UPDATED. President Vladimir Putin has given conflicting statements on the goals of the war but is now clear the aims include some expansion of Russia's borders.
NEAR BAKHMUT, Ukraine – Russian forces have shelled the entire front line in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian officials said, part of what appears to be the Kremlin’s scaled-back ambition to secure only the bulk of territory it has claimed.
In Bakhmut and other parts of the Donetsk region that neighbors Luhansk province, Ukrainian forces countered with barrages from rocket launchers, a Reuters witness said. In an early Friday report, the Ukrainian general staff said its forces had attacked Russian positions and troop assembly points in at least half a dozen towns in the south of Ukraine.
The Kremlin said on Thursday, December 8, it was set on securing at least the bulk of the territories in east and south Ukraine, but appeared to give up on seizing other land in the west and northeast that Ukraine has recaptured. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says his troops will eventually drive Russia from all captured territory, including the Crimea peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014.In a reminder that Moscow maintains lines of communication with the West despite the war, the United States said Russia hadin return for the release of Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
The United States was also preparing to send Ukraine a $275 million military aid package offering new capabilities to defeat drones and strengthen air defenses, according to a document seen by Reuters and people familiar with the package.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Russian LGBTQ+ museum closes after new law bans ‘gay propaganda’BERLIN — The founder of Russia&039;s only LGBTQ+ museum said he was forced to close its doors on Wednesday, December 7, after President Vladimir Putin signed a law expanding restrictions
Read more »
Putin says nuclear tensions ‘rising’But Moscow won't deploy first Moscow—Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that nuclear tensions were rising, though he insisted “we
Read more »
Putin says Ukraine fight is taking longer than expected - BusinessMirrorKYIV, Ukraine—Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged Wednesday that his “special military operation” in Ukraine is taking longer than expected but said it has succeeded in seizing new territory and added that his country’s nuclear weapons are deterring escalation of the conflict. “Of course, it could be a lengthy process,” Putin said of the more than
Read more »
Russia trying to ‘freeze’ war before spring assault —NATO chiefRussia was looking to stall the fighting in Ukraine over the winter in order to build up its forces for a renewed assault next year, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday.
Read more »
Oil steady as China revival hopes offset Russia uncertaintyOil futures were little changed in Asia as hopes of improved Chinese demand offset uncertainty about how a Western cap on Russian oil prices would play out, keeping markets on edge after a sharp fall in the previous session. | Reuters
Read more »
Putin acknowledges Russia's war in Ukraine could be a long oneRussia is forced into a series of significant retreats in the face of Ukrainian counter-offensives, waged with increasing stocks of Western weaponry, in the east and south since July.
Read more »