The Russian invasion. The outside world's response

Frustrated EU delegation in the US: "Wake up, Washington"  

 

A group of EU parliamentarians has spent a frustrated week in the US trying to shake up US aid to Ukraine, which is blocked by Republicans, Politico reports.  

 

In a series of meetings with US politicians, the group, made up of the British, French, Spanish, Lithuanians and Czechs, has pleaded for cooperation with Europe and a deal in Congress to untie the knots. 

 

- It is painful, but we spend 80 percent of our energy on waking up Washington and making them behave like Washington, says Lithuanian parliamentarian Zigimantas Pavilionis.  

 

British parliamentarian Alicia Kearns is sharply critical of Joe Biden, urging him: "Use your muscles, stop cowering and let the Republicans set your foreign policy agenda."  

...................................................................

 

Cameron: Feels like 1930 - we can't appease Putin 

 

The situation in Europe after the Russian invasion of Ukraine is similar to that before the Second World War. This is what British Foreign Minister David Cameron says in an interview with Politico. 

 

- This is like being a foreign minister or a leader in Europe in the 1930s, we cannot appease Putin. We must stand up against the evil that this invasion represents.  

 

The former prime minister says the war in Ukraine is his "absolute first priority" as foreign minister. 

  

...............................................................

 

Sweden participates in the largest NATO exercise in decades 

 

Around 90,000 soldiers from NATO and Sweden countries will participate in NATO's largest military exercise since the Cold War. This is stated by the military commander of the alliance, Chris Cavoli, according to Reuters.  

 

The exercise, Steadfast Defender, begins next week and runs until the end of May.  

 

- The alliance will demonstrate its ability to strengthen the Euro-Atlantic area through a transatlantic movement of troops from North America, says Cavoli.  

 

The soldiers will practice a scenario where Russia attacks NATO territory, triggering Article 5 of the NATO Treaty.

*************************************

Arrested reporters in Russia  

The US ambassador met with the arrested WSJ reporter  

US Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy met the arrested Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in Moscow on Thursday, the embassy said according to AFP. 

"Evan remains resilient and is grateful for the support of friends, family and supporters. We continue to call for his immediate release," the statement said. 

Gershkovich was arrested during a reporting trip in Yekaterinburg in March last year, and is accused of espionage, which is strongly denied by his employer. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.  

Putin said in December that he is open to a deal to free the reporter.