Avril Haines/Vladimir Putin. TT
The Russian InvasionThe Battles
USA: Putin probably ready to drag out the war for several years
The Russian military is unlikely to be able to sustain the fighting in Ukraine at the same level as today and is unlikely to make any major territorial gains this year. This was said by US intelligence chief Avril Haines during a hearing in the Senate on Wednesday, reports AFP.
At the same time, she says that Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely counting on time speaking in his favor. According to Haines, Putin probably judges that a protracted war is his best chance to achieve his goals in Ukraine, even if it would take years.
Haines also says that after a year of war, Putin now seems to better understand the limitations of Russian forces.
- Putin seems to have shifted to a more modest military goal, she said.
Jens Stoltenberg. Jonas Ekströmer/TT
The Russian InvasionThe Battles
Stoltenberg: Bachmut may fall within days
It cannot be ruled out that Bachmut falls into Russian hands in the coming days, says NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg according to Reuters.
- We must make sure that it does not become a turning point in the war.
Earlier on Wednesday, Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin stated that the entire eastern part of Bachmut had been captured. This has not been confirmed by Russian or independent sources.
In an interview with Expressen, Stoltenberg also touches on the threat from Russia when Sweden and Finland move towards NATO membership.
Since 90 percent of the Russian ground forces are in and around Ukraine, Putin does not have the ability to pose any further threat – Sweden and Finland are in a safe position, according to the NATO chief.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov. Christine Olsson/TT
The Russian invasion. The outside world's response
Ukraine's response to the EU: The amount must be doubled
The EU aims to compensate member states that help Ukraine with artillery ammunition with up to two billion euros. But Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov is not satisfied, TT reports.
- We need a million artillery shells, and that will be around four billion euros, he says.
The EU's proposal, which has not yet been hammered out, stands on three legs and deals partly with compensating EU countries that supply Ukraine with ammunition, and partly with scaling up European arms production so that the EU as a whole is better equipped for war.
All EU countries stand behind the proposal as such, judging by the amounts, the points of contention concern everything.
- We have the resources we have, says Borrell. If the Member States are ready to give more money, I am happy.
EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell and Swedish defense minister Pål Jonson (M). Christine Olsson/TT
The Russian invasion. The outside world's response
The EU's foreign minister: Billions in aid will facilitate continued support for Ukraine
The need for military support - especially with ammunition - to Ukraine is great and the coming weeks will be decisive for the war-prone country, according to the EU's foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell.
At a press conference on Wednesday, alongside Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson (M), Borrell explained how it will be done.
According to a proposal, two billion euros should be earmarked to make member states more eager to donate the ammunition they already have to Ukraine.
Alongside that, says Borrell, arms production in Europe must be scaled up, this to replace the stocks that individual countries are now sending to Ukraine and to ensure a good defense in EU member states as well.
- I would have preferred to talk about peace, but unfortunately I have to talk about ammunition. And that's something we need to do today, Borrell said.
According to the EU head, the ministers agree on the purpose, but details remain before an agreement can be signed. The hope is to conclude such an agreement on March 20.
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