Ukraine Invasion: Part 48

[MagicFox]

That last one went quickly! Welcome to thread 48. Thanks as usual to all for the information, guidance and solidarity.

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Exactly. Ukraine wants more war shots for the Pats they currently have and additional launch and radar complexes.

It's a big ask.

It depends on how long the bills are debated. That's very unpredictable.

My husbands godfather is Dutch. He thinks the British are far to wishy washy and flower everything up or skate around issues.

I try and keep on his good side!

😃

Ah yes, I know what you mean…I worked with a few over the years, military and elsewhere…fine folk but definitely a tendency to be much more direct than the Brits.

Just been made aware of this tweet…best leave it for our US political expert @MissConductUS for the analysis:

”Just submitted an amendment to Bill drafting appointing MTG as Putin’s Special Envoy to the United States Congress.”…….

https://twitter.com/JaredEMoskowitz/status/1780766179881058352?refsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1780766179881058352%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=

It's just someone having a go at MTGs escalating batshittery.

Stephen Kotkin on the five futures of Russia: www.foreignaffairs.com/russian-federation/five-futures-russia-stephen-kotkin

He's right!

The dutch approach is like ice cold water spraying over you at times, but once you're used to it it's refreshing, invigorating, you know exactly what's happening and you get more done.

Mike Johnson says he believes that russia, China and Iran are cooperating and that he also believes intelligence that Putin has plans beyond Ukraine: x.com/gop4ukraine/status/1780777695200133220?s=46&t=ZRiOqYBPJdwGCarjKNzCeQ

Shame it took him so long eh?

Better late than never I suppose.

Keeping everything crossed

Polish citizen charged with aiding Russian plot to assassinate Zelenskyy

euromaidanpress.com/2024/04/18/polish-citizen-charged-with-aiding-russian-plot-to-assassinate-zelenskyy/

@Igotjelly, members of the House typically have very little involvement in foreign affairs. Constituent service is the main focus of the job. The Senate drives foreign policy, mostly because they serve much longer terms, so there is better continuity on complex issues.

This confirms my suspicion that the Space Lazar Lady is not typical. (Thank any deity of your choice.) She's awful keen to poke her nose into other nations' business, and I am unsure she ever sees her constituents.

It's all to keep her name in the news. House members have to run for reelection every two years, so they are in continuous campaign mode.

MGT represents a fairly poor, rural and poorly educated district. Make of that what you will. 😊

I love the directness of the Dutch, makes me feel better about how brutal I can be sometimes!

Insane amendments made to the Ukraine aid bill by Marjorie Taylor green. Shame mumsnet will only let me post 3! Repeating the Kremlin's favourite talking points

Shes an absolute fucking disgrace. Wonder how much Putin is paying for her services…

She must be an asset right?

An asset or a useful idiot, who knows which both both equally damaging.

Maybe Trump is the real asset though and she’s the lackey that’ll take the fall for it, too stupid to even realise…..

She is so awful! Did you see her swearing at Emily Maitlis? How unprofessional. It's frightening that these people hold power in the US. Where are the grown ups?

Mind you wasn't there a UK cabinet minister or something who actually stuck their finger up at someone and it was caught on film?

Not that I disagree with you.

@MissConductUS How serious are these attempts to delay the Ukraine bill?

(and can't someone Do Something about her?)

She's even more nuts than Truss, no wonder Trump has a shot at President if this is the caliber of Republicans.

Slightly hard of thinking as my gran would have said.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

Chancellor: Moscow attempted to undermine the democratic political process in Austria using a Russian spy and a political party he was associated with, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said on April 18. https://kyivindependent.com/moscow-used-spy-in-attempt-to-undermine-democracy-in-austria-claims-chancellor/

⚡️ US House Democrats back Johnson's foreign aid bills. https://kyivindependent.com/us-democrats-back-johnsons-foreign-aid-bills/
The Democratic Party in the U.S. House of Representatives said they would support Speaker Mike Johnson's series of bills that includes aid for Ukraine, Israel, and other priorities in the upcoming vote, Bloomberg reported on April 18.

