Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s declare that Russian President Vladimir Putin made a veiled risk to fireplace a missile at the UK is just not true, the Kremlin mentioned Monday.
Johnson, in a BBC interview launched hours earlier, mentioned the interplay got here in a cellphone name about three weeks earlier than Russia invaded Ukraine.
“He threatened me at one level,” Johnson mentioned, including that Putin mentioned: “‘I don’t need to damage you, however with a missile it will solely take a minute,’ or one thing like that.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned Putin had solely identified that if Ukraine joined NATO, the deployment of NATO or American missiles close to Russian borders would imply any missile would have the ability to attain Moscow in a number of minutes.
Peskov mentioned Johnson’s account was unfaithful, “or, to be extra exact, it was a lie.” Johnson intentionally lied or did not perceive what Putin was saying, Peskov mentioned.
Different developments:
►France and Australia introduced plans to collectively produce and ship 1000’s of 155-millimeter artillery shells to Ukraine.
►New U.S. ambassador to Moscow Lynne Tracy has met with a Russian deputy overseas minister, the U.S. Embassy introduced. No particulars of the dialogue have been introduced. Tracy arrived in Moscow final week.
►The Kremlin has acknowledged protecting in place the partial mobilization decree it enacted within the fall, lending credence to the idea amongst some struggle observers that Russia will name up a second wave of draftees.
►Ukraine denied Russian claims that its forces captured a village that might function an important step for circling Bakhmut. A heated battle for management of the japanese metropolis of 70,000 folks has raged for weeks.
►Russia will as soon as once more require fundamental army coaching in highschool and school — together with instructing college students methods to use assault rifles and hand grenades — the primary time such instruction will probably be necessary since 1993, the British Defense Ministry mentioned.
Turkey seeks separate overview of Nordic nations’ NATO request; Finland objects
Turkey is pushing for the NATO-membership purposes of Finland and Sweden to be taken up individually, a notion the Finns reject.
Admission to the alliance requires unanimous approval from its members, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan indicated Sunday that Turkey may log out on solely Finland. The Turks have voiced objections to what they take into account Sweden’s failure to crack down on teams Ankara considers terrorists.
“In my view it t could be truthful to distinguish between the problematic nation and the much less problematic nation,” Turkish International Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu advised reporters Monday of the concept of splitting up the requests.
The Nordic nations filed for membership on the similar time, and his Finnish counterpart, Pekka Haaivisto, mentioned they ought to be part of NATO collectively.
“We’ve got truly underlined to all our future NATO companions, together with Hungary and Turkey, that Finnish and Swedish safety goes collectively,” Haaivisto mentioned.
Ukrainian fighter pilot dies attempting to keep away from crashing into houses
Ukraine was mourning the dying of adorned fighter pilot Maj. Murashko Danil Gennadyevich, who reportedly died Friday in a crash whereas flying his crippled airplane away from a neighborhood after a conflict with enemy plane.
“Seeing the settlement of Shabelkivka close by, the pilot regardless of the low flight top tried to drive the airplane away from residential buildings till the final second” reasonably than eject to security, the Ukraine army mentioned in a press release. The army additionally mentioned Gennadyevich was credited with 141 sorties for the reason that struggle started lower than a yr in the past, destroying greater than 70 armored autos and 30 gasoline tankers.
He will probably be awarded the glory “Hero of Ukraine.”
Zelenskyy urges faster supply of weaponry from West
Ukraine forces are dealing with “very powerful” fight within the essential Donetsk area and desperately want supply of weapons promised by the West, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned.
Key cities reminiscent of Bakhmut are beneath fixed assault as Russian forces relentlessly attempt to break by Ukraine’s protection “regardless of quite a few casualties,” Zelenskyy mentioned. Putin has claimed annexation of the province.
The U.S. and Germany agreed final week to provide Ukraine with fashionable tanks, and coaching has already begun. However these tanks stay weeks or months away from the battlefield. Zelenskyy urged the US, Germany, Poland, Canada, Belgium, Norway, Italy and different nations to expedite deliveries of all weapons and ammunition.
“Russia hopes to tug out the struggle, to exhaust our forces,” he mentioned. “We’ve got to make time our weapon. We should pace up the occasions, pace up the provision and opening of recent crucial weaponry choices for Ukraine.”
Croatian chief says tank offers will solely extend struggle
Croatian President Zoran Milanovic criticized Western nations for supplying Ukraine with heavy tanks and different weapons, saying it’ll solely extend the struggle. He questioned why, practically a yr into the struggle, tanks at the moment are being authorised for Ukraine. And he mentioned German tanks will take months to reach, and U.S. tanks may take a yr.
Dragging out the struggle is dear to Europe whereas “America pays the least,” he mentioned. He questioned whether or not a nation with nuclear weapons will be defeated with standard weapons.
“What’s the objective? Disintegration of Russia, change of the federal government? There’s additionally speak of tearing Russia aside,” he mentioned. “That is mad.”
Contributing: The Related Press
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