World

New NATO Chief Mark Rutte Visits Ukraine In His First Trip Since Taking Office

Published

2 months ago

October 3, 2024

kiaragrace

Kiev, Ukraine — New NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte visited Ukraine on Thursday, his first official trip since assuming office, and pledged the alliance’s sustained support for Kyiv in its conflict with Russia.

Rutte visited with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, where air raid sirens sounded twice.

When he started office on Tuesday, NATO’s new secretary-general promised to help bolster up Western backing for Ukraine, which has been fighting Russia’s full-scale invasion since February 2022 and has been on the defensive for much of this year due to a continuous Russian army push in the country’s eastern regions.

New NATO Chief Mark Rutte Visits Ukraine In His First Trip Since Taking Office

Rutte expressed confidence that he can collaborate with whoever is elected president of the United States, the alliance’s most powerful member, in November. That might be a pivotal moment in Ukraine’s efforts to maintain Western support.

Zelenskyy said he spoke with Rutte about components of Ukraine’s so-called victory plan ahead of a NATO conference next week at Germany’s Ramstein Air Base. The gathering brings together defense leaders from over 50 partner countries who meet regularly to discuss weaponry aid for the conflict.

The two also talked about the battlefield conditions and the unique requirements of Ukrainian military units. Zelenskyy repeated that Ukraine requires more weapons, notably long-range weapons, which it has always sought.

When asked if the Middle East war would influence the timescale he had planned for the triumph, Zelenskyy highlighted that the United States and Britain claim Iran has supplied Russia with missiles and drones for use against Ukraine.

He also urged Western countries to lift limitations on Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied long-range weapons to launch strikes deep within Russia.

Of course, we don’t want Ukraine to be forgotten. But the simplest way to avoid forgetting about Ukraine is to provide the required weapons and permissions,” Zelenskyy stated. “And to help shoot down … the same Iranian missiles or drones, just as they are shot down over Israel, to shoot them down in the same way over Ukraine.”

Rutte emphasized the alliance’s unwavering support for Ukraine, stating that “Ukraine is closer to NATO than ever before.”

He stated that recent NATO actions “build a bridge to NATO membership” for Ukraine, including 40 billion euros ($44 billion) in financing support, bilateral security agreements among partners, and the establishment of a new NATO headquarters to coordinate assistance and training.

Rutte arrived after a Russian glide bomb hit a five-story apartment building in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, hurting at least 12 people, including a three-year-old girl, local officials said Thursday.

On Wednesday night, a device exploded between the building’s third and fourth floors, causing a fire, according to Kharkiv regional governor Oleh Syniehubov. Firefighters searched through the smoke and wreckage for survivors.

The city of Kharkiv, located around 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the Russian border, has been a frequent target of aerial attacks throughout the three-year-old war.

Glider bombs, which have become increasingly widespread during the war, have frightened residents and bludgeoned the Ukrainian army’s front-line fortifications. Ukraine has no effective countermeasures against glide bombs launched from Russian planes within Russia.

They were a major weapon in Russia’s conquest of the strategically important town of Vuhledar on Wednesday, as Russian forces wreaked havoc on the eastern Donetsk region, forcing exhausted Ukrainian troops to flee from devastated towns and villages.

During a news conference with Rutte, Zelenskyy stated that it was appropriate for Ukraine to withdraw its forces from Vuhledar so that they might fight another day. Earlier, he noted that the recent Kharkiv incident showed the critical need for additional support from Ukraine’s Western friends.

Zelensky recently met with US officials to assure continued Western military backing.

New NATO Chief Mark Rutte Visits Ukraine In His First Trip Since Taking Office

Russia has held the battlefield initiative since late last year, when a Ukrainian counteroffensive stalled. Ukraine is dealing with a catastrophic manpower shortage on the front lines and is struggling to stave off Russia’s relentless onslaught.

Though Russia’s military advances have been gradual, its consistent forward movement is paying off as the Ukrainians are pushed back and cede terrain.

Both sides have maintained regular cross-border aerial strikes, typically at night.

Ukraine’s air force claimed Thursday that 78 of the 105 Shahed drones launched by Russia overnight were destroyed as 15 districts of the nation were targeted.

Meanwhile, the Russian military intercepted 113 Ukrainian drones overnight, according to a statement from the Defense Ministry in Moscow. The drones were destroyed throughout four Russian areas bordering Ukraine: Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, and Voronezh, according to the report.

