Russia & Ukraine

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Atlantic said:
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/14/...nikov-destroyed-black-sea-intl-hnk/index.html

Ukraine says it has sunk another warship, disabling a third of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet

By Victoria Butenko, Christian Edwards and Alex Stambaugh, CNN
4 minute read
Updated 8:03 AM EST, Wed February 14, 2024

Ukraine claims it has now disabled a third of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet after its military intelligence said it sank another Russian warship in a sea drone attack off the coast of Crimea on Wednesday.

Russia’s landing ship Caesar Kunikov was attacked with “MAGURA” V5 drones that punctured “critical holes” on its left side before sinking, the Ukrainian military intelligence agency said on Telegram.

“Ukraine has disabled a third of the Russian Black Sea Fleet during the large-scale invasion,” the country’s armed forces told CNN after Wednesday’s attack.

That aligns with Ukrainian claims last week that they had disabled about 33% of Russia’s warships, amounting to 24 disabled ships and one submarine. The landing ship Caesar Kunikov would be the 25th disabled ship, according to Ukraine’s count.

Wednesday’s attack was conducted by the agency’s “Group 13” special forces unit in cooperation with Ukraine’s security and defense forces, the statement said.

Night-time footage provided by Ukraine showed a sea drone racing toward the Caesar Kunikov, before a huge plume of smoke rose from the vessel.

CNN could not independently verify Ukraine’s claims. The Kremlin declined to comment on the reported attack.

“This has to do with the course of the special military operation, so it is the prerogative of the Ministry of Defense. I suggest you refer to the statements of our military colleagues. I can’t say anything about this,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in a news briefing.

Wednesday’s attack is the latest in a series of Ukrainian strikes on Russia’s navy, as it tries to land both strategic and symbolic blows against Russian forces that annexed Crimea in 2014.

As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine nears its second anniversary, the frontlines have for months remained mostly static. But since last year Ukraine has pivoted to the Black Sea, saying its strikes on Crimea and Russian ships are intended to isolate the peninsula and make it more difficult for Russia to sustain its military operations on the Ukrainian mainland.

When asked about the incident in a Brussels press conference on Wednesday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said broadly that “the Ukrainians have been able to inflict heavy losses on the Russian Black Sea Fleet,” and that this is a “great achievement, a great victory for Ukrainians.”

The NATO chief also noted that the fact that Ukraine’s armed forces have pushed away the Russian Black Sea fleet and opened a corridor has allowed them to export grain and other commodities to the world market.

“Few believe this was possible just a few months ago. But now actually, the export of grain from Ukraine takes place even without an agreement with Russia. So this shows that the skills and the competence of the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” Stoltenberg said, adding that this is a result of the Ukraine’s forces skill set but that also NATO’s support has been important.

Drones give Ukraine the advantage
Earlier this month, Ukraine said it sank the Ivanovets, a Russian guided-missile ship, also in the Black Sea. Its most notable strike was on the Moskva in April 2022, which forced Russia to change the way it operates close to areas controlled by Ukraine.

After the attack on the Ivanovets, CNN interviewed Ukraine’s secretive sea drone unit behind the strike at a location near the Ukrainian coastal city of Odesa. One of the drone pilots behind the attack told CNN that 10 “MAGURA” drones were used in the attack, six of which hit and ultimately sunk the Russian warship.

“MAGURA” drones are only a few meters long and powered by jet skis, a pilot from a special unit in Ukraine’s defense intelligence agency told CNN earlier this year.

But they have a large range of around 800 kilometers (nearly 500 miles), so military units can launch drones from across large swathes of Ukraine’s coastline for missions against Crimean targets.

Kyiv is increasingly using drones to level the playing field with Russia. Ukraine’s former top general, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, stressed the importance of drones in a CNN op-ed written earlier this month before he was removed from his post last week by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“It is these unmanned systems – such as drones – along with other types of advanced weapons, that provide the best way for Ukraine to avoid being drawn into a positional war, where we do not possess the advantage,” Zaluzhnyi wrote.

