Ukraine’s Zelenskyy calls for united US-Europe support against Russia
Ukraine’s president meets leaders at Munich Security Conference amid a push to end Russia-Ukraine war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for the United States and Europe to band together to support Ukraine in its war against Russia. Speaking on Friday at the Munich Security Conference, Zelenskyy also said the US, including former President Joe Biden’s administration, never saw Ukraine as a NATO member. Ukraine will need “security guarantees” before any talks with Russia, he said, as US President Donald Trump presses both countries to find a quick end to the three-year war. Shortly before sitting down with US Vice President JD Vance, Zelenskyy said he would only agree to meet in person with Russian President Vladimir Putin after a common plan is negotiated with US President Donald Trump. The roughly 40-minute meeting between Vance and Zelenskyy produced no major announcements detailing the way out of the deadliest war in Europe since World War II. “We want peace very much,” Zelenskyy said. “But we need real security guarantees.” Vance, for his part, said the Trump administration is committed to finding a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia. Advertisement Earlier this week, Trump upended years of steadfast US support for Ukraine with a phone call with Putin, after which Trump said the two leaders would likely meet soon to negotiate a peace deal. In Munich on Friday, some world leaders – including conservative party leader Friedrich Merz, who is seen as the likely next chancellor of Germany – sided with the Trump administration. “There was also agreement that the path to a lasting peace can only succeed in the closest coordination between America and Europe,” Merz said on the sideline of the conference. But there were more widespread concerns among other leaders at the summit. “There is concern that there may be a deal that Washington wants to do with Putin effectively excluding not just the Europeans but the Ukrainians too,” Al Jazeera’s diplomatic editor James Bays said from Munich. But there was a stern warning from Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian dissident Alexey Navalny, who died in a Russian penal colony: ”Even if you decided to negotiate with Putin, just remember he will lie.” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also expressed concerns about the Trump administration’s proposal to reinstate Russia in the Group of Seven (G7) leading economies. “As G7 partners, we have repeatedly made it clear over the last three years following this brutal Russian full-scale invasion: There can be no normal cooperation with Russia,” Baerbock said. Just hours before Vance and Zelenskyy met, a Russian drone armed with a warhead struck the protective shell of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the Kyiv region, site of the world’s worst nuclear accident in 1986. Advertisement Zelenskyy and the UN atomic agency confirmed that radiation levels remained unchanged. Zelenskyy later told reporters in Munich that the attack was a “very clear greeting from Putin and the Russian Federation to the security conference”. Adblock test (Why?)
Osasuna vs Real Madrid: LaLiga – preview, team news, kickoff time
Who: Osasuna vs Real MadridWhat: Spanish LaLigaWhere: El Sadar Stadium, Pamplona, SpainWhen: Saturday at 9pm (20:00 GMT)Follow Al Jazeera sport’s live text and photo commentary stream of the match. Defending champions Real Madrid have the chance to extend their lead at the top of LaLiga to four points, even if only for a couple of hours, when they travel to Osasuna. Second-placed Atletico Madrid, who drew 1-1 at Real in the sides’ last outing, are in action later on Saturday when they entertain Celta Vigo. Barcelona, who finished second in the league phase of the Champions League, are third in the Spanish top flight – two points behind the leaders. The Catalan club travel to high-flying Rayo Vallecano on Monday. Along with the home draw with Atletico, Real lost their previous league match in a shock defeat at Espanyol, adding to the pressure heading into the next fixture as LaLiga tightens at the top. The form book is not completely against Carlo Ancelotti’s Real, however, as his team have won their last two cup matches, including their 3-2 win at Manchester City in their Champions League playoff first-leg tie. Advertisement What did Ancelotti say about two winless LaLiga matches? “We are well motivated, and it’s an opportunity to keep the lead, which is our goal,” the Madrid manager told reporters on Friday. “It’s going to be a difficult game, obviously, but we did well in the last game, and I think we have to confirm it. “It’s a game where we have to repeat all the good things we have done in the game against City. “The quality of this team is never in doubt – this is the way forward. “This is where the season really starts.” 