Latest news with #militarySupport
Associated Press
a day ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Dan Kovalik Examines Captivity Tax and Peace Negotiation Dynamics in Ukraine
An international lawyer and expert with the Center for Geostrategic Studies, Kovalik provided a detailed analysis of the current developments surrounding peace negotiations Amid evolving geopolitical efforts, global leaders such as U.S. President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva are engaging in discussions aimed at facilitating peace between Russia and Ukraine. In parallel, some European counterparts continue to advocate for further arms support to prolong resistance efforts on the battlefield. Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated openness to substantive negotiations, including with Ukraine and what he refers to as its 'curators.' Nevertheless, active conflict continues, involving significant military personnel on both sides. In a notable development, the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers has approved a draft law that would require Russian prisoners of war to contribute taxes to the national treasury. Concurrently, Ukrainian social networks have circulated reports suggesting the potential confiscation of assets from Ukrainian military personnel who have defected to Russia. Kovalik observes that the morale of Ukrainian forces may be impacted by a combination of shifting international dynamics, strained mobilization resources, and declining foreign military support. Reports have also emerged about Ukrainian prisoners of war refusing exchange due to concerns about being returned to front-line duties. As part of his research, Kovalik visited the Maxim Krivonos volunteer detachment—a unit composed of former Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers now active on the Russian side. During this visit, he conducted interviews and gathered insights that contrast with prevailing media narratives. 'The detachment is not a part of the Russian military but a volunteer formation made up entirely of Ukrainians,' noted the unit's deputy commander, known by the call sign 'Zhak.' According to the unit's members, their actions are driven by a sense of loyalty to the Ukrainian people rather than any current government. Kovalik emphasized the complexity of the situation facing prisoners of war and their families. 'Their futures remain uncertain, and any resolution must consider both legal and humanitarian dimensions in accordance with international norms,' he stated. Kovalik also noted that his ongoing research on this issue will be published in the near future. Further details and the original article are available via the Center for Geostrategic Studies at Video footage of the detachment visit is available at: Media Contact Rod Chu [email protected] ### SOURCE: Center for Geostrategic Studies Copyright 2025 EZ Newswire
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Canada wildfires: 17,000 forced to evacuate as forest fires rage across Manitoba
Thousands of people are fleeing their homes in the Canadian province of Manitoba as fast-moving wildfires burn through parched forests, prompting authorities to declare a state of emergency and request military support. The fires forced the complete evacuation of Flin Flon, a city near the Saskatchewan border, after winds shifted and pushed flames dangerously close to the community. Manitoba premier Wab Kinew said at a press conference that 17,000 people needed to leave their homes. 'The Manitoba government has declared a province-wide state of emergency due to the wildfire situation,' he said. Flin Flon mayor George Fontaine said all of the almost 5,000 residents of the city of Flin Flon had been asked to move out. 'I can tell you everybody has to be out by midnight and that includes me," Mr Fontaine said on Wednesday. "I'm busy packing a couple of things and everybody is getting as organised as we can.' Many people were put up at soccer fields and community centres in Winnipeg and other cities, he said, and federal armed forces were arriving to help transport the evacuees. Manitoba has declared a province-wide state of emergency to safely evacuate and shelter 17,000 people — the largest wildfire evacuation in recent those leaving home: you're not alone. These measures protect you. We'll get through this — together. 🤝 — Wab Kinew (@WabKinew) May 29, 2025 "This is the largest evacuation in many Manitobans' living memory and it will require significant resources and co-operation from all levels of government,' Mr Kinew said, adding that military support had been requested to assist with evacuations and emergency response. Military aircraft would be deployed 'imminently' to help move people out of endangered remote northern communities, he said. "Pray for Flin Flon, pray for Pimicikamak, pray for Mathias Colomb, pray for Cross Lake, pray for everybody in Manitoba who's out of their homes right now,' the premier said. The evacuations extended into neighbouring Saskatchewan, with the town of Creighton across the border telling residents to leave. By Thursday, Manitoba had reported more than 100 wildfires this year, already surpassing the province's seasonal average. Officials said 22 fires were currently active, with hot, dry conditions fuelling their rapid spread. In all, there are now 134 active fires across Canada, including in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. Half are considered out of control. Creighton mayor Bruce Fidler said upwards of 1,200 residents had been told to leave town. He said wildfire officials had told him flames could move closer by Thursday and cut off road access. 