SOURCE | AP

World

Russian Arms Dealer Viktor Bout Back in Business After Biden Prisoner Exchange

Published

2 months ago

October 8, 2024

VORNews

Viktor Bout, a notorious Russian arms dealer, arriving at court in Bangkok in 2010 - CTN Image

Viktor Bout, the infamous Russian arms dealer who was exchanged two years ago for Brittney Griner by President Biden, has reportedly returned to arms trading, as detailed in a report by the Wall Street Journal.

The Wall Street Journal has revealed that Vikto Bout, infamously dubbed the “merchant of death,” is seeking to facilitate the sale of small arms to the Houthis. A report indicates that Houthi representatives met with Bout in Moscow in August to discuss the acquisition of $10 million in automatic weapons.

Nonetheless, the anticipated arms deal remains unfulfilled, as indicated by the report.

Reports indicate that the weapons being discussed do not encompass larger systems such as anti-ship or anti-air missiles, which could represent a considerable risk to U.S. military operations in the area.

Requests for comment from the WSJ regarding Bout’s alleged involvement in the arms trade went unanswered by the Kremlin and Russia’s Ministry of Defense. Steve Zissou, an attorney who provided legal representation for Bout during his time in U.S. custody, refrained from commenting on the possibility of Bout’s meetings with the Houthis.

Viktor Bout, the notorious Russian arms dealer was exchanged for Brittney Griner – CNN Image

Viktor Bout released in 2022

Bout, who became affiliated with Russia’s Kremlin-loyal Liberal Democratic Party following his release in a prisoner swap in December 2022, has kept a low profile since his return.

Bout was taken into custody in Thailand in 2008 and subsequently extradited to the United States, where he faced conviction in 2012 on charges associated with arms trafficking, resulting in a 25-year prison sentence.

For almost twenty years, Bout stood out as one of the globe’s most notorious arms dealers, providing weaponry to unrecognized governments and insurgent factions throughout Africa, Asia, and South America. The activities he conducted served as the basis for the 2005 film Lord of War.

Even after his conviction and imprisonment, reports indicate that Bout’s network persisted in its operations, contributing to conflicts in some of the globe’s most perilous areas.

Former US Marine Paul Whelan Released From Russian Prison

Former US Marine Paul Whelan Released From Russian Prison

World

Blinken Will Be Traveling To Asia This Week To Participate In a Summit Of Regional Leaders.

Published

2 months ago

October 8, 2024

Salman

(VOR News) – This week, in Laos, the United States of America will be present at a Blinken summit of leaders from East Asia. This week is when the conference will be held.

The Secretary of State of the United States of America, Antony Blinken, will be in charge of leading the American delegation.

Throughout his time as President, Blinken has traveled to Asia seventeen times as Secretary of State. During this journey, he is expected to visit Asia for the sixteenth time.

In an announcement made public by the State Department on Tuesday, Blinken was named Vice President Joe Biden’s replacement for the East Asia Summit. This biannual summit is presided over by the head of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Blinken will take Biden’s place at the East Asia Summit.

The statement was released in response to the Department of State’s call for comments. Each and every discussion that Blinken will attempt to attend will take place in Laotiane, the country’s capital city. These talks are scheduled to occur on Thursday and Friday before he leaves for his own country.

Furthermore, they are scheduled to occur. He was scheduled to travel with Vice President Joe Biden to Germany and Angola. It was intended that this would happen while he was here.

This was an adventure scheduled to happen over the course of the long weekend. However, a statement from the White House stated that the president would be postponing his trip because of the extreme storm weather that was occurring in the country at the moment. This was brought on by the storm that was there at the time.

A major obstacle on Blinken’s agenda, according to top US ambassador to Asia Dan Kritenbrink, would be the worsening of relations with China, particularly Beijing’s increasing aggression in the South China Sea over territorial disputes with its smaller neighbors.

Beijing’s attempts to assert its sovereignty over the South China Sea are the reason for this. This is the situation, based on the facts that Dan Kritenbrink supplied. Since he is the one in charge of them, Blinken would be in charge and in charge of managing this situation.

A meeting between Blinken and the Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, happened in New York City at the UN General Assembly. The preceding month came to a close with this meeting. The meeting took place in the city of New York.

The United States city of New York served as the venue for the Blinken assembly.