One of Ukraine’s drone pilots told CNN drones have provided an advantage in the Black Sea because “they are quite difficult to see” and their small size makes it hard for Russia to target them, while drones can target warships more easily.

“No warship can be as maneuverable as these drones,” the pilot added.
More...


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Atlantic said:
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/14/...nikov-destroyed-black-sea-intl-hnk/index.html

Ukraine says it has sunk another warship, disabling a third of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet

By Victoria Butenko, Christian Edwards and Alex Stambaugh, CNN
4 minute read
Updated 8:03 AM EST, Wed February 14, 2024

Ukraine claims it has now disabled a third of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet after its military intelligence said it sank another Russian warship in a sea drone attack off the coast of Crimea on Wednesday.

Russia’s landing ship Caesar Kunikov was attacked with “MAGURA” V5 drones that punctured “critical holes” on its left side before sinking, the Ukrainian military intelligence agency said on Telegram.

“Ukraine has disabled a third of the Russian Black Sea Fleet during the large-scale invasion,” the country’s armed forces told CNN after Wednesday’s attack.

That aligns with Ukrainian claims last week that they had disabled about 33% of Russia’s warships, amounting to 24 disabled ships and one submarine. The landing ship Caesar Kunikov would be the 25th disabled ship, according to Ukraine’s count.

Wednesday’s attack was conducted by the agency’s “Group 13” special forces unit in cooperation with Ukraine’s security and defense forces, the statement said.

Night-time footage provided by Ukraine showed a sea drone racing toward the Caesar Kunikov, before a huge plume of smoke rose from the vessel.

CNN could not independently verify Ukraine’s claims. The Kremlin declined to comment on the reported attack.

“This has to do with the course of the special military operation, so it is the prerogative of the Ministry of Defense. I suggest you refer to the statements of our military colleagues. I can’t say anything about this,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in a news briefing.

Wednesday’s attack is the latest in a series of Ukrainian strikes on Russia’s navy, as it tries to land both strategic and symbolic blows against Russian forces that annexed Crimea in 2014.

As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine nears its second anniversary, the frontlines have for months remained mostly static. But since last year Ukraine has pivoted to the Black Sea, saying its strikes on Crimea and Russian ships are intended to isolate the peninsula and make it more difficult for Russia to sustain its military operations on the Ukrainian mainland.

When asked about the incident in a Brussels press conference on Wednesday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said broadly that “the Ukrainians have been able to inflict heavy losses on the Russian Black Sea Fleet,” and that this is a “great achievement, a great victory for Ukrainians.”

The NATO chief also noted that the fact that Ukraine’s armed forces have pushed away the Russian Black Sea fleet and opened a corridor has allowed them to export grain and other commodities to the world market.

“Few believe this was possible just a few months ago. But now actually, the export of grain from Ukraine takes place even without an agreement with Russia. So this shows that the skills and the competence of the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” Stoltenberg said, adding that this is a result of the Ukraine’s forces skill set but that also NATO’s support has been important.

Drones give Ukraine the advantage
Earlier this month, Ukraine said it sank the Ivanovets, a Russian guided-missile ship, also in the Black Sea. Its most notable strike was on the Moskva in April 2022, which forced Russia to change the way it operates close to areas controlled by Ukraine.

After the attack on the Ivanovets, CNN interviewed Ukraine’s secretive sea drone unit behind the strike at a location near the Ukrainian coastal city of Odesa. One of the drone pilots behind the attack told CNN that 10 “MAGURA” drones were used in the attack, six of which hit and ultimately sunk the Russian warship.

“MAGURA” drones are only a few meters long and powered by jet skis, a pilot from a special unit in Ukraine’s defense intelligence agency told CNN earlier this year.

But they have a large range of around 800 kilometers (nearly 500 miles), so military units can launch drones from across large swathes of Ukraine’s coastline for missions against Crimean targets.