📊 DRAMA at the top and bottom of the #LALIGAEASPORTS standings! pic.twitter.com/42bDakX6Il — LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) February 13, 2025 Did Ancelotti offer any news on Vinicius Junior’s future at Real Madrid? Ancelotti said he is tired of answering questions about speculation linking forward Vinicius Jr with a move to Saudi Arabia and instead he wanted to focus on how well the player was performing. Vinicius is believed to be close to signing a new contract with Real, but a rumoured move to Saudi Arabia was once again the main focus at the news conference before Saturday’s LaLiga game away to Osasuna. “So many questions. Am I tired of this topic? Yes. Am I worried? No. Do I see him happy? Yes,” Ancelotti said. “We are happy with him. There is nothing more to add than what I have added a week or two weeks ago. We don’t talk about this topic here. He doesn’t talk about it either. “I see him as the same old Vinicius with a lot of desire to do things right. He has done it very well in the last game.” Real Madrid’s players emerge from the tunnel at Man City to see a tifo that reads, ‘Stop crying your heart out,’ with a picture of Rodri kissing the Ballon d’Or trophy, which he won over Real’s Vinicius Junior [Michael Regan/Getty Images] Did the Rodri banner at Man City upset Vinicius? That last game for Real was a 3-2 away win over City on Tuesday when Vinicius was named player of the match. Advertisement The Brazilian had been the target of a banner showing City midfielder Rodri with the Ballon d’Or trophy with the caption “Stop crying your heart out” in reference to the Real forward saying he believed he should have won the award. “I see him very motivated, especially because of what he has done in the game against City, where he had a lot of pressure, and he has endured this pressure very well, making a difference in the game,” Ancelotti said. “Whether he has received an offer or not, I can tell you what I see here, a happy player who wants to do things well and make history with this club.” What are Osasuna’s chances against Real? With Real embroiled in a battle for European survival, Osasuna are hoping to capitalise when the LaLiga leaders arrive at El Sadar. Los Blancos host Premier League champions Man City in the second leg of their Champions League playoff on Wednesday. Osasuna, 2023 Copa del Rey runners-up, are ninth in the league but often rise to the occasion when Spain’s biggest sides arrive in Pamplona. In September, they romped to a 4-2 victory over Barcelona, inflicting what was the Catalans’ first league defeat of the season. Croatian striker Ante Budimir netted twice and with 12 goals trails only Barcelona duo Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha and Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe in the standings. In January, Budimir became Osasuna’s record overseas goal scorer and has netted 62 for the club since first arriving on loan in the 2020-2021 season from Mallorca before signing permanently. Ante Budimir made his move to Osasuna from Mallorca permanent in 2021 [Vincent West/Reuters] Budimir, 33, netted a brace against Real Sociedad at the beginning of this month to earn his team an impressive victory at El Sadar that ended a nine-game winless run in LaLiga. Advertisement “[Budimir] is making history. He’s doing his thing, and he keeps doing it. He’s not going to stop,” Osasuna coach Vicente Moreno said. “He works hard every day and can go in [good or bad] runs of form, but he’s a player who has earned his place, and for us, it’s great he’s putting them away.” The preceding negative streak was started by a 4-0 defeat by Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu, which Osasuna will try to avenge on Saturday. 10 – Only Ousmane Dembélé (15) has scored more goals in all competitions than Kylian Mbappé (10) in 2025 among players in Europe’s top five leagues. On.#MCIRMA #UCL pic.twitter.com/bw2SF50Sy6 — OptaJose (@OptaJose) February 11, 2025 Osasuna team news Osasuna will be missing suspended key centre back Flavien Boyomo, who scored their late equaliser on Monday at Mallorca. Real Madrid team news Madrid have a raft of
