilities.In talks held as President Vladimir Putin prepared to proclaim the annexation of Ukrainian territory seized in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Reznikov said Austin reaffirmed Washington would not recognise votes in four Ukrainian provinces that Kyiv and Western governments denounced as illegal and coercive."Discussed updates from the front line ... and ways of strengthening our capabilities," Reznikov wrote on Twitter."Good news to be announced soon," he added, without saying what he was referring to.He said Austin had "confirmed (the United States) won’t recognise 'referenda...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic and Republican U.S. lawmakers said on Thursday they wanted to continue the flow of money and weapons for Ukraine's battle against Russia's invasion, denouncing Moscow's plan to annex four Ukrainian regions."We have not won this yet. We need to continue to support the Ukrainians," Democrat Bob Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told reporters after a classified briefing on the conflict.The Senate passed a bill funding the federal government through Dec. 16, and sending $12.3 billion in military and economic assistance to Ukraine. The bill, which the House of Representatives is set to pass on Friday, also authorizes President Joe Biden to direct the drawdown of up to $3.7 billion for the transfer to Ukraine of weapons from U.S. ...

By Guy Faulconbridge and Andrew OsbornLONDON (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin's latest warning that he is ready to use nuclear weapons to defend Russia amid the war in Ukraine has made a troubling question much more urgent: Is the former KGB spy bluffing?Putin cautioned it was no bluff, and Western politicians, diplomats and nuclear weapons experts are divided. Some say he could use one or more smaller, tactical nuclear weapons to try to stave off military defeat, protect his presidency, scare off the West or intimidate Kyiv into capitulation.Putin's warning, which was followed by a more specific threat to use a nuclear weapon in Ukraine from an ally, might mean the Kremlin is considering an escalation after Russia annexes four Ukrainian regions which it only partly occupies.Russia'...