Kyiv is increasingly using drones to level the playing field with Russia. Ukraine’s former top general, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, stressed the importance of drones in a CNN op-ed written earlier this month before he was removed from his post last week by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“It is these unmanned systems – such as drones – along with other types of advanced weapons, that provide the best way for Ukraine to avoid being drawn into a positional war, where we do not possess the advantage,” Zaluzhnyi wrote.

One of Ukraine’s drone pilots told CNN drones have provided an advantage in the Black Sea because “they are quite difficult to see” and their small size makes it hard for Russia to target them, while drones can target warships more easily.

“No warship can be as maneuverable as these drones,” the pilot added.
More...


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According to Russian sources, the US rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine to halt the war after talks with mediators.

Source: Reuters, citing three Russian sources familiar with the negotiations

Details: According to three Russian sources, mediators met in Türkiye near the end of 2023.

According to a fourth diplomatic source, Russia initiated unofficial contacts between the Russian Federation and the United States through intermediaries. These contacts did not appear to result in anything.

A US official said he was unaware of informal contacts through intermediaries.

According to three Russian sources, Putin's signal was relayed to Washington, where senior US officials gathered, including White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, Central Intelligence Agency director Bill Burns, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

According to one Russian source, Sullivan planned to speak with Putin's foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, to determine next steps.

However, when the call came in January, Sullivan informed Ushakov that Washington was willing to discuss other aspects of the relationship but would not discuss a cease-fire without Ukraine, according to one Russian source.

The US official declined to provide any information about Sullivan's alleged phone calls, as well as whether such a conversation occurred with Ushakov.

According to Russian sources, Putin publicly and privately, through intermediaries such as Moscow's Arab partners in the Middle East and others, signalled to Washington in 2023 that he was willing to consider a ceasefire in Ukraine.

Putin suggested freeze the conflict on current lines and refused to cede any Russian-controlled Ukrainian territory, but the signal represented what some in the Kremlin saw as the best path to peace.

"The contacts with the Americans came to nothing," said a senior Russian source familiar with the negotiations in late 2023 - early 2024, speaking anonymously.

A second Russian source familiar with these contacts told Reuters that the Americans told Moscow, through intermediaries, that they would not discuss a possible ceasefire without Ukraine's participation, so the talks failed.

A third source familiar with the negotiations stated, "Everything fell apart with the Americans." They argue that the US did not want to put pressure on Ukraine.

One of the Russian sources expressed disappointment with the United States because of Washington's insistence not to push Ukraine to negotiate.

"Putin said: 'I knew they wouldn't do anything'," according to another Russian source. "They cut off the root of the contacts which had taken two months to create.

Another Russian source suggested that the United States did not believe in Putin's sincerity.

"The Americans didn't believe Putin was genuine about a ceasefire - but he was and is - he is ready to discuss a ceasefire. But equally, Putin is also ready to fight on for as long as it takes - and Russia can fight for as long as it takes," the Russian source said.

According to Russian sources, the Kremlin sees no point in further discussions with the US on this matter, so the war will continue.

The Kremlin, the White House, US State Department, and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) all declined to comment.

The US official, who spoke in Washington on the condition of anonymity, stated that the US was not conducting any talks with Russia through closed channels and that Washington had consistently refused to act behind Ukraine's back.

The US official stated that although there seemed to have been informal "Track II" talks between Russians outside the government, the US was not involved in them.

This source noted that Putin's position on maintaining his clout over conquered Ukrainian territory has not changed, but Moscow appears disappointed because Washington does not accept this.

Background: Last week, Vladimir Putin told pro-Russian American journalist Tucker Carlson that Russia was supposedly ready for "dialogue" but that Ukraine refused to negotiate.

The Russian leader regularly accuses Ukraine of being unwilling to negotiate and reach a truce, although he himself shows no desire to end the war and compromise for peace.
 
Tony Stark said:
View attachment 333924

According to Russian sources, the US rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine to halt the war after talks with mediators.

Source: Reuters, citing three Russian sources familiar with the negotiations

Details: According to three Russian sources, mediators met in Türkiye near the end of 2023.

According to a fourth diplomatic source, Russia initiated unofficial contacts between the Russian Federation and the United States through intermediaries. These contacts did not appear to result in anything.

