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Congress’ Massive Spending Bill Sets Aside Another $45 Billion for Ukraine

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Congress appropriated an additional $45 billion in emergency assistance to help Ukraine repel Russia’s invasion in its yearly spending bill released early Tuesday.

The bill is Congress’ largest assistance package for Ukraine to date, following a $40 billion package signed into law in May, a $12 billion supplement in September and $800 million authorized in Congress’ defense spending budget, bringing the total anticipated support for Ukraine in 2022 to nearly $100 billion. It exceeds President Joe Biden’s $37 billion request for military, economic and humanitarian support for Ukraine despite some Republican opposition to offering a “blank check” to Ukraine.

“Finalizing the omnibus is critical, absolutely critical for supporting our friends in Ukraine,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said, according to The Associated Press.

Congress appropriated $858 billion in defense funding, in line with the FY2023 National Defense Authorization Act that passed the Senate last week.

It includes $9 billion in direct military assistance under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative and $11.9 billion to finance future drawdowns of U.S. weapons stocks and replacements with new equipment through September 2024, the bill shows. Other funds go toward upgrading U.S. troop presence in Europe, expanding research and development programs and increasing procurement thresholds. (Read more from “Congress’ Massive Spending Bill Sets Aside Another $45 Billion for Ukraine” HERE)

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Russian Troop Losses Could Hit 100K Before Christmas: Ukraine

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Russian President Vladimir Putin’s army is poised to reach 100,000 troop losses just shy of Christmas and the Ukraine war’s 10-month anniversary, according to calculations based on Ukrainian estimates.

The Defense Ministry of Ukraine and General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine provide daily estimates of how many Russian personnel have been lost since the day before, as well as the total number of Russian losses since the war began.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry reported that Russia had lost about 98,800 troops as of Monday. With 520 new estimated Russian losses on Monday included, a Newsweek calculation based on the Ukrainian death counts show that Russia has lost an average of 577 soldiers per day over the past week. If this or a similar average is maintained over the next few days, Russia will surpass the 100,000 mark on Thursday. (Read more from “Russian Troop Losses Could Hit 100K Before Christmas: Ukraine” HERE)

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U.S. Weapons Causing ‘Heavy’ Russian Losses Amid Artillery Duels: Commander

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Ukrainian and Russian forces have reverted to punishing artillery duels across much of the front line as both sides wait for frozen ground that is expected to open a new window for fresh mechanized offensives.

As in the summer, both sides are facing intense ammunition pressures as artillery teams seek and destroy their rivals. Ukraine is in a unique bind; struggling to refill its stocks of Soviet-made 152mm caliber shells, while also trying to integrate a smorgasbord of NATO-donated artillery systems that largely fire 155mm munitions.

Weapons including the U.S.-made M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System and its British and German counterparts; the American M777; the French Caesar; the Polish AHS Krab; and the German PzH 2000 are all now in regular use along the front.

Western systems and shells, one commander fighting on the southern front told Newsweek, have been instrumental in helping the Ukrainians inflict serious casualties on the invaders and erode their ability to defend occupied positions. (Read more from “U.S. Weapons Causing ‘Heavy’ Russian Losses Amid Artillery Duels: Commander” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr

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Russian Commander Suggests Nukes as ‘Only’ Option To Win War

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A Russian commander suggested that using nuclear weapons may be the only way Russia can be victorious in its war against Ukraine.

The remarks come more than nine months after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the Ukraine invasion in February, hoping for a quick win against his Eastern European neighbor.

However, Ukraine’s spirited defense efforts, bolstered by Western humanitarian and military aid, have blunted Moscow’s military gains. Putin’s troops continue to struggle to achieve substantial goals. . .

Alexander Khodakovsky, the commander of Russia’s Donetsk militia, pointed to nuclear weapons as one way Russia could win the war during an appearance on state TV. Video of his appearance was translated and posted to Twitter by BBC reporter Francis Scarr. (Read more from “Russian Commander Suggests Nukes as ‘Only’ Option To Win War” HERE)

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NATO Facing ‘Very Real’ Arms Shortage Due to Ukraine War

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The North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) arms stockpile is dwindling due to the Russia-Ukraine war, according to a U.S. ambassador.

Ambassador Julianne Smith, permanent U.S. representative to NATO, made the comments during an interview Tuesday with Dr. Kathleen McInnis, a senior fellow in the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ International Security Program.

“This is a very serious challenge, both for NATO allies that are giving serious commitment, significant military assistance/lethal assistance to the Ukrainian military forces, but it is a significant challenge for the Ukrainian military forces themselves that are facing shortfalls and declining stockpiles,” said Smith, who was appointed in November 2021.

She said there are efforts taking place among myriad entities and organizations to increase stockpiles. (Read more from “NATO Facing ‘Very Real’ Arms Shortage Due to Ukraine War” HERE)

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Russia’s Ammo ‘Rapidly Dwindling,’ May Begin To Run Out in Early 2023: Pentagon

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The Russian military is quickly running out of artillery and rocket ammunition, Pentagon officials said Monday, and the Russian army can only sustain its current rate of attack in Ukraine until early next year.

A senior U.S. defense official told reporters on a conference call that Moscow is increasingly turning to Iran and North Korea to replenish its “rapidly dwindling” stockpiles of rocket and artillery rounds, which have been crucial to Russia‘s months-long assault on Ukraine‘s energy infrastructure.

The Russian military has relentlessly attacked Ukrainian civilian targets across the country in recent months ahead of the looming winter season, but the current pace may only be sustainable for another few weeks or months at best. (Read more from “Russia’s Ammo ‘Rapidly Dwindling,’ May Begin To Run Out in Early 2023: Pentagon” HERE)

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War Could ‘Spin Out of Control’, NATO Chief Warns – As Zelenskyy Says Russians Have ‘Destroyed’ Bakhmut, Nuclear Risks Skyrocket

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By Sky News. Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary general of the military alliance, today warned that fighting in Ukraine could spin out of control – and become a war between Russia and NATO. . .

