The “assassination” of Russian military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky may reveal “further fractures within the Kremlin and its inner circle”, a US thinktank has said.
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We will be back in the morning with all the latest developments on the war in Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin understands power and should not be underestimated, former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo has said during a visit to Kyiv.
Mr Pompeo, who is also a previous director of the CIA, said the Russian president recognises “one thing and that is power and consistent resolve”.
He also said a new security architecture was required to insure against major land warfare in Europe.
“There must be a set of arrangements that make it unequivocally clear that Vladimir Putin will not be able to do that again,” he said.
Asked whether he would back providing Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets and long-range missiles, Mr Pompeo said: “Yes – and the training and the software and all the things needed to actually protect and defend your own land.”
He visited a military hospital and met some Ukrainian government officials.
The head of the US’s House Intelligence Committee has said there is “overwhelming” support for America to continue supplying aid to Ukraine.
Michael Turner, who chairs the House’s main body for overseeing American intelligence organisations, was speaking on a brief visit to Kyiv.
“There are those on the left and on the right who question continued support or the amount of support – that will certainly be part of the debate,” Mr Turner said.
“But, overwhelmingly, there is support for continuing aid to Ukraine, so that they can continue to fight against this aggression of Russia.”
Another member of a small delegation that made the trip to the Ukrainian capital, Representative Darin LaHood, said the purpose of the visit was to observe the situation on the ground.
He described the war as “illegal, unprovoked”.
The trip will “help us as we go back and have to make decisions on further funding and further support for this conflict”, he added.
A funeral has been held in Ivano-Frankivsk in western Ukraine for Vitalii Merinov, a four-time world kickboxing champion and Ukrainian serviceman.
Mr Merinov was fatally injured during a fight against Russian troops in the eastern Luhansk region.
Ukrainian soldiers and volunteers are urging residents of the town of Chasiv Yar to evacuate.
It is close to the frontline in the eastern region of Donetsk, where much of the fighting has taken place in recent months.
Conditions are clearly still very cold, with snow remaining on the ground.
Ukraine has received an initial $2.7bn (£2.2bn) in assistance from the International Monetary Fund.
Ukrainian finance minister Sergiy Marchenko confirmed the money’s arrival this afternoon.
“Grateful to our partners for supporting Ukraine on the way to victory,” he said.
The IMF has approved a four-year $15.6bn (£12.6bn) loan programme for Ukraine.
It is part of a global package to support the country’s economy as it battles the continuing Russian invasion.
The United States is to send a new package of assistance to Ukraine this week, the White House has confirmed.
Spokesman John Kirby also said Ukraine is still fighting hard for the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut and the battle is not over.
Ukrainians have not been repulsed from the city, he added.
Earlier, we reported that Russia’s paramilitary Wagner Group claimed it had “legal” control of Bakhmut.
Sky News has been analysing the evidence for that claim (14.49 post).
Norway and Denmark have jointly agreed to provide Ukraine with 8,000 155mm artillery shells, Norway’s defence ministry has announced.
Norwegian defence minister Bjorn Arild Gram said Kyiv has a “significant need” for artillery ammunition and his country would “contribute where we can”.
Norway has agreed to donate the shells from its military stock, while Denmark will provide fuses, propellants and primer cartridges, the ministry said.
Denmark’s acting defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen said its cooperation with Norway on the initiative was “an important example” of ongoing military contributions to Ukraine by EU and NATO countries.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has welcomed the move.
The US government is “pushing hard” for the release of a Wall Street Journal reporter being held in Russia, the White House has said.
Evan Gershkovich has been accused of gathering information about a Russian defence company, Russia’s FSB security service said on Thursday.
“We have been pushing hard since the moment we found out the reporter was detained,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.
The US is “keenly, strongly, closely” tracking his detention, Mr Kirby added.
“We will do everything we can to get Evan home and Paul Whelan,” Mr Kirby said, referring to the former US Marine serving a 16-year jail sentence in Russia on charges of espionage, which he and the United States deny.
“We have no illusions that it’s going to take a lot of hard work. That doesn’t mean we’re going to shy away from it.”
Earlier (14.09 post) we reported that Mr Gershkovich is apparently planning to appeal.
Western allies have sent Ukraine £57bn in military aid, NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg has said.
With peace negotiations looking unlikely, the military alliance is planning to send further assistance, Mr Stoltenberg added.
“We cannot allow Russia to continue to chip away at European security,” he said during a news conference in Brussels.
“There are no signs that (Vladimir) Putin is preparing for peace. He is preparing for more war”.
NATO foreign ministers will meet in Brussels on Tuesday and “discuss how we can step up our support, including by continuing to strengthen Ukraine’s armed forces”, Mr Stoltenberg said.
“Our support is for the long-haul.”
Finland will officially join NATO on Tuesday.
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