Russia & Ukraine
- Thread starter UsualName
- Start date
And Biden putting down the welcome mat.
How Soviet of them...
Second Ukrainian mayor captured as Russian invaders target elected politicians: Ukrainian official
The capture of Ukrainian mayor of Dniprorudne, Yevhen Matveyev, is the second politician's abduction announced in the past 24 hours
https://www.foxnews.com/world/ukraine-russia-war-second-ukrainian-mayor-captured
Second Ukrainian mayor captured as Russian invaders target elected politicians: Ukrainian official
The capture of Ukrainian mayor of Dniprorudne, Yevhen Matveyev, is the second politician's abduction announced in the past 24 hours
https://www.foxnews.com/world/ukraine-russia-war-second-ukrainian-mayor-captured
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-of...ast-haven-for-dirty-money-fueling-putins-war/
US official warns Israel: ‘Don’t be last haven for dirty money fueling Putin’s war’
US State Department official calls on Israel to join Western sanctions, as Jerusalem’s attempt to publicly stay in a neutral position becomes increasingly precarious
By TOI staff Today
An explosion is seen in an apartment building after Russian's army tank fires in Mariupol, Ukraine, on March 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
The US warned Israel on Friday against taking in “dirty money” from Russia and called on Jerusalem to join Western sanctions to punish the Kremlin for its invasion of Ukraine.
Israel has avoided sanctions or strident criticism against Russia and its president Vladimir Putin as it seeks to balance its warm ties with both Kyiv and Moscow.
Western countries and companies have enacted crippling sanctions against Russia’s economy, its oligarchs, and some officials, including Putin, since the start of the invasion.
However, Israel has not joined the efforts, including not taking action against Russian-Israeli billionaire Roman Abramovich who has been sanctioned by the United Kingdom and Canada.
In addition, a number of private jets have reportedly traveled from Russia to Israel in recent days.
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The US undersecretary of state for political affairs, Victoria Nuland, told Israel’s Channel 12 news on Friday that Israel should get onboard with Western sanctions, and bar Russian oligarchs.
State Department Under Secretary for Public Affairs Victoria J. Nuland speaks during a briefing at the State Department in Washington, Jan. 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool, File)
“You don’t want to become the last haven for dirty money that’s fueling Putin’s wars,” Nuland said. “So whatever Israel is able to do, Ukrainians would welcome and the international coalition in support of Ukraine would welcome.”
Asked about Israel joining the Biden administration’s sanctions, Nuland said, “We are asking among other things is for every democracy around the world to join us in the financial and export control sanctions that we have put on Putin. We have to squeeze the regime, we have to deny it the income that it needs.”
“We squeeze the oligarchs around him, we squeeze its economy. So in that context, we’re asking as many countries as we can to join us. We’re asking that of Israel as well,” she said.
As for whether Israel should provide military aid to Ukraine, Nuland said that was in the hands of the Israeli government.
“That’s a sovereign decision for Israel to make. Many, many democracies around the world are stepping out of their comfort zone to supply security and military support to Ukraine. But what’s most important from our point of view right now is [for Israel] to join the financial sanctions,” she said.
Israel has provided humanitarian aid to Ukraine, including medical equipment and generators for a hospital. However it has refused to send military equipment, including defense gear such as flak jackets and helmets.
As Israel avoids imposing sanctions, flight traffic has suggested that some wealthy Russians are seeking refuge in Israel.
Channel 12 reported Friday that in the last 10 days, 14 private jets that took off from St. Petersburg landed at Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport.
Last week, the outlet reported that an unusual number of rented private jets have reportedly been flying from Russia to Israel since the invasion of Ukraine, a possible indication that some rich Russians are looking at ways to slip around sanctions.
A destroyed tank is seen after battles between Ukrainian and Russian forces on a main road near Brovary, north of Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Israel has attempted to walk a tightrope between Kyiv and Moscow, and sought to use its relations with the two countries to mediate between them, so far unsuccessfully. Israel is also fearful of angering Russia due to its powerful presence in Syria, where Israel carries out strikes against Iran-linked targets.
Israel’s attempt to remain neutral has become increasingly fraught in recent days, as Russia’s onslaught intensifies, exacting a staggering humanitarian toll against its neighbor.