Liverpool vs Wolves – Premier League preview: Slot, team news, kickoff time
Liverpool manager Arne Slot speaks for the first time following his sending off in the Merseyside derby at Everton. Who: Liverpool vs Wolverhampton WanderersWhat: English Premier LeagueWhere: Anfield, Liverpool, United KingdomWhen: Sunday, February 14 at 2pm (14:00 GMT)Follow Al Jazeera sport’s live text and photo commentary stream of the match. Liverpool manager Arne Slot said emotions got the better of him when he was asked what led to his sending off following Wednesday’s chaotic finish to their 2-2 Premier League draw at Everton. Referee Michael Oliver showed Slot a red card after the manager shook his hand, following James Tarkowski’s stoppage-time equaliser for Everton at Goodison Park. A heated scuffle had also broken out between the two teams following Tarkowski’s goal that led to Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure and Liverpool’s Curtis Jones being sent off shortly before Slot’s red card. “The extra time that was five minutes and ended up being eight, happens a lot. And the emotions got the better of me,” Slot told reporters on Friday. “If I look back at it, I would love to do it differently.” Liverpool manager Arne Slot remonstrates with referee Michael Oliver before being sent off [Jason Cairnduff/Reuters] The manager, who is now suspended for Sunday’s visit of Wolverhampton Wanders, refused to divulge if he had said something to the referee that led to the red card. Advertisement “That is (an) ongoing process now and I think I have to respect that, so I can’t go into details,” he said. Everton are 15th in the table and edging clear of the relegation battle but Slot said the derby had felt like an even contest. “A draw would have been, maybe, a fair result. But with us leading after 97 minutes, it felt as if we were quite close to winning the game, so it felt like we dropped two points,” he added. Tempers had already flared between players at the end of the Premier League match before Slot’s red card [File: Carl Recine/Getty Images] How is the Premier League title race affected? Liverpool, who are unbeaten in the league since September, are seven points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League. The Reds will face a difficult fight to the finish line in the title race, Slot said before Sunday’s match. “The second half of the season is always more difficult than the first for many reasons. Some teams bring in new players, some teams are playing longer together,” he said. “Some teams bring in new managers, like Everton… and the one at Wolves has made them better as well.” Liverpool begin a busy period with late heartbreak against their Merseyside rivals 💔 pic.twitter.com/mlIgQ0GQGt — Premier League (@premierleague) February 13, 2025 How have Wolverhampton Wanderers fared this season? Wolves are 17th in the table and just two points above the drop zone. They ended a four-match losing streak in the league when they beat Aston Villa earlier this month. The Midlands-based club have also won five of their 10 matches in all competitions since new manager Vitor Pereira took over in December. Liverpool team news With injuries already ruling out defender Joe Gomez and midfielder Tyler Morton, Liverpool may also be without Dutch forward Cody Gakpo this weekend, Slot said. Advertisement “Cody is a bit of a doubt. I had to take him off due to an injury because he got a knock. Let’s see how he is today,” he said. “So it is going to be a challenge again on Sunday but that is normal on the last part of the season in the best league of the world.” Wolves are yet to update their latest team news. Adblock test (Why?)
Israeli raids cause widespread destruction in the West Bank
[unable to retrieve full-text content] Israel’s weeks-long raid on the occupied West Bank has displaced thousands of Palestinians and caused destruction.
Why Ukraine’s mineral deposits could be key to ending the war with Russia
NewsFeed Ukraine has handed a draft deal to the US that would give Washington access to precious minerals as payback for support in the war with Russia. Are billions of dollars in minerals the key to peace? Soraya Lennie breaks it down. Published On 14 Feb 202514 Feb 2025 Adblock test (Why?)