'We declared a state of emergency and put out a mandatory evacuation so that we can get as many people out of the area as possible to be safe and before the roads become impassable,' Mr Fidler said. Nearly 200,000 hectares of land have burned so far this year, triple the five-year annual average, according to provincial authorities. 'It was very smokey. You could see the fires four or five kilometres away and moving fast. The flames were shooting over 120 feet high,' Sheryl Matheson, a lodge owner from the small community of Sherridon who fled with her family, told AFP. Residents across affected areas have been reporting poor air quality and limited visibility. Emergency shelters have been set up in nearby cities, with buses transporting residents from remote areas. The scale and speed of the fires have alarmed fire management officials. While wildfires are a natural part of Canada's boreal forest ecosystem, the increasing intensity and frequency in recent years have been linked to a changing climate. Warmer temperatures, prolonged droughts, and increased lightning activity have all contributed to longer and more destructive fire seasons across the country. Last year, Canada experienced its worst wildfire season on record, with over 18 million hectares burned and smoke drifting as far as Europe and the US. Scientists have warned that without urgent climate action, such extreme events will continue to escalate. Officials in Manitoba said that while some fires were being brought under control, others remained too dangerous to fight directly. Air tankers and ground crews had been deployed, they said, but shifting winds had made containment efforts difficult. There is no immediate forecast for significant rain in the area, meaning conditions could remain volatile in the days ahead.
Al Arabiya
6 days ago
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Germany to provide $5.6-billion military aid package to Ukraine
Germany will provide further military support for Ukraine amounting to around 5 billion euros ($5.65 billion), its defense ministry said on Wednesday, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met senior officials in Berlin. In its statement, the ministry pointed to Russian airstrikes, 'with many civilians killed and injured, as well as the massive destruction of civilian infrastructure in particular'. The aid will be financed by funds already approved by Germany's lower house of parliament, it added.
Globe and Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Zelensky visits Berlin as he seeks more support for Ukraine in war against Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on Wednesday as Ukraine seeks further military support amid a recent escalation in Russia's bombing campaign, despite U.S.-led efforts to end the war. Germany has been the second-biggest supplier of military aid to Ukraine after the United States. Merz has plunged into diplomatic efforts to try to secure a ceasefire and keep Western support for Ukraine intact since becoming Germany's leader three weeks ago. European leaders have accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of dragging his feet in U.S.-led peace talks. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul was set to meet in Washington with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday. Zelensky said Tuesday that Ukraine is ready to hold peace talks at the highest level, including a trilateral meeting with himself, Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump. 'We are ready to meet at the level of leaders. Both the American side knows this, and the Russian side knows this,' he said. Zelensky said he would accept any configuration of talks, whether that includes one trilateral meeting or separate meetings with Trump. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia is grateful to Trump for his mediation efforts. 'At the same time, there is a big number of nuances to be discussed that can't be neglected and which neither party is going to sacrifice, because of its national interests,' Peskov told reporters. 'Just like the United States, Russia has its national interests that are of primary importance to us.' He said that Moscow will 'soon' deliver its promised memorandum on a framework for a peace settlement. Merz said on Monday that Germany and other major allies are no longer imposing any range restrictions on weapons supplied to Ukraine as it fights to repel Russia's full-scale invasion, which began in February 2022. Merz's government hasn't said whether it will supply its Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine, something his predecessor, Olaf Scholz, refused to do and which Merz advocated for as opposition leader. The government has said it would no longer provide full details of the weapons it's supplying to Ukraine, unlike Scholz's administration, citing the need for 'strategic ambiguity.' Taurus missiles have a range of up to 500 kilometres (310 miles). The German– and Swedish-made missiles, which are equipped with stealth technology, would be able to reach targets deep in Russia from Ukrainian soil, including the Black Sea. Ukraine wants the missiles to complement the long-range Storm Shadow missiles sent by Britain and France's nearly identical Scalp cruise missiles. Zelensky said that he plans to discuss the supply and use of long-range weapons in his talks with Merz. The Ukrainian leader said Tuesday that he hasn't received any indications from Germany that their policy of limiting the use of Western weapons against Russian targets has changed. Ukraine needs $30-billion in