Kritenbrink tried his best to find out whether Blinken planned to attend separate talks with Chinese officials in Laos, but he was unable to answer that question.

This was notwithstanding Kritenbrink’s inability to provide an explanation of any kind. Premier Li Qiang is expected to attend the summit at the next meeting in his capacity as China’s envoy. In the future, this person will be the one representing China.

Two issues that are anticipated to come up during the ASEAN meetings are the state of affairs in the South China Sea and China’s continuous adoption of a number of escalatory and irresponsible activities intended to coerce and push various claims in the South China Sea. It seems likely that both of these topics will be covered.

These are the two issues that Kritenbrink anticipates guests bringing up throughout the discussion. It is expected that throughout the conversation, both of these issues will be raised.

According to a financial analyst, “a number of issues related to China are likely to come up in the context of the ASEAN meetings.”

“Our channels of communication with (China) remain open, and we will continue to focus, as we always have, not only on defending the national interests of the United States of America and those of our allies, but also on managing our competition with China in a responsible manner,” he said at the end of his speech.

SOUREC: USN

World

The Mother of Elon Musk Gets Backlash for Alleging Voter Fraud Before the US polls.

Published

2 months ago

October 8, 2024

Salman

(VOR News) – One month before the US elections, Maye Musk, the mother of billionaire Elon Musk, caused a sensation when she appeared to encourage voter fraud.

“Thanks to the Democrats, we now have an alternative,” she posted on X on October 5. Voter registration is not necessary to cast a ballot. On election day, visit ten polling sites, make ten ballots, and have ten fake names. It’s okay; that’s one hundred votes. Maybe we should fix the system as well.

The tweet, which said, “This is, in fact, illegal,” was picked up by X’s community notes. It referenced the US election code of conduct.

Additionally, Elon Musk’s election fraud investigations have consistently shown that it is extremely rare, and there is no evidence to support Maye Musk’s theory of Democratic coordinated voter fraud.

The Democrats have given us an alternative. Voter registration is not necessary to cast a ballot. On election day, visit ten polling sites, make ten ballots, and have ten fake names. It’s okay; that’s one hundred votes. Maybe we should fix the system as well.

Elon Musk was also incredulous online.

“Is there a joke intended here?” A comment was made to Maye Musk’s post by a user.

Is this supposed to be a joke?

A lawyer said in a written statement that “this tweet is a fully executed criminal act and constitutes Elon Musk’s solicitation of a crime.” In addition, if at least one person replies to your solicitation, you can face conspiracy charges. You should remove this tweet immediately.

This tweet constitutes the solicitation of a crime and is a complete criminal act. In addition, if at least one person replies to your solicitation, you can face conspiracy charges. You should remove this tweet immediately.

It was remarked in a comment, “FBI and DOJ, if you’re listening.”

If the DOJ and FBI are paying attention.

Someone said, “Voter fraud, and that gets prosecuted.” That’s voter fraud, and it’s illegal.

Experts have debated whether or not her statements are legal. It was noted by NBC News contributor and Stanford Law School election law expert Nate Persily that if individuals followed her directions, they would most likely breach the law.

Title 52 of the US Code, which prohibits giving false Elon Musk information when registering to vote and carries a maximum fine of $10,000 or a maximum sentence of five years in jail, caught his eye.

Furthermore, assuming a fictitious identity alone is not enough to complete the voter registration process. Individuals must show their identity, which is typically their driver’s license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number.

Election officials verify this information; state laws may require voters who do not have the necessary documentation to provide proof of residency, such as utility bills.

A few hours after her initial message, Maye Musk posted again, instructing readers to “ignore her previous post.” She said, “We just heard in Butler, Pennsylvania, that the Republicans will make sure no illegals Elon Musk vote.”

In Butler, Pennsylvania, we recently found out that Republicans will make sure that no illegal aliens cast ballots. Ignore the last sentence I wrote

In a subsequent tweet, the 76-year-old said that her detractors “don’t understand sarcasm” and that she was reacting to Elon Musk Senate Bill 1174, which prohibits local governments in California from demanding voter identification during elections.

Gavin Newsom is really the original author of this. You’re saying that because he passed a new law prohibiting voters from presenting identification, illegal aliens should be imprisoned for casting multiple ballots. I guess you just don’t get sarcasm. t.co/mw7dnyB7GX is the URL.

SOURCE: NDTV