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LIVE UPDATES: Pentagon Announces $820Mln in Security Aid for Ukraine, Including Air Defense Systems

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Since the beginning of the special op in February, Russian forces have eliminated 224 Ukrainian warplanes, 134 helicopters, 1,400 drones, 3,859 tanks and other... 01.07.2022, Sputnik International

2022-07-01T05:20+0000

2022-10-19T20:56+0000

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Members of the 17th Fires Brigade from Ft. Lewis fire two High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) rockets simultaneously in a training exercise at Yakima Training Center Nov. 1, 2007 in Yakima, Wash. - Sputnik International

LIVE UPDATES: Pentagon Announces $820Mln in Security Aid for Ukraine, Including Air Defense Systems

05:20 GMT 01.07.2022 (Updated: 20:56 GMT 19.10.2022)

Since the beginning of the special op in February, Russian forces have eliminated 224 Ukrainian warplanes, 134 helicopters, 1,400 drones, 3,859 tanks and other armored vehicles, 698 rocket launchers and 3,059 artillery pieces, the defence ministry stated.

Russian forces and the Donbass militias are advancing amid the special operation, while the Ukrainian troops gradually retreat from DPR and LPR territory. The clashes continue around the city of Lisichansk in the LPR, as Russian forces take control of the city.

Previously, Moscow and Kiev agreed on prisoners exchange, with 144 troops being handed over by each side.

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21:40 GMT 01.07.2022

Russians Leaving Snake Island Result of Ukrainian Pressure, Harpoons Deployment - Pentagon

The Russian military decided to leave Snake Island in the Black Sea due to significant pressure applied by the Ukrainian forces as well as the deployment by them of Harpoon missiles that were recently supplied to the country, a senior US Defense Department official said on Friday.

“The way we view this development [Russians leaving the Snake Island] is that the Ukrainians were very successful at applying significant pressure on the Russians, including by using those Harpoon missiles that they recently acquired to attack a [Russian] resupply ship,” the official said during a press briefing.

The Ukrainians made it very hard for the Russian military to sustain operations on the island because they became “very vulnerable” to Ukrainian strikes, the official claimed.

At the same time, the official admitted that Russian troops leaving Snake Island is not a “panacea” for Ukraine, but it has made it easier to defend Odessa from potential attacks and has enabled opening up sea corridors.

On Thursday, the Russian Ministry of Defense said its forces left Snake Island located in the Black Sea near Odessa. The ministry called the retreat a “gesture of goodwill” to show the world community that Russia does not interfere with the efforts of the United Nations to organize a humanitarian corridor for exporting grain from Ukraine.

18:35 GMT 01.07.2022

Pentagon Announces Additional $820Mln in Security Aid for Ukraine

The United States announced another package of security assistance for Ukraine worth $820 million that includes two advanced surface-to-air missile systems and four additional counter-artillery radars amid Russia's special military operation, the Pentagon said on Friday.

"This afternoon, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced $820 million in additional security assistance for Ukraine," the Pentagon said in a press release. "Included in this package are: Two National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS); Up to 150,000 rounds of 155mm artillery ammunition; and Four additional counter-artillery radars."

The new package also includes additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) that were previously committed to Ukraine, the release said.

18:26 GMT 01.07.2022

Berlin Approved Exports of $584Mln Worth of Arms to Ukraine During First Half of 2022

Ukraine became the second-largest importer of German armaments, after Berlin approved the exports of 562 million euros ($584 million) worth of weaponry to Kiev in the first six months of 2022, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) said Friday.

The ministry said in a report that the German cabinet had approved a total of 4.14 billion euros in arms exports worldwide, a twofold increase compared to the previous year. The Netherlands remained the first in terms of weapons imports from Germany, with arms delivery deals totaling 1.8 billion euros. Ukraine took second place with approved exports for "self-defense" averaging 562 million euros.

The European Union, NATO, and allies, including Ukraine and South Korea, accounted for 92% of all approved German arms export deals in the first half of the year - a total of 3.8 billion euros in agreed contracts.

Defense contracts of German arms-producing enterprises require the approval of the German cabinet. The number of concluded contracts does not represent the actual arms supplies made during the said period since the deliveries could only be made after the government's approval and may take place after the reporting period.

18:05 GMT 01.07.2022

Zelensky Receives Norwegian Prime Minister in Kiev

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday welcomed Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store in the Ukrainian capital.

"I continue meetings with our partners and welcome Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store to Kyiv. The support of your country is important and valuable for us, as well as the fact that you are standing by Ukrainians today," Zelensky said on Telegram.

Store promised to provide Ukraine with assistance, including a donation of 10 billion kroner ($10.4 million), the NRK broadcaster reported.

The prime minister traveled to Kiev by train, without announcing his visit in advance due to security reasons, the report said.

17:32 GMT 01.07.2022

UNSC to Discuss Food Security in July in Light of Ukrainian Conflict

14:36 GMT 01.07.2022

UK Broadcaster: Many Citizens of Lisichansk Support Russian Forces in LPR

UK broadcaster SkyNews on Friday published a report saying that many citizens of the Lisichansk city in the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) express support for Russia's special military operation in Ukraine.

Alex Crawford, the broadcaster's correspondent in the LPR, reported that there are many Russian sympathizers in the city, blaming the Ukrainian authorities and President Volodymyr Zelensky for what is happening in Ukraine.

"Ukrainians. It's them who started this. Nobody else. Russia wants to help Ukraine," a citizen told the correspondent when asked who was to blame.

The correspondent's video, published by the broadcaster, also showed some people walking down the city streets while singing patriotic songs in Russian. When approached by a correspondent, one woman asked where the filming crew was from.