He added: “It is a terrible war in Ukraine. It is also a war that can become a full-fledged war that spreads into a major war between NATO and Russia.

“We are working on that every day to avoid that.”

Mr Stoltenberg, a former prime minister of Norway, added that “there is no doubt that a full-fledged war is a possibility,” saying it is important to avoid a conflict “that involves more countries in Europe and becomes a full-fledged war in Europe.”

The Kremlin has accused NATO allies of effectively becoming a party to the conflict by providing Ukraine with weapons, training its troops and feeding military intelligence to attack Russian forces. (Read more from “Ukraine War Latest: War Could ‘Spin Out of Control’, NATO Chief Warns – As Zelenskyy Says Russians Have ‘Destroyed’ Bakhmut” HERE)

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After U.S. Approves Ukrainian Drone Strikes Deep Into Russia, Putin Officials Warn of Nuclear War Risk

By Will Stewart and Abul Taher. Vladimir Putin’s henchmen warned last night that the fighting in Ukraine could escalate into an ‘all-out nuclear war’ after America gave Ukraine the green light to launch drone strikes deep inside Russia.

The Russian officials were responding to reports that the Pentagon had told Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky that he can launch the attacks within Russia, which the US previously advised against, fearing an all-out war between Russia and Nato.

One source in Putin’s circle said last night: ‘This is playing with fire, risking full-scale war which could easily go nuclear.’

Another said: ‘Who will now give Moscow the green light for strikes against Ukrainian decision-making centres?’ (Read more about the Ukraine war going nuclear HERE).

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U.S. Defense Secretary Announces that Russia is Rapidly Modernizing, Expanding its Nuclear Arsenal

By Christine Fernando. Russia is “modernizing and expanding its nuclear arsenal,” U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned in remarks Friday.

“As the Kremlin continues its cruel and unprovoked war of choice against Ukraine, the whole world has seen Putin engage in deeply irresponsible nuclear saber-rattling,” Austin said at a ceremony for the new commander of the U.S. Strategic Command.

With close to 6,000 warheads, Russia has the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons in the world, according to Reuters. The U.S. and Russia together hold about 90% of the world’s nuclear warheads, the news wire reported.

Russia has previously said it will prioritize building its nuclear infrastructure in 2023. But this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed concerns he would use nuclear weapons in Ukraine. He said his reminders about Russia’s nuclear weapon arsenal are a “factor of deterrence” rather than one of escalation. (Read more about the risk of the Ukraine war going nuclear HERE)

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Iran Is Now Putin’s ‘Top Military Backer’, US and UK Warn

By Independent UK. The British defence ministry today reiterated the Biden administration’s claims that Iran has become one of Russia’s ‘top military backers’ since Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

It warned that Tehran’s support to the Russian military is likely to “grow in the coming months”.

(Read more from “Iran Is Now Putin’s ‘Top Military Backer’, US and UK Warn” HERE)

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Pentagon Says New Military Equipment, Ammo Heading to Ukraine

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The Pentagon is shipping more ammunition and military equipment to Ukraine to help the country defend itself against the Russian invasion that started 10 months ago.

The Department of Defense said Friday that it will send 80,000 artillery rounds with more ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and equipment used to counter Russian drones. The package also includes air defense weapons, ambulance Humvees, medical equipment and 150 generators.

The latest round of firepower, valued at about $275 million, is again coming straight from U.S. military stocks. It is the 27th such drawdown since August 2021, U.S. officials said.

“This security assistance package will provide Ukraine with new capabilities to boost its air defenses in addition to providing critical equipment that Ukraine is using so effectively to defend itself on the battlefield,” the Pentagon said in a statement. (Read more from “Pentagon Says New Military Equipment, Ammo Heading to Ukraine” HERE)

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Putin Declares ‘American World Order’ Is Ending, ‘a Truly Multipolar World’ Has Begun

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The war in Ukraine could mark the end of an international world order led by the United States, according to comments from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

What Happened: In July, Putin told lawmakers in Russia that the dominance of the U.S. could be over soon, according to a report from Newsweek.

“They should have realized that they have already lost from the very beginning of our special military operation,” Putin said. “Its beginning also means the beginning of a radical breakdown of the American world order.”

Putin’s comments reference the involvement of the United States in providing support to Ukraine and also placing sanctions on Russia.

“This is the beginning of the transition from liberal-globalist American egocentrism to a truly multipolar world.” (Read more from “Putin Declares ‘American World Order’ Is Ending, ‘a Truly Multipolar World’ Has Begun” HERE)

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Russia Willing to Discuss Ending Bloody War With Ukraine — If Demands Are Met

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The Kremlin on Friday once again claimed it was “open to negotiations” on ending the war in Ukraine, but only if the West accepts its demands.

“The president of the Russian Federation [Vladimir Putin] has always been, is and remains open to negotiations in order to ensure our interests,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in response to comments made Thursday by President Biden, according to Reuters.

Biden and Putin have not spoken since Russia invaded Ukraine nine months ago, and Peskov’s comments were the second time in two days that the Kremlin signaled they would be open to resuming talks with Washington.

However, Rebekah Koffler, a Russia expert and former DIA intelligence officer for Russian Doctrine & Strategy, told Fox News Digital, “Make no mistake, Putin is not caving.”

“This is likely a distraction,” she added, pointing out that Putin was also in talks with Western nations, including the U.S., as he was preparing to invade Ukraine in February. (Read more from “Russia Willing to Discuss Ending Bloody War With Ukraine — If Demands Are Met” HERE)

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