Ukrainian war, the defense denies the agreement of Italy and France on 700 missiles in Kyiv. Medvedev attacks Crocito: “a rare fool”

A spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force said in an interview with El Pais, quoting the Kyiv Independent newspaper, that his country aspires to obtain 24 modern combat aircraft from Western allies. The ideal delivery would be American F-16s, the spokesman explained, but instead Kyiv would gladly accept French Rafales or Swedish Saab-made Gripens.

Regarding the news circulating in some French media, the defense explained that “this is unfounded news, and that during the meeting between the Italian Minister of Defense and his French counterpart, no contract related to military supplies was signed, discussed, or even mentioned.” The reference refers to the joint purchase of 700 Aster-30 missiles for the Samp-T air defense system, which are to be directed to Ukraine, the French newspaper l’Opinion reported.

Status of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Workers’ Party) Veto the supply of ammunition for tanks from Brazil to Ukraine. Lula, according to SP’s online newspaper “Vula”, prefers to maintain a neutral position and avoid provoking Moscow. The head of state also denied receiving a request from the German government to this effect. Meanwhile, Chancellor Schultz arrives today in Argentina, his first stop on a trip that will also take him to Brazil and Chile in the next few days, and the meeting between the German chancellor and the Brazilian leader is scheduled for Monday, January 30.

Moscow condemns the Ukrainian attack on a hospital in Donbass that could have caused massive casualties. The Russian Ministry of Defense said that “HEMARs launched by the Ukrainians hit a hospital in Novoydar” in Lugansk, causing “14 dead and 24 injured.”

“If it was ‘foolish’ to help a beleaguered nation defend its existence, then I am. I would have done it even with the reversed parts. Medvedev is thinking of putting an end to the war ». This is how Defense Minister Guido Cosito responded in a tweet to the attack by the deputy head of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev. «Probably – Crocito notes – the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Medvedev, known for his wisdom and objectivity, is right in introducing me to a “rare fool”. Medvedev is right because, despite what he or the Russian ambassador to Italy might try to do, insinuate and pressure to change my mind, spread fake news about Italian defense or low-level personal attacks, I persist in thinking that it is right to help a nation that has been attacked without Reason and no reason, like Ukraine, to defend its cities, people and existence. I would have been ready to do it – he concludes – also for the Russian people, with the roles reversed».

If it is “foolish” to help a beleaguered nation defend its existence, then it is. I’d even do that with the mirrored parts. Medvedev is considering ending the war.

– Guido Crosetto (@GuidoCrosetto) January 28, 2023

Vice President of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev attacks Defense Minister Guido Crocito. “There are not many fools in the European power structures,” the former Russian prime minister wrote on Telegram, but “the Italian defense minister outlined the supply of armor and other weapons to Ukraine as a way to avoid World War III. Eccentricity is rare.” Save tanks or even fighter jets. Absolutely everything will be in ruins », adds Medvedev.

Italy and France have agreed on the joint purchase of 700 Aster-30 missiles for the Samp-T air defense system, to be directed to Ukraine: an order of two billion euros. This was reported by the French newspaper l’Opinion. The newspaper wrote that the agreement on the Mexican matter was reached during a visit yesterday to Rome between the Minister of Defense, Guido Croceto, and his counterpart from beyond the Alps, Sebastian Licorno. The Aster 30 missile has a range of 120 km.

“The work of the Ministerial Committee in charge of drafting a draft law related to international crimes (genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity), which was established by the Minister of Justice by a ministerial decision on March 22, 2022, should be noted. The draft law drawn up by the Commission, once approved, became executive. , will make it possible to exercise criminal influence to impose penalties, even in our country, for atrocious crimes committed in conflicts including the ongoing crime in Ukraine, ”said the Acting Public Prosecutor of Rome Salvatore Vitello in a report on the occasion of the judicial year.

A powerful explosion sounded this morning in the Russian-occupied city of Mariupol, Donetsk region (southeast). The mayor’s advisor, Petro Andryushenko, announced this on Telegram, local media reported. The explosion occurred near the Azovmash (freight cars) and Ilyich (steel) factories. “A big explosion in Mariupol twenty minutes ago. Also in the Kalmyos district, on the border with the settlements of Azovmash / Ilych. We explain the reasons. But these sounds, pleasing to the Ukrainian ear, are becoming more frequent in the city … “Andryushenko wrote.

Western countries will send more than 300 tanks to Ukraine: said the Ukrainian ambassador to France, Vadym Omelchenko, in an interview with the French television station and CNN affiliate BFMTV. CNN reports on its website. “So far, many countries have officially confirmed their agreement to deliver 321 heavy tanks to Ukraine,” Omelchenko said, without specifying the countries or referring to the different models of tanks destined for Kyiv. To date, among the countries that have pledged to send tanks to Ukraine are the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada and Poland.

Western countries will send more than 300 tanks to Ukraine: said the Ukrainian ambassador to France, Vadym Omelchenko, in an interview with the French television station and CNN affiliate BFMTV. CNN reports on its website. “So far, many countries have officially confirmed their agreement to deliver 321 heavy tanks to Ukraine,” Omelchenko said, without specifying the countries or referring to the different models of tanks destined for Kyiv. To date, among the countries that have pledged to send tanks to Ukraine are the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada and Poland.

Following recent statements by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kyiv will summon the Hungarian ambassador. A spokesman for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Oleg Nikolenko, described Orban’s provisions – as reported by Reuters – as “unacceptable.” In detail, the Hungarian prime minister said that Ukraine is a “no-man’s land” and compared it to Afghanistan. “Budapest continues a course aimed at destroying Hungarian-Ukrainian relations,” Nikolenko added, stressing that “the Hungarian ambassador will be summoned to the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a frank discussion, and we reserve the right to take further measures in response.”