Ukraine has repeatedly pressed Israel to take a stronger stance against Russia, and is reportedly growing exasperated with Jerusalem’s reluctance to take a side.
Friday reports said that Prime Minister Naftali Bennett pushed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to take up an offer from Putin, which Zelensky rejected. Bennett’s office denied the report.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks in Kyiv, on March 10, 2022. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)
Zelensky, who is Jewish and a declared admirer of Israel, is hoping to broadcast a speech to the Knesset plenum as he has done in other parliaments around the world, but the plans for the speech remain unclear.
Israel has instead proposed that he hold a less formal Zoom session with all MKs invited, Walla reported. Knesset Speaker Mickey Levy said Thursday that Zelensky will speak to lawmakers via Zoom in the coming days.
Zelensky was reportedly uninterested in a Zoom talk, and has considered a speech to Yad Vashem, but the details are murky.
On Friday, Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai said that he has told Ukraine’s ambassador to Israel that any speech made by Zelensky to Israelis could be broadcast on screens in a major square in the city.
Bennett traveled to Moscow to meet with Putin on Saturday, becoming the first foreign leader to sit down with the Russian president since he invaded his neighbor. He spoke to Zelensky before and after the meeting.
Israel’s refugee policy has also caused tensions, as incoming Ukrainians have reportedly been left for days with amenities at Ben Gurion airport, and Israel has been reluctant to accept non-Jewish refugees. A Friday report said Israel has turned away around 200 refugees from Ukraine.
Airport arrest of rabbi linked to Roman Abramovich’s Portuguese passport
By James Badcock March 13, 2022
Madrid: The leader of the Jewish community in Porto has been arrested amid an inquiry into how Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich obtained Portuguese citizenship last year under a law granting nationality to descendants of Sephardic Jews from the country.
Rabbi Daniel Litvak, leader of the Jewish Community of Oporto (CIP), was arrested at Porto’s airport as he was preparing to travel to Israel. He appeared before a judge in Lisbon yesterday, had his passport removed and was told to report periodically to a police station while the investigation continues, the news agency Lusa reported.
Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.Credit:AP
According to media reports, the rabbi is suspected of “forging documents and corruption” in connection with the CIP’s vetting of thousands of applicants for nationality under the law, which requires proof of Sephardic origins and knowledge of Sephardic culture.
The name Abramovich is generally associated with the Ashkenazi Jewish diaspora, and there have been few cases of Sephardic Jews settling in Russia. Alexey Navalny, the jailed dissident rival to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, has claimed that Abramovich used his wealth to buy nationality from the Portuguese authorities.
In a series of tweets posted in December, when news emerged that Abramovich had acquired a Portuguese passport to add to his Russian and Israeli documents, Navalny said the billionaire had “finally managed to find a country where you can give some bribes and make some semi-official and official payments to end up in the EU”.
CIP has been asked for a comment.
The Telegraph, London
“Russia has turned to China for military equipment and aid in the weeks since it began its invasion of Ukraine, the Washington Post reports.
“The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject, did not describe what kind of weaponry had been requested, or whether they know how China responded.”
Financial Times: “Another person familiar with the situation said the US was preparing to warn its allies, amid some indications that China may be preparing to help Russia. Other US officials have said there were signs that Russia was running out of some kinds of weaponry as the war in Ukraine extends into its third week.”
“The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject, did not describe what kind of weaponry had been requested, or whether they know how China responded.”
Financial Times: “Another person familiar with the situation said the US was preparing to warn its allies, amid some indications that China may be preparing to help Russia. Other US officials have said there were signs that Russia was running out of some kinds of weaponry as the war in Ukraine extends into its third week.”
And how is that, Tuckyo?
Lol. The only reason you ever gave was you believed the war in Ukraine would have been avoided if Trump had been elected because… and I shit you not if you’re reading this… “Trump being Trump.”
Anyway, I don’t think Putin is having a good time, welcomed or not.
You can ask me again toward the end of the week next week if you really care and I will give you the same list I have given many times before.
Not doing your troll game though today where you play dumb just to push some buttons.
In the meantime, the number one reason we are in conflict in Ukraine this week is Joe Biden.
The number one reason Russia invaded Ukraine is Joe Biden… not Vladimir Putin?
Stop huffing glue. You’re killing your brain cells.