Reuters on January 23 quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying that Russia did not see anything new in US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose sanctions and tariffs if Russia did not agree to end it. war in Ukraine.
“We don’t see any new elements,” Mr. Peskov said when asked about Mr. Trump’s threat.
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According to Mr. Peskov, Mr. Trump often imposed sanctions on Russia during his first term as president. In addition, Mr. Peskov reiterated that Russia is ready for dialogue on equality and mutual respect with the United States.
Previously on January 22, Mr. Trump announced that “if we don’t reach a deal soon, I have no choice but to place high tariffs and embargoes on everything Russia sells to the US.”
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte spoke at the World Economic Forum on January 23
Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian Foreign Ministry Rodion Miroshnik later said that there was no unified approach in his policy on resolving the Ukraine crisis.
“There is no need for illusions, Mr. Trump is not a pro-Russian politician and will do everything so that America remains the dominant power. Therefore, up to now, there is no systematic approach to solving the problem.” resolve the conflict on Ukrainian territory,” TASS quoted the diplomat as saying.
Conflict situation
On January 23, the Russian Ministry of Defense said that its forces had taken control of the village of Solone in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, according to TASS.
Meanwhile, fighting continues in the village of Zverevo on the southwestern outskirts of the town of Pokrovsk in Donetsk. Russian security officials said the Ukrainian side had evacuated children from Pokrovsk.
Ukraine has not commented on the above information. On January 23, the Ukrainian Air Force said that its forces shot down 57 out of 92 Russian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that attacked during the night. Besides, 27 UAVs were lost and did not cause any damage.
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In Zaporizhzhia province, Governor Ivan Fedorov said Russia organized a missile and UAV attack on Zaporizhzhia city, killing 1 person, injuring 31 people and tens of thousands of people losing power.
According to Mr. Fedorov, the attack destroyed an energy facility and cut off electricity to more than 20,000 residents and heating to about 17,000 people.
He said Russian forces attacked the city first with UAVs, then with ballistic missiles, prompting an air strike warning from Ukraine that lasted more than six hours.
Russia did not immediately comment on the above information. Russia and Ukraine have always denied all accusations against civilians in the conflict.
Can Russia maintain the campaign for another year?
At the World Economic Forum in Davos (Switzerland), Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo said that Russia could maintain the conflict in Ukraine for at least another year.
He added that it is important to have a 16th round of sanctions targeting Russia’s gas, energy and fertilizer sectors. “Our analysis shows that the Russian economy can sustain hostilities for another year,” he said.
In Davos, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called on the US to continue providing military aid to Ukraine and that Europe would bear the costs.
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He said the alliance must invest more in defense, increase defense industry production and spend more on supporting Ukraine. “On the issue of Ukraine, we also need the United States to continue to participate,” Rutte said.
“If (President Donald) Trump’s administration is ready to continue supplying Ukraine from its defense industrial base, then the Europeans will have to pay, I am absolutely convinced of this, we must willing to do that,” he added.
The statement came after Mr. Trump earlier this week announced that the European Union (EU) should do more to support Ukraine. “We really have to act and not reduce support for Ukraine. The front line is going in the wrong direction,” according to Mr. Rutte.