Zelenskyy wants plan to ‘stop Russia’ before US peace talks
Ukrainian president says it was ‘not very pleasant’ that Trump called Putin before speaking to him. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the United States should agree on a joint plan to stop Russia’s war before starting peace talks with the Kremlin. After a 90-minute phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said he expected to meet the Russian leader in Saudi Arabia for talks to end the war – sparking fears Kyiv would be frozen out. On Thursday, Zelenskyy told reporters in Ukraine that it was “not very pleasant” that Trump had called Putin before speaking to him, adding that the US president had said he wanted to speak to both leaders together. The Ukrainian leader, who is to meet US Vice President JD Vance in Munich on Friday, said he wanted to hammer out a “plan to stop Putin” with the US before any truce talks happen. “We, as a sovereign country, simply will not be able to accept any agreements without us,” Zelenskyy added. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that Ukraine would participate “one way or another” in any talks to end the war but the separate US-Russian talks are on track, Russian state news agency TASS reported. Advertisement ‘Any quick fix is a dirty deal’ At a NATO meeting in Brussels on Thursday, Ukraine’s defence minister assured his country’s backers that Kyiv would keep standing strong against Russia. European officials have also taken a tough line in public towards Trump’s peace overture, saying any peace agreement would be impossible to implement unless they and the Ukrainians are included in negotiating it. In a blunt address to reporters at the NATO talks, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas insisted that no deal “behind our backs” could work as she accused Washington of “appeasement” towards Russia. “We shouldn’t take anything off the table before the negotiations have even started because it plays to Russia’s court and it is what they want,” she said. “Any quick fix is a dirty deal. It will simply not work.” Antonio Costa, who heads the European Council representing the EU’s 27 nations, warned that “peace cannot be a simple ceasefire”. “Russia must no longer be a threat to Ukraine, to Europe, to international security,” Costa said. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was also at the NATO meeting in Brussels, denied that Trump’s plan is a betrayal of Kyiv’s three-year war effort against Russia. “There is no betrayal there. There is a recognition that the whole world and the United States is invested and interested in peace,” the Pentagon chief said. “Make no mistake, President Trump will not allow anyone to turn Uncle Sam into ‘Uncle Sucker’,” he said and added that Europe should be primarily responsible for defence on the European continent. Advertisement Hegseth also rejected the idea that Washington’s new administration was undermining NATO or European security. “NATO is a great alliance, the most successful defence alliance in history, but to endure for the future, our partners must do far more for Europe’s defence. We must make NATO great again,” he said. Adblock test (Why?)
US says 5,000 soldiers deployed along Mexico border, could increase further
A United States general has announced there are currently about 5,000 active-duty soldiers along the country’s southern border with Mexico, as part of President Donald Trump’s overall push to crack down on immigration. General Gregory Guillot, the head of US Northern Command, told lawmakers on Thursday he expects that number could increase further. He also revealed that the military has heightened its activities in the domain of cross-border intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). Drug cartels were the primary target. “We have also increased some uniquely military capabilities that will get after … the cartels, which are driving the illegal migration,” said Guillot. “That is primarily through airborne ISR to get more information on those and figure out how we can counter their actions.” The presence of thousands of US soldiers along the border with Mexico fulfils a campaign pledge made by President Donald Trump to declare a “national emergency” at the southern US border. On January 20, the first day of his second term, Trump signed an executive order that directed military leaders to send “as many units or members of the Armed Forces” as needed to the border, to obtain “complete operational control” of the area. Advertisement He also called on the US secretary of transportation to waive restrictions on “unmanned aerial systems” within eight kilometres (five miles) of the border. During his time as a politician, Trump has leaned into nativist rhetoric that frames undocumented immigration as an “invasion” and the people involved as “criminals”. Shutting the border to irregular crossings has been a cornerstone of his campaign for re-election, as has launching a “mass deportation” campaign. Trump has also exerted pressure on his country’s neighbours to restrict undocumented immigration, including through the use of tariffs. In November, before taking office, Trump announced he planned to impose 25-percent tariffs on all goods from Canada and Mexico, the country’s two largest trading partners, in order to force them to halt trafficking of drugs and people across their shared borders with the US. After being sworn in, Trump followed through with his promise, announcing the tariffs would take effect in early February. But both Canada and Mexico negotiated deals with Trump to postpone the tariffs in exchange for concessions. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, for instance, sent 10,000 members of her country’s National Guard to the border with the US in the name of combating drug trafficking and irregular migration. The US and Mexico have long collaborated on efforts to crack down on migration, which critics say often comes at the expense of human rights. After all, not all irregular migration is illegal. US and international law protects the rights of asylum seekers to flee across borders to escape persecution. Advertisement Critics have also grown alarmed at the potential for US military action against Mexico’s cartels. During the first hours of his second term, Trump signed another executive order designating the cartels as “foreign terrorist organisations”, calling them an “unacceptable national security risk to the United States”. In the days afterwards, Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan told ABC News that there could be clashes between the increased surge of US troops and the cartels. “Do I expect violence to escalate? Absolutely, because the cartels are making record amounts of money,” Homan said. Other Republican officials, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, have also voiced support for military strikes on Mexican cartels. But the Mexican government has viewed that rhetoric with great alarm, and it maintains any such strike would represent a severe violation of its country’s sovereignty. Nevertheless, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum did not express alarm over US military surveillance flights, as they were currently taking place over US soil. She addressed the topic in a morning news conference on Thursday, before Guillot offered his testimony in the US. “This is not the first time that there have been flights of this type, it’s not out of nowhere,” Sheinbaum said. “Will we ask for an explanation? Yes, but as part of our coordination with them.” Meanwhile, when asked by US lawmakers if he would require the presence of an aircraft carrier strike group near Mexico, Guillot said that he would need “significant increased maritime presence in cooperation with the Coast Guard”. Advertisement Adblock test (Why?)