"Britain? Ah, so you're not writing the truth. You are not writing the truth," the woman responded after the correspondent said that she was from the United Kingdom.

Nevertheless, some people are not taking sides and have "strong differing views" on the situation, hoping for the hostilities to end soon, according to the report.

"Who knows if it's Zelensky. Russia is saying its own thing. Zelensky is saying his own thing. And we can't understand. We haven't had our pensions for five months now… Zelensky isn't paying us… Russia's not paying us," another citizen told the correspondent when asked who was to blame for the Ukraine crisis.

Almost the entire territory of the LPR has been liberated by the Russian military, except for the Lisichansk city. Earlier, the LPR people's militia said that it took full control over the Lisichansk oil refinery, while the Ukrainian military had been ordered to withdraw from the city, according to LPR lt. col. Andrei Marochko.

11:57 GMT 01.07.2022

Von Der Leyen Says Will Discuss Reconstruction With Ukrainian Leaders in Lugano

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in the Swiss city of Lugano conference on July 4 to discuss the country's reconstruction, which, she said on Friday, will require new reforms on Kiev's part to be efficient.

"Today, the international community is mobilising to support your efforts to rebuild your beautiful country. Next Monday, together with President Zelensky and Prime Minister Shmyhal, I will participate in the Lugano conference for the reconstruction of Ukraine. Your European path and the reconstruction of the country will go hand in hand," von der Leyen told the Ukrainian parliament.

She said Ukraine's recovery will require "massive investments."

"But to maximise their impact and to foster business confidence, investments will have to be coupled with a new wave of reforms," von der Leyen continued.

The EU official commended Kiev for progress made in passing laws promoting EU-recommended reforms, such as independence of the judiciary and media.

"Many of the laws and the institutions you need are already in place. Now is the time to translate rules and bodies into positive and enduring change," the Commission president said, adding that "there is a long road ahead but Europe will be at your side every step of the way, for as long as it takes."

With regard to the fight against corruption, in particular, she said Kiev has managed to build "an impressive anti-corruption machine," which will now need to obtain "teeth, and the right people in senior posts." Von der Leyen suggested that Zelenskyy appoint new directors to the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau as soon as possible.

11:55 GMT 01.07.2022

Erdogan Says Turkey and Russia Working on Organizing Negotiations With Putin and Zelensky

Turkey and Russia are working on organizing negotiations between the countries' presidents, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday.

"Our friends are now working to organize negotiations with both ... Putin and ... [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky. We will hold talks on the re-escort of agricultural products. There are countries that have problems, we can help," Erdogan told reporters.

11:11 GMT 01.07.2022

Acting Bulgarian Prime Minister Refuses to Change Decision to Expel 70 Russian Diplomats

Acting Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said on Friday that he will not change his decision to order 70 Russian diplomats out of the country.

On Tuesday, Petkov said that Bulgaria would expel 70 Russian diplomats who were allegedly engaged in espionage. The Russian foreign ministry promised "an appropriate response" to Sofia’s decision, noting that these measures will not necessarily be symmetrical. Russian ambassador in Bulgaria Eleonora Mitrofanova, in turn, said that diplomatic relations between the two countries may be severed over the decision.

"We have reached a historic milestone. We can either go on with changes for a prosperous nation, or risk a return to behind-the-scenes deals, puppet governance, and [serving] foreign interests. We will not allow Bulgaria to choose the wrong direction ... the prosecutors to remain inactive, and foreign diplomats to issue ultimatums until 12 o'clock. Because we are not afraid," Petkov said, as quoted by the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency.

09:46 GMT 01.07.2022

Kissinger Breaks Down 3 Possible Outcomes of Ukraine Crisis

Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger is interviewed by Neil Cavuto on his Cavuto Coast to Coast program, on the Fox Business Network, in New York, Friday, June 5, 2015 - Sputnik International, 1920, 01.07.2022

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Kissinger Breaks Down 3 Possible Outcomes of Ukraine Crisis

1 July 2022, 09:45 GMT

08:36 GMT 01.07.2022

Tokyo Says New Decree on Sakhalin-2 LNG Project Does Not Mean Supplies' Immediate Stoppage

Russian President Vladimir Putin's decree on the Sakhalin-2 liquefied natural gas (LNG) project does not mean that LNG supplies will be immediately stopped, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Friday.

Earlier this week, Putin signed a decree on special economic measures in the fuel and energy sector in connection with the unfriendly actions of foreign states. In particular, the decree entails the change of the operator of the Russian-led LNG project to a new legal entity, to which the rights and obligations of Sakhalin Energy will be transferred. During a month, foreign partners are to declare whether they agree to accept the same stake in the new operator.

"A decree of the Russian president on the Sakhalin-2 project was issued. But this does not mean that LNG supplies will be immediately stopped. But we will closely monitor what requirements will be in the content of the contract as a result of this decree. It is also necessary to consider further steps together with companies," Kishida told reporters.

08:33 GMT 01.07.2022

Hungary Will Not Discuss Proposals Resulting in Loss of Access to Russian Gas - Orban

Budapest is not ready to discuss proposals that may lead to limited access for the country to Russian gas, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday.

"We are not discussing proposals that would make it difficult for us to access Russian gas. It is not that we are looking for a compromise, but that we have nothing to discuss," Orban told the Kossuth radio broadcaster.

05:44 GMT 01.07.2022

Ukrainian Troops Target Donetsk With 20 Grad Rockets

05:38 GMT 01.07.2022

Ukrainian Forces Shell Cities North of Donetsk