European leaders back Ukraine’s for E.U. membership; U.S. sending $1bn aid package; Russia cuts natural gas supplies

[onthedarkside]

 

European leaders back Ukraine’s bid to apply for EU membership

France, Germany, Italy and Romania support move but say ‘profound reforms’ needed to fight corruption

 

The leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Romania pledged on Thursday to back Ukraine’s bid to apply for EU membership after travelling to Kyiv and meeting president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to show support in the face of Russia’s invasion.

 

“Europe is at your side and will stay there for as long as it takes,” French president Emmanuel Macron told Zelenskyy at a news conference, condemning Russia for “war, destruction and chaos” and the “barbarity” committed in the Kyiv suburb of Irpin, which the leaders visited earlier in the day.

 

“All four of us support the immediate granting of EU candidate status for Ukraine,” Macron said ahead of an EU summit next week that will consider the application and is expected to impose conditions on Kyiv including improving the rule of law and fighting corruption.

 

(more)

 

https://www.ft.com/content/bb506967-b56d-4513-9cde-331aa00bfe1e

 

 

[onthedarkside]

U.S. offers further $1bn in Ukraine aid as west steps up weapons supply

 

Training in use of high-tech kit and need to maintain western stockpiles remain key bottlenecks

 

The US will provide an additional $1bn in security assistance to Ukraine, including artillery and coastal defence weaponry, president Joe Biden said on Wednesday.

 

In a statement after a call with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Biden also said the US would provide $225mn in additional humanitarian assistance, as the west steps up its efforts to help Kyiv resist the Russian assault, which is now in its fourth month.

 

“I reaffirmed my commitment that the United States will stand by Ukraine as it defends its democracy and support its sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of unprovoked Russian aggression,” Biden said.

 

(more)

 

https://www.ft.com/content/254ba087-7f42-487f-b3b5-4ca6eab6f1c1

 

 

[onthedarkside]

 

Surge in gas prices continues as Russia cuts Europe’s supplies

Gas prices in Britain and Europe surged for a second consecutive day yesterday as Russia said it was further curtailing supplies to the Continent.

 

Gazprom, the Kremlin-controlled gas group, said it was limiting volumes through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Germany, while Eni, of Italy, said that its supplies from Russia also had been reduced. UK wholesale gas prices jumped by 30 per cent to more than 257p a therm.

 

Prices rose by 28 per cent on Tuesday after Gazprom announced an initial cut to flows through the pipeline and the owners of one of America’s biggest liquefied natural gas export terminals warned it would be out of action for months longer than expected after a fire.

 

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/surge-in-gas-prices-continues-as-russia-cuts-europe-s-supplies-6rwz896lq

 

 

[mrfill]

It was over 500p per therm in March.

Gas companies kept very quiet about it dropping such a vast amount...

 

https://inews.co.uk/news/gas-prices-uk-hit-record-high-500p-per-therm-war-in-ukraine-impacts-markets-1499259

[Bkk Brian]

7 hours ago, onthedarkside said:

“Europe is at your side and will stay there for as long as it takes,” French president Emmanuel Macron told Zelenskyy at a news conference, condemning Russia for “war, destruction and chaos” and the “barbarity” committed in the Kyiv suburb of Irpin, which the leaders visited earlier in the day.

Good to hear a little clarity from Macron with his backing of Ukraine in the war:

 

Speaking of a possible compromise, Macron ruled out giving up Russian-occupied Crimea and the occupied part of the Donbas. “I believe that Ukraine fights for its territorial integrity and sovereignty,” he said. “You stand for democratic values, international rule of law, and these values are important for the world and for Europe,”  “Neither France nor any other country can set conditions for Ukraine based on which peace talks should be held,” 

 

Ukraine must 'resist and win' - Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron says Ukraine must win the war against Russia, as he visited the town of Irpin outside the capital Kyiv. Macron told journalists in response to a question on his previous remarks that Russia must not be humiliated.

[Srikcir]

I think Turkey can support Ukraine's membership, especially since geographically Ukraine can add to Turkey's security and economic sustainability.

On the flip side Putin would go (more?) mad with the idea.

Let's roll EU and NATO! 

[mrfill]

1 hour ago, Srikcir said:

I think Turkey can support Ukraine's membership, especially since geographically Ukraine can add to Turkey's security and economic sustainability.

On the flip side Putin would go (more?) mad with the idea.

Let's roll EU and NATO! 

Turkey can say what they like. They are not in the EU and will probably never be.

 

History show us that 60 years ago the US deployed nuclear missiles in Turkey and Italy. Kruschev retaliated by installing nukes on Cuba leading to the Cuban Missile crisis of 1962. Fortunately diplomacy won and both sides backtracked. Probably the closest the world ever got to a nuclear war.

Be careful what you wish for.

[herfiehandbag]

4 hours ago, Srikcir said:

I think Turkey can support Ukraine's membership, especially since geographically Ukraine can add to Turkey's security and economic sustainability.

On the flip side Putin would go (more?) mad with the idea.

Let's roll EU and NATO! 

Turkey is entirely out of the loop as far as having any influence or effect upon Ukraine joining the EU.

 

Ukraine cannot join NATO ( as opposed to being supported by individual NATO countries) as it is engaged in an active conflict (NATO rules).

 

Turkey can try to block other countries (Sweden and Finland) from joining NATO, however it would by doing so increase it's NATO partners existing concerns about it's reliability as as a member of the alliance.

[unblocktheplanet]

Idiot politicians! They'll be deep in underground bunkers for the rest of their lives when either arrogant country pushes the button.

 

Right, let's distract the slaves from our climate future.

[Excel]

4 hours ago, mrfill said:

Turkey can say what they like. They are not in the EU and will probably never be.

 

History show us that 60 years ago the US deployed nuclear missiles in Turkey and Italy. Kruschev retaliated by installing nukes on Cuba leading to the Cuban Missile crisis of 1962. Fortunately diplomacy won and both sides backtracked. Probably the closest the world ever got to a nuclear war.

Be careful what you wish for.

And at the time for those of us that were adults and hence mindful of what the potential consequences could have been it was a very worrying situation.