Trump launches reciprocal tariffs amid concerns of economic turmoil
United States President Donald Trump has signed a plan rolling out increased import duties for every trading partner that taxes US imports, stating that he was doing so to bring a sense of “fairness” to commerce. Sitting in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump described the tariffs as reciprocal, meaning that the US would automatically raise its own import taxes to match existing levels in other countries. “On trade I have decided for purposes of fairness that I will charge a reciprocal tariff, meaning whatever countries charge the United States of America, we will charge them. No more, no less,” he said. “In almost all cases, they’re charging us vastly more than we charge them,” he added. “But those days are over.” While experts have raised concerns that Trump’s tariffs could set off a global trade war that would cause surging prices, Trump has long viewed trade as a matter of winners and losers — and he has argued that the US has been “very unfairly” treated by its allies abroad. His heavy reliance on tariffs has also been seen as a departure from the longstanding bipartisan consensus on expanding free trade agreements with other countries. Advertisement Thursday’s tariffs are not expected to start immediately because it would require different tax hikes be set according to rates in different countries, a process that could take weeks. Also on Thursday, he threatened the 10-country bloc known as BRICS — named for its founding members Brazil, Russia, India and China — with a “100-percent tariff at least” if the group proceeded with hypothetical plans to set up a common currency. No such currency is in the works although BRICS leaders have floated the possibility in the past. Still, Trump lashed out at the prospect in a question-and-answer session with reporters, accusing BRICS leaders of wanting “to play games with the dollar”. “If any trading gets through, it’ll be 100-percent tariff at least,” Trump said. The US president has frequently used tariffs as a means of coercing other countries to act in line with his priorities. That includes proposed tariffs against Mexico and Canada, two of the US’s largest and closest trading partners. In November, shortly after his re-election, Trump announced he planned to impose 25-percent tariffs on both countries to force them to tighten security along the US border. Economists and politicians alike warned of the crippling effects those tariffs could have on the economies of all countries involved. “I want to speak directly to Americans,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on February 1. “Tariffs against Canada will put your jobs at risk, potentially shutting down American auto assembly plants and other manufacturing facilities. They will raise costs for you, including food at the grocery stores and gas at the pump.” Advertisement Shortly after that statement, both Mexico and Canada struck deals with the Trump team to delay the tariffs until March, in exchange for concessions like an increase in the number of Mexican national guard forces at the southern US border. Still, Trudeau and other critics have called the prospect of tariffs a violation of the free trade agreements they struck, including the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which was negotiated during Trump’s first term. Also during Trump’s first term, Congress voted to extend permanent normal trade relations with China. That decision, and free trade agreements in general, have been criticised by politicians like Senator Bernie Sanders, who argue those policies made it easier for companies to relocate factories to countries with lower wages and reduces unionisation rights and environmental protections. While Trump has also been critical of free trade deals, he has declined to pursue typically left-wing priorities such as the promotion of collective bargaining rights for workers. Tariffs can also be used to shield domestic sectors from foreign competition, but economists said that strategy is more typical of countries working to get domestic industries off the ground. They also warned that after several decades of economic integration between allies, the sudden imposition of steep tariffs could lead to serious economic turmoil as well as rising prices for consumers. Trump campaigned on lowering the cost of living, and he has since warned there may be some “pain” for consumers as a result of the tariffs. Advertisement Adblock test (Why?)
