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Russian chief Vladimir Putin says he gained’t abandon his Ukraine invasion, and that he thinks Kyiv’s companions are at their restrict attempting to assist. Putin spoke at a year-end occasion broadcast on state-run TV. Final yr’s occasion was canceled as Russia’s army struggled to advance past frontlines in Ukraine’s east and south that largely stay frozen in place immediately.
“Ukraine produces virtually nothing immediately, every thing is coming from the west; however the free stuff goes to expire sometime, and it appears it already is,” Putin mentioned in an obvious reference to Republican lawmakers within the U.S. Congress.
There might be peace in Ukraine, Putin mentioned, “solely once we obtain our targets…and people targets haven’t modified.” These targets nonetheless embody, as he put once more, the “de-Nazification” of Ukraine. What’s extra, he asserted falsely, the Ukrainian metropolis of “Odessa is a Russian metropolis and everybody is aware of that,” he mentioned. (Hat tip to FT’s Max Seddon for the translations.) Russia-watcher Mark Galeotti has extra on Putin’s handle, writing on social media, right here.
For the second night time in a row, Putin’s army carried out one other “large missile assault” on Ukraine’s capital—with a “launch to assault” time of solely 90 seconds, in line with Tymofiy Mylovanov of the Kyiv Faculty of Economics.
“I ponder what comes subsequent. Will Russia proceed to assault day by day?” Mylovanov wrote on social media. “Will the infrastructure maintain off the cyber assaults? Will air protection shoot down all missiles? How many individuals will die? What is going to occur on the entrance? Can Russians break by? Can they assault Kyiv once more?”
“I hope the West will overcome its divisions and get critical about this battle,” he continued. “I’m sure [the] Ukrainian army will defend Ukraine. It’s a robust interval in our lives however in the future it is going to be over. Every thing ends. Except we give up. As a result of then the nightmare is endlessly.”
Poland simply swore in a brand new authorities, which is notably extra pleasant towards the European Union than the earlier eight-year ensemble. Reuters has extra from Warsaw.
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Welcome to this Thursday version of The D Transient, dropped at you by Ben Watson with Bradley Peniston. Share your e-newsletter suggestions, studying suggestions, or suggestions for the yr forward right here. And when you’re not already subscribed, you are able to do that right here. On this present day in 2012 at about 9:30 within the morning, a 20-year-old male, armed with a number of weapons together with an assault rifle, shot his means by the doorways of Connecticut’s Sandy Hook Elementary Faculty and proceeded to kill 20 youngsters and 6 workers members in one of many deadliest mass shootings in American historical past.
The Senate handed its compromise protection coverage invoice in an awesome 87-13 vote Wednesday night. The $886 billion invoice raises troops’ pay by 5.2% and drops a number of measures far-right Republicans sought like restrictions on abortion, transgender care, and variety/inclusion packages.
The invoice additionally forbids any American president from withdrawing the U.S. from NATO “with out Senate approval or an Act of Congress,” an modification launched as a standalone invoice earlier this yr by Republican Sen. Marco Rubio and his Democratic colleague Tim Kaine.
Since President Biden is a strong backer of the Russia-focused alliance, the invoice would appear to actually be targeted on only one man presently: Republican front-runner for the 2024 election former President Donald Trump, who has lengthy disparaged NATO and floated the thought of pulling out.
The protection invoice would additionally prolong the home surveillance program often called FISA Part 702 for one more 16 months. The eavesdropping legislation is ready to run out on the finish of the month, however White Home officers have been pleading their case for its extension to lawmakers and information shops—together with Protection One—for the previous a number of months.
High-quality print: Lawmakers drew up a four-month extension of this system into the most recent protection coverage invoice that handed within the Senate Wednesday. However procedural mechanics enable for that provision to have one other 12 months of life, as authorized analysts from the American Civil Liberties Union Kia Hamadanchy and Ashley Gorski clarify immediately in Protection One. The title of their argument: “Part 702 surveillance doesn’t belong within the NDAA.”
Breaking: The Home simply voted 310-118 to advance the NDAA, with 163 Democrats voting with 147 Republicans.
Growing: Israel’s army chief mentioned the battle in Gaza will “final greater than a number of months” and “would require an extended time frame.” That was the message White Home Nationwide Safety Advisor Jake Sullivan acquired when he met with Israeli Protection Minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday. (Sullivan additionally met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Thursday.)
Additionally: Israel’s British Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely angrily rejected any two-state answer for the way forward for Palestinians and Gaza in an interview with Britain’s Sky Information on Wednesday.
And Israel’s spy chief simply canceled talks on attainable hostage exchanges with Hamas in Qatar, in line with Israel’s Channel 13 information. CNN has a bit extra, right here.
New: Practically half of Israel’s bombs dropped over Gaza had been unguided, in line with an evaluation from the Workplace of the Director of Nationwide Intelligence that was shared with CNN on Wednesday. In keeping with the well being ministry of Gaza, Israel’s army has killed greater than 18,000 folks since Hamas first attacked on October 7, killing a minimum of 1,200 Israelis in a horrific shock assault.
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And lastly: Elements delays are delaying F-35. Shortages of only a few components are slowing deliveries of the F-35’s newest improve, which is on observe to price virtually $1 billion greater than anticipated, Pentagon officers instructed lawmakers.
{Hardware} for the Expertise Refresh-3 improve just isn’t being produced quick sufficient, F-35 Program Government Officer Lt. Gen. Michael Schmidt mentioned Tuesday throughout a Home Armed Companies tactical air and land forces subcommittee listening to. Protection One’s Audrey Decker has extra, right here.
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