A US official said he was unaware of informal contacts through intermediaries.

According to three Russian sources, Putin's signal was relayed to Washington, where senior US officials gathered, including White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, Central Intelligence Agency director Bill Burns, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

According to one Russian source, Sullivan planned to speak with Putin's foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, to determine next steps.

However, when the call came in January, Sullivan informed Ushakov that Washington was willing to discuss other aspects of the relationship but would not discuss a cease-fire without Ukraine, according to one Russian source.

The US official declined to provide any information about Sullivan's alleged phone calls, as well as whether such a conversation occurred with Ushakov.

According to Russian sources, Putin publicly and privately, through intermediaries such as Moscow's Arab partners in the Middle East and others, signalled to Washington in 2023 that he was willing to consider a ceasefire in Ukraine.

Putin suggested freeze the conflict on current lines and refused to cede any Russian-controlled Ukrainian territory, but the signal represented what some in the Kremlin saw as the best path to peace.

"The contacts with the Americans came to nothing," said a senior Russian source familiar with the negotiations in late 2023 - early 2024, speaking anonymously.

A second Russian source familiar with these contacts told Reuters that the Americans told Moscow, through intermediaries, that they would not discuss a possible ceasefire without Ukraine's participation, so the talks failed.

A third source familiar with the negotiations stated, "Everything fell apart with the Americans." They argue that the US did not want to put pressure on Ukraine.

One of the Russian sources expressed disappointment with the United States because of Washington's insistence not to push Ukraine to negotiate.

"Putin said: 'I knew they wouldn't do anything'," according to another Russian source. "They cut off the root of the contacts which had taken two months to create.

Another Russian source suggested that the United States did not believe in Putin's sincerity.

"The Americans didn't believe Putin was genuine about a ceasefire - but he was and is - he is ready to discuss a ceasefire. But equally, Putin is also ready to fight on for as long as it takes - and Russia can fight for as long as it takes," the Russian source said.

According to Russian sources, the Kremlin sees no point in further discussions with the US on this matter, so the war will continue.

The Kremlin, the White House, US State Department, and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) all declined to comment.

The US official, who spoke in Washington on the condition of anonymity, stated that the US was not conducting any talks with Russia through closed channels and that Washington had consistently refused to act behind Ukraine's back.

The US official stated that although there seemed to have been informal "Track II" talks between Russians outside the government, the US was not involved in them.

This source noted that Putin's position on maintaining his clout over conquered Ukrainian territory has not changed, but Moscow appears disappointed because Washington does not accept this.

Background: Last week, Vladimir Putin told pro-Russian American journalist Tucker Carlson that Russia was supposedly ready for "dialogue" but that Ukraine refused to negotiate.

The Russian leader regularly accuses Ukraine of being unwilling to negotiate and reach a truce, although he himself shows no desire to end the war and compromise for peace.
More...


So which is it? Let's see what Russia has to say.

Kremlin denies Reuters report that Putin offered a ceasefire in Ukraine
https://news.yahoo.com/kremlin-denies-reuters-report-putin-095342497.html

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin on Wednesday denied a Reuters report that Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a ceasefire in Ukraine to the United States via intermediaries.

Asked if the Reuters report that Russia had made peace proposals was true, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "No. It is not true."

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent signals to Washington in 2023 in public and privately through intermediaries, including through Moscow's Arab partners in the Middle East, that he was ready to consider a ceasefire in Ukraine, Russian sources told Reuters.

Intermediaries met in Turkey in late 2023, according to three Russian sources, and White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan telephoned Putin's foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, in January.
 
Ukraine should not cede an inch of territory.

Ukraine has Russia on the ropes.I wish Biden would hurry up and get Ukraine the weapons they need so they can finish this.
 
themickey said:
Due to nuclear threats from Russia, I think US believes a slow bleed is the best course of action.
More...
Unfortunately, idiot zionist Biden decided to join Israel in defeating Palestinians, so Russia slow bleed has now turned upside down into a US slow bleed.
 
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