Ukraine presses on in Kursk; Denmark warns Russia could wage war in Europe
Ukraine has advanced 5km (3 miles) deeper into Russian territory during the past week, as Russia again reportedly deployed North Korean forces against it. But as Kyiv’s forces inched ahead, United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a NATO meeting on Wednesday that it was “unrealistic” to expect a return to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders and ruled out NATO membership for the war-torn nation – a major blow to Ukraine’s post-war ambitions. Amid tensions between NATO allies, with several European members at odds with Washington’s perspective, the Danish Defence Intelligence Service (DDIS) released a report on Tuesday warning that Russia could launch a war with “one or more European NATO countries if it perceives NATO as militarily weakened or politically divided”. “Since 2022, Russia has been undertaking a major reconstruction and reform of its military forces in parallel with its war effort in Ukraine,” the report said. “During 2024, this effort has changed its nature from a reconstruction to an intensified military buildup with the goal of being able to wage an equal fight against NATO forces. Advertisement “The economic and material support from China and the support from North Korea and Iran with troops and weapons systems, respectively, are increasingly contributing to freeing up resources for Russia’s rearmament against NATO.” Ukraine’s intensified push On February 6, Ukrainian forces launched a new offensive with two mechanised battalions from the town of Makhnovka, which they control. Geolocated footage showed they had moved along the 38K-028 highway to form a salient towards the southeast, capturing the settlements of Kolmakov and Fanaseyevka. Ukrainian forces advanced somewhat further along that highway on Friday, holding positions close to Cherkasskaya Konopelka, said Russian reporters. They said a second Ukrainian offensive launched from Dimitriukov was successfully checked. Ukraine had launched another surprise offensive in Kursk on January 5. Two surprise offensives in as many months suggest the importance Ukraine places on the Kursk operation, as well as Russia’s inability to anticipate Ukrainian actions, according to observers. (Al Jazeera) Moscow’s forces have been unable to dislodge Ukraine from Russian territory since August 6 last year, when Ukraine counter-invaded in a surprise move not even its allies knew about, as an active defence against Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. On the six-month anniversary of the operation, Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SSO) revealed that preparations had begun two months before the counter-invasion. Advertisement “When Russia in June 2024 continued to carry out loud air strikes on the Sumy region, small special forces groups entered the enemy rear in the Kursk region,” the SSO posted on its Telegram channel. “The destruction of Russian air defence systems and ammunition depots did not leave the enemy the opportunity to react quickly. Point strikes on strategic objects and enemy logistics made it impossible to quickly transfer reinforcements,” it said. The SSO also said its special operations forces liaised with local resistance fighters opposed to Russian President Vladimir Putin, to set up ambushes and carry out sabotage. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Ukraine’s push into Kursk has diverted 60,000 of Russia’s most capable personnel from the Ukrainian front to defend Russian turf. Manpower shortages Last December, Russia deployed North Korean soldiers to help secure its territory, but those forces were said to have disappeared from the battlefield in mid-January after losing as much as a third of their number in dead and wounded, according to estimates. Zelenskyy said on Friday that they were returning after recuperation, and a Ukrainian unit published video purporting to show them in active combat on Saturday. (Al Jazeera) Both sides have faced manpower shortages. Last May, Ukraine passed a conscription law obliging Ukrainian men aged 25-27 to enlist. The move was thought enough to raise a quarter of a million new soldiers, but Kyiv has struggled as some avoid the draft. Ukraine has had to spend 50,000 of those new recruits bringing existing brigades back up to strength rather than building a dozen new brigades as planned. Zelenskyy said he would now offer inducements for 18-24 year-olds to sign up to fight as well. Advertisement Russia’s situation is also difficult. Unlike Zelenskyy, Putin has not enlisted through general mobilisation, possibly fearing the political consequences. Zelenskyy said on February 4 that Russia has lost 300,000 to 350,000 soldiers since the full-scale invasion, with another 