US delivers first cargo of ‘lethal’ weapons to Ukraine / Article

Last night, a cargo plane carrying 90 tons of lethal armaments, including ammunition, destined for the Ukrainian armed forces landed at Kiev airport. It said the U.S. embassy said it was the first of several planned U.S. military aid shipments to strengthen Ukraine ‘s defense capabilities.

The first delivery follows US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s visit to Kiev this week, re-warning Russia of harsh sanctions on the invasion of Ukraine. In December, US President Joe Biden approved a $ 200 million security support package for Ukraine.

Russia’s defense ministry, meanwhile, has published images of Su-35 fighter jets in the Far East, announcing that it had begun relocating to Belarus ahead of a joint military exercise scheduled for February.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Russia had also begun relocating two S-400 anti-aircraft missile complexes to Belarus.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) called for a diplomatic solution to the tensions in the international arena and expressed confidence that Russia would not invade Ukraine.

UN Secretary-General Antoniu Guterres said: “There should be no military intervention in this context. I think diplomacy is a way to solve problems. Of course, any invasion of one country by another is contrary to international law, and I certainly hope that this will not happen in the current circumstances. I’m sure it won’t happen, and I really hope I’m right. “

On Friday, Russia’s defense ministry released a video of military exercises in the Voronezh region bordering Ukraine, the day U.S. and Russian foreign ministers met in Geneva. Warnings about another possible Russian invasion of Ukraine continue to sound from the United States and Europe, but Moscow has repeatedly denied any such intent.

The United States, meanwhile, has announced a large-scale NATO naval exercise in the Mediterranean next week with the participation of a US aircraft carrier. However, the Pentagon said they had nothing to do with the situation at Ukraine’s borders.

CONTEXT:

In February 2014, after protests was overthrown pro-Russian President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych. Russia used political instability to its advantage annexed Ukrainian-owned Crimean peninsula. Russia also supported armed separatist unitsin the Donbass region fought against the Ukrainian army.

In September 2014, the “Minsk Agreement” on the ceasefire was signed, in February 2015 in Minsk signed a new peace plan.

However, there are fewer clashes between the Ukrainian army and Russian-backed separatists still going on. More than 14,000 people have been killed since the conflict began, including more than 3,000 civilians.

The international community still considers Crimea to be part of Ukraine nor has it recognized the separatist “people’s republics” of Donetsk and Luhansk.

Ukraine wants as soon as possible to become a member of the European Union and NATO, but Russia strongly opposes Ukraine’s accession to NATO.

Russia has recently drawn around 100,000 troops off the Ukrainian border, indicating possible preparations for an attack. The US and the European Union warn of an attack on Ukraine will have serious consequences, severe sanctions will be imposed on Russia.

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