02/28/2024
Ukraine war in the live ticker
+++ 00:51 Ukraine: Russia is spending $1.5 billion on the “Maidan-3” disinformation campaign +++
The Ukrainian military intelligence service DIU is observing a destabilization campaign by Russia in the attacked country. One goal of the project under the name “Maidan-3” is to arouse distrust in government decisions and trigger mass protests, explains DIU representative Andii Yusov in an interview about which the site “Ukrainian Pravda” reported. One goal is to question the legitimacy of the current government, even though the constitution clearly states that no elections will be held in times of war. Russia launched the “Maidan 3” campaign last fall and has now extended it until June. It will be financed with 1.5 billion US dollars, 250 million of which will be spent on spreading false narratives via Telegram.
+++ 23:22 According to the British military chief, the Ukrainian army is “struggling with its ammunition and supplies” +++
The head of the British armed forces admits that Ukraine will likely suffer from a shortage of ammunition for several months and will be fighting a losing battle until the West decides to take further steps to support Kiev. As the Guardian reports, at a conference in London, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin did not comment directly on the French proposal to station Western ground troops in Ukraine, but instead emphasized the urgent need to increase industrial support. The military chief says Ukraine is in a difficult situation on land, where its army is “struggling with its ammunition and supplies.” The background is that the Republicans in Congress have stopped US military aid and Europe is not yet in a position to close the gap.
+++ 22:24 Taurus debate: British government is irritated by Chancellor Scholz +++
The British government contradicts Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s assertion that Great Britain is directly involved in the use of long-range cruise missiles against Russian positions in Ukraine. “The use of Storm Shadow and the process of target selection are the responsibility of the Ukrainian armed forces,” said a spokesman for the British Ministry of Defense when asked by “Spiegel”. “The UK, together with other allies, is providing Ukraine with a range of equipment to help it counter Russia’s illegal and unprovoked aggression.” At an event in Berlin on Monday, Scholz explained why the federal government would not deliver Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. “It’s a very long-range weapon. And what the British and French are doing in terms of targeting and accompanying targeting cannot be done in Germany. Everyone who has dealt with this system knows that.”
+++ 22:06 Kallas on Macron’s proposal: “Maybe that got lost in the translation” +++
According to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, Estonia is not discussing sending troops to Ukraine. This is not currently up for debate, said the Prime Minister of the Baltic EU and NATO country on Estonian television this evening. French President Emmanuel Macron had previously not ruled out the use of ground troops in Ukraine after a Ukraine aid conference of 20 heads of state and government. According to Kallas, there was no talk of sending ground troops at the meeting in Paris. “Maybe that got lost in translation. What’s important is that everyone understood what else we can do to help Ukraine.” She points out that European leaders have agreed to buy ammunition from outside Europe and strengthen the defense industry in Ukraine.
+++ 9:45 p.m. Washington warns: “The situation is serious” +++
The US government is once again emphatically complaining about the lack of supplies of military equipment for Ukraine. Ukrainian soldiers are currently having to make tough decisions about which targets they should attack in the defensive battle against Russia and with what ammunition, says National Security Council Communications Director John Kirby in the White House in Washington. “They’re not running out of courage. They’re running out of bullets.” Kirby warns: “The situation is serious.” The United States has been one of Kiev’s most important allies in the past two years since the start of Russia’s war of aggression. The US government supplied Ukraine with massive amounts of weapons and ammunition. However, there has been no more supplies from the USA for some time (see entry at 8:58 p.m).
+++ 21:21 Ukraine accuses Russia of disinformation for dividing Western allies +++
Ukraine accuses Russia of an elaborate disinformation campaign to divide the Western states allied with Kiev and unsettle the local population. Ukrainian intelligence says Russia is spreading false information online to disrupt the mobilization of more soldiers in Ukraine, cast doubt on Kiev’s chances of victory and create the impression that the West is “exhausted.” Russia is also trying to sow distrust in Ukrainian government officials – and in particular to question President Volodymyr Zelensky’s five-year term in office, which expires in May. Part of Moscow’s plan is to “shake up” the situation in Ukraine in the first half of June – and then use the situation to defeat the Ukrainian army in the east of the country.
+++ 20:58 Biden appeals to congressional leaders: “Consequences of daily inaction are terrible” +++
US President Joe Biden appeals to the top politicians in Congress to avoid an impending shutdown of government business at the beginning of March. He also calls on lawmakers to pass emergency aid for Ukraine and Israel, which is currently blocked in the Republican-led House of Representatives. Biden hosted House Speaker Mike Johnson, Republican Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democrat Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell at the White House. Vice President Kamala Harris also attended. “The need is urgent,” Biden says of Ukraine aid. “The consequences of daily inaction in Ukraine are terrible.”
You can read all previous developments here.