600,000 to 700,000 wounded. The figures are the highest yet given by Ukraine, whose Ministry of Defence estimates more than 850,000 Russian dead and wounded. Oleksandr Syrskii, Ukrainian commander-in-chief, said last month that 434,000 of those casualties were incurred in 2024 alone, suggesting that the war is becoming deadlier and less sustainable for Russia. (Al Jazeera) Russian-North Korean military cooperation deepens North Korea has apparently been helping Russia with migrant labour as well as soldiery. South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) revealed on Sunday that 13,221 North Koreans entered the Russian Federation last year, 12 times the number that emigrated in 2023. Those workers were separate from the 11,000 troops North Korea reportedly dispatched to Russia beginning in August. About half of the workers entered on student visas, the NIS said. The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, suggested this was a way of bypassing a UN Security Council Resolution barring any country from receiving North Korean labourers. North Korea is sanctioned for its nuclear weapons programme, and the UN is concerned that a diaspora could reinforce the economy with remittances. Putin has reportedly grown increasingly reliant on his North Korean ally for ammunition as well. Advertisement Andriy Kovalenko, the head of the Ukraine Center for Countering Disinformation, said last December that 60 percent of the artillery ordnance used by Russia now comes from North Korean factories. (Al Jazeera) Japanese news network NHK quoted unnamed sources on Saturday saying Russia would co-develop drones with North Korea in order to increase the size of its arsenal. “The sources say the accord on drone development is in return for North Korea’s deployment of soldiers,” said NHK. Russia may also be assisting
Australia, China trade barbs over midair encounter above South China Sea
Canberra says Chinese jet dropped flares nears its air force plane as China accuses Australia of airspace intrusion. Australia has accused China of “unsafe” military manoeuvre after a Chinese fighter jet dropped flares near an Australian air force plane patrolling the South China Sea, drawing a quick pushback from Beijing. The Australian Defence Force said on Thursday that its plane was flying a “routine” surveillance patrol over the contested waters on February 11 when the Chinese aircraft Shenyang J-16 approached. It added that the jet “released flares in close proximity” to the Australian Poseidon surveillance plane, describing the incident as “an unsafe and unprofessional manoeuvre that posed a risk to the aircraft and personnel”. Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles said the flares passed within 30 metres (100 feet) of the aircraft, which typically carried about nine people. No one was injured but Marles said the move posed the “potential for significant damage”. He told Sky News that officials had voiced their displeasure with their Chinese counterparts in Canberra and Beijing. The Australian government “expressed its concerns” to China over the incident. Advertisement ‘Violation of Chinese sovereignty’ Beijing swiftly hit back, accusing the Australian plane of “violating Chinese sovereignty and endangering Chinese national security”. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said that “without Chinese permission, the Australian military aircraft deliberately intruded into the airspace around China’s Xisha Islands,” Beijing’s name for the Paracel Islands. The Paracel group of islands is also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan. “China’s measures to expel the aircraft were legitimate, legal, professional and restrained,” Guo said. He added that Beijing had “lodged solemn representations” with Canberra to demand an end to “infringements and provocations”. China claims almost all of the South China Sea, despite an international ruling in 2016 concluding this has no legal basis. The midair incident is the latest in a string of episodes between China and Australia in the increasingly contested airspace and shipping lanes of Asia. It also coincided with the arrival of three Chinese navy vessels in waters northeast of Australia’s mainland. Australia’s Defence Department officials said a Chinese frigate and a cruiser had been spotted near Australia’s “maritime approaches” with a supply tanker in tow. Marles said it appeared to be unrelated to the aircraft incident but the Australian navy had sent its own frigate to shadow their voyage. “Australia respects the rights of all states to exercise freedom of navigation and overflight in accordance with international law, just as we expect others to respect Australia’s right to do the same,” the Department of Defence said. Advertisement Adblock test (Why?)