Latest news with #InternationalCentreforUkrainianVictory
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump warns ‘playing with fire' Putin that Russia has avoided ‘really bad things' — thanks to him
Donald Trump has warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that he is 'playing with fire' following a barrage of Russian drone and missile attacks across Ukraine. The U.S. president also suggested Russia has avoided 'really bad things' — if it weren't for him. 'What Vladimir Putin doesn't realize is that if it weren't for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD,' Trump wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday. 'He's playing with fire!' During his campaign, Trump promised to end the war within 24 hours after his return to the White House and repeatedly claimed that Russia's invasion never would have happened had he been in office at the time. But more than three months after his inauguration, with no ceasefire yet in sight, Trump is increasingly critical of his Russian counterpart and has threatened to impose severe sanctions after a relentless string of attacks. 'Nothing sadder than a tough guy who needs to remind you he's tough, right after admitting to shielding Russia,' wrote former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger. 'When will those REALLY BAD things finally start happening to Russia?' wrote Olena Halushka with the International Centre for Ukrainian Victory. 'We can't wait.' The president's latest comments follow recent criticism against his Russian counterpart after three massive drone and missile attacks against civilian targets across Ukraine, including what Ukraine has called the largest attack yet since the start of Russia's assault more than three years ago. 'I wouldn't call it frustration,' State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said of Trump's remarks on Tuesday. 'It was the statement of a man who has led the effort for peace in so many regions, making it clear and being completely transparent about what has transpired,' she told reporters. Trump 'has many tools' to end the 'carnage,' and Russia should take Trump's comments 'seriously,' according to Bruce. After spending a bulk of his second administration thus far falsely blaming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the war, Trump's recent rhetoric has gestured towards threats and outright condemnation of Putin. Just last week, the president praised a call with Putin as 'excellent' in 'tone and spirit.' But on Sunday, he unleashed a tirade against the Russian leader, saying he has 'gone absolutely CRAZY' with the latest attacks. 'Something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!' Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday. 'I've always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that's proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!' Putin is 'needlessly killing a lot of people, and I'm not just talking about soldiers,' Trump wrote Sunday. 'Missiles and drones are being shot into Cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever.' The Kremlin shrugged off the president's remarks, saying in response that 'everyone' involved is guilty of 'emotional overload' while thanking Trump for his efforts to broker peace — which Russia is routinely rejecting. Zelensky urged Trump to apply 'real pressure' against Putin. 'Putin shows just how much he despises the world – the world that spends more effort on 'dialogue' with him than on real pressure,' Zelensky wrote on Monday. 'The increase in Russian strikes should be met with increased sanctions,' he added. 'Russia's disregard for diplomacy and refusal even to consider a ceasefire must be met with a freeze on Russian finances and a halt to its oil trade.'
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
WSJ: Ukraine may have shot down its F-16 over summer due to "US overcautiousness"
The Wall Street Journal has published a column on the probable cause of the F-16 fighter jet crash that resulted in the death of pilot Oleksii Mes on 26 August 2024. The newspaper writes that it was friendly fire from a Patriot air defence system, although Ukraine has not officially reported this. Source: Jillian Kay Melchior's column in The Wall Street Journal Details: The disaster, the sources said, may have been caused by the Link 16 friend and foe system, which was disabled on the Patriots handed over to Ukraine. The Link 16 tactical network provides a real-time overview of all elements of the system – aircraft, ground units, air defence assets and command. This makes operations safer for allies and more deadly for the opponent. Link 16 also reduces the risk to pilots during flights. The first Patriot air defence systems arrived in Ukraine in April 2023. WSJ cites Dariia Kaleniuk, co-founder of the International Centre for Ukrainian Victory, as saying that the Patriot was disconnected from Link 16 because no one expected Ukraine to receive F-16 fighters. And when the West approved the transfer of the fighter jets a few months later, "that was not fixed". As the author suggests, Link 16 is such an important and sensitive tool that the US may have been unwilling to provide it to Ukraine due to the excessive caution characteristic of the Biden administration's policy towards Ukraine. The Pentagon responded to Melchior's request by saying that it does not comment on the configuration of weapons provided to partners and advised to contact the Ukrainian side. Sources claim that efforts are underway to address this shortcoming but refused to provide details. Background: On 29 August, The Wall Street Journal, citing sources, reported that an F-16 fighter jet was destroyed in a plane crash in Ukraine on 26 August. Also on 26 August, Air Command Zakhid (West) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said that Ukrainian pilot Oleksii Mes was killed while repelling a large-scale Russian combined missile and drone attack on 26 August. The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that an F-16 fighter jet crashed while repelling a Russian missile attack, and the pilot died. Support UP or become our patron!