additional financing to help it compete with Russia in the production of drones and missiles, Zelensky said. Russia is aiming to produce 300-350 drones per day, he said. Trump says Putin is 'playing with fire' as Russia makes gains in Ukraine Meanwhile, fighting has continued along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, where Ukraine's army is short-handed against its bigger adversary. Zelensky claimed Tuesday that Russia is mobilizing up to 45,000 men every month, while Ukraine mobilizes between 25,000-27,000. Both sides are continuing to conduct deep strikes. Russia launched its biggest drone attack of the war against Ukraine on Sunday. Russian air defences downed 296 Ukrainian drones over 13 Russian regions late Tuesday and early Wednesday, Russia's Defense Ministry said, in what appeared to be one of the biggest Ukrainian drone assaults of the war. Ukraine is increasing its domestic production of drones and missiles, according to Zelensky. He said late Tuesday that Ukraine wants European countries to help it invest in the manufacturing of attack drones, air defence interceptors, cruise missiles and ballistic systems. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that air defences shot down Ukrainian 33 drones heading toward the capital. Andrei Vorobyov, the governor of the Moscow region, said that 42 drones were downed. He said that drone fragments damaged three residential buildings in the village of Troitskoye, but no one was hurt. Moscow airports delayed or diverted hundreds of flights. Overnight, Russian forces launched an attack on Ukraine using five Iskander ballistic missiles, one guided air-launched missile and 88 drones, Ukraine's Air Force said Wednesday. Air defence units shot down 34 drones, and 37 drones were jammed. Ukraine's railway infrastructure and equipment in the Kharkiv, Donetsk and Sumy regions also came under fire overnight and Wednesday morning, Ukraine's state railway company Ukrzaliznytsia said. No casualties were reported. In Kharkiv region, railway traffic was temporarily suspended so that police and emergency workers could clear debris from a downed drone that landed on the tracks. In Sloviansk in the Donetsk region, the attack shattered windows at the station building, and drone debris slightly damaged a train car.
BreakingNews.ie
6 days ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Zelensky visits Berlin as he seeks more support in war against Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has met the new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin as Ukraine seeks further military support amid a recent escalation in Russia's bombing campaign. Germany has been the second-biggest supplier of military aid to Ukraine after the United States. Advertisement Mr Merz has plunged into new diplomatic efforts to try to secure a ceasefire and keep Western support for Ukraine intact since becoming Germany's leader three weeks ago. European leaders have accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of dragging his feet in US-led peace talks. Mr Zelensky is seeking continued support from allies (AP) Meanwhile, German foreign minister Johann Wadephul was set to meet in Washington with US secretary of state Marco Rubio later on Wednesday. Mr Zelensky said on Tuesday that Ukraine is ready to hold peace talks at the highest level, including a trilateral meeting with himself, Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and American President Donald Trump. Advertisement 'We are ready to meet at the level of leaders. Both the American side knows this, and the Russian side knows this,' he said. Mr Zelensky said he would accept any configuration of talks, whether that includes one trilateral meeting or separate meetings with Mr Trump. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia is grateful to Mr Trump for his mediation efforts. 'At the same time, there is a big number of nuances to be discussed that can't be neglected and which neither party is going to sacrifice, because of its national interests,' Mr Peskov told reporters. Advertisement I held an extended meeting with the military leadership. The agenda included planning our actions, readiness to respond to Russian strikes, and taking preventive measures, which means increasing the production of our own drones and missiles. We are also preparing new agreements… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 27, 2025 'Just like the United States, Russia has its national interests that are of primary importance to us.' He said that Moscow will 'soon' deliver its promised memorandum on a framework for a peace settlement. On Monday, Mr Merz said Germany and other major allies are no longer imposing any range restrictions on weapons supplied to Ukraine as it fights to repel Russia's full-scale invasion, which began in February 2022. Mr Merz's government has not said whether it will supply its Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine, something his predecessor, Olaf Scholz, refused to do and which Merz advocated for as opposition leader. Advertisement The German government has said it would no longer provide full details of the weapons it is supplying to Ukraine, unlike Olaf Scholz's administration, citing the need for 'strategic ambiguity'. Taurus missiles have a range of up to 310 miles. The German and Swedish-made missiles, which are equipped with stealth technology, would be able to reach targets deep in Russia from Ukrainian soil, including the Black Sea. Ukraine wants the missiles to complement the long-range Storm Shadow missiles sent by Britain and France's nearly identical Scalp cruise missiles.