⚡️CIA Director: Ukraine could lose by the end of 2024 without aid.
CIA Director William Burns delivered a warning message to lawmakers in DC, emphasizing the urgency of approving aid to Ukraine to prevent potential loss in the war against Russia. https://kyivindependent.com/cia-director-ukraine-could-lose-by-the-end-of-2024-without-aid/

⚡️ IMF: Ukraine needs $42 billion in budget support for 2024. https://kyivindependent.com/imf-ukraine-needs-42-billion-in-budget-support-for-2024/
Speaking in Washington, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said she was "confident" this would be achieved but added that fully addressing the country’s economic problems would require ending Russia's full-scale invasion.

️ Stoltenberg: NATO working to give Ukraine more air defense systems https://kyivindependent.com/stoltenberg-nato-works-on-providing-ukraine-with-more-air-defense-systems-focusing-on-patriot/

⚡️Bloomberg: Russian diesel exports have continued to decrease amid Ukrainian drone strikes on oil refineries across the country, Bloomberg reported on April 18, citing data from the analytics firm Kpler

The Kremlin is tightening rules around foreign travel for Russian officials over fears foreign countries could target them and obtain state secrets, Reuters reported on April 18, citing undisclosed sources.
According to sources who spoke to the news agency, even travel to countries with warm relations with Moscow is being restricted. https://kyivindependent.com/reuters-paranoid-kremlin-clamps-down-on-officials-travel-over-state-secret-fears/

⚡️Slovak citizens raise $1.6 million for Czech ammunition initiative after government refuses to contribute. https://kyivindependent.com/slovak-citizens-raise-1-6-million-for-czech-ammunition-initiative/

⚡️ Ukraine, Czech Republic begin bilateral security agreement negotiations. https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-czech-republic-begin-bilateral-security-agreement-negotiations/

⚡️ Zelensky meets German vice-chancellor in Kyiv to discuss air defense. https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-meets-german-vice-chancellor-in-kyiv/

The Group of Seven (G7) countries are discussing using frozen Russian assets as collateral to provide loans to Ukraine, Reuters reported on April 18, citing European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis. https://kyivindependent.com/g7-considers-using-frozen-russian-assets-as-collateral-for-loans-for-ukraine/

Scheduled blackouts were introduced in Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk oblasts after recent Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, the Energy Ministry reported on April 18. https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-introduces-scheduled-blackouts-in-3-regions-using-foreign-electricity-supply/

⚡️ Zelensky: Ukraine to produce 10 Bohdana howitzers this month. https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-ukraine-to-produce-10-bohdana-howitzers-this-month/
The Bohdana is a domestically designed and produced self-propelled artillery system mounted on a six-wheeled truck chassis.

Georgia's parliament passed a controversial foreign agents law in its first reading on April 17 as protests in opposition to the legislation continued for the third night. https://kyivindependent.com/georgian-parliament-passes-controversial-foreign-agents-law-in-first-reading-among-widening-street-protests/

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on April 18 that it had received a report that the training center of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant had been targeted by an "attempted drone attack," causing no casualties or damage. This marks the third reported attack in the last weeks on the training facility, which is located just outside the perimeter of the plant, the IAEA said https://kyivindependent.com/attempted-drone-attack-just-outside-zaporizhzhia-nuclear/

Denmark has become the first country to buy weapons and equipment for Ukraine's Armed Forces from a domestic manufacturer as part of a military aid package, Strategic Industries Minister Oleksandr Kamyshin announced on April 18. https://kyivindependent.com/denmark-first-to-buy-weapons-for-ukraine-from-ukrainian-manufacturer-in-deal-worth-28-5-million/

⚡️ Air Force: Ukraine downs Russian Tu-22M3 bomber for first time. https://kyivindependent.com/air-force-ukraine-downs-russian-tu-22m3-bomber-for-first-time/
The Tu-22M3 bomber crashed in Russia's Stavropol Krai, just after Russia launched an attack on Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. @notimagain

A joint operation by Ukrainian and Polish law enforcement agencies led to the detention of a Polish citizen who allegedly offered to Russia to assassinate Zelensky, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said on April 18. https://kyivindependent.com/polish-ukrainian-authorities-detain-pole-who-allegedly-offered-to-assassinate-zelensky-for-russia/

⚡️ Border Guard: Polish farmers renew blockade at 2 border crossings. https://kyivindependent.com/border-guard-polish-farmers-renew-blockade-at-2-border-crossings/

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦

• APR 19, 2024

■ Engagements above 7-day avg, casualties close to average ■ Increased equipment losses; three missiles intercepted ■ Tomorrow's report will include a Tu-22M3 bomber ■ Improved artillery strike ratio