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West to fund continued aid to Ukraine: “it lacks compellent effect, it is being invoked by the wrong parties and it undermines the rules-based order Western governments claim to defend,” according to Nicholas Mulder of Princeton University. “Advocates of a rules-based order demolish their credibility if they respond to Moscow’s criminality with illegal measures of their own,” Mulder argues in his commentary for FT.
Scholz to put additional pressure on EU to increase arms supplies to Ukraine. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will use the upcoming EU summit in February as an opportunity to press Ukraine's European allies to increase their provision of military aid, Politico reported on Jan. 9, citing an anonymous German official.
Finland extends closure of border with Russia for another month. Finland will extend the closure of all eight checkpoints along its border with Russia until at least Feb. 11, the Finnish news outlet YLE reported on Jan. 11, citing Finnish Interior Minister Mari Rantanen.
Russia calls urgent UN Security meeting over Yemen strikes. Russia requested an emergency meeting of the UN security council on Jan. 12 after the U.S. and U.K. launched strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen, RIA Novosti reported, citing Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova.
The Polish prime minister visited Kyiv on January 22 and promised defense support, security guarantees, and help with reconstruction. After meeting with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a new Polish defense package. According to him, Ukraine will also receive a loan from Poland, which will become a new form of cooperation between the countries. It will be provided for larger arms purchases for Ukrainian needs. In turn, Tusk said that he has discussed with the Ukrainian president the creation of joint ventures and stimulus for investment in both Ukrainian and Polish companies, which will strengthen the security of both states. In addition, the parties discussed Poland's accession to the security guarantee coalition formed by the G7 countries. Moreover, the Polish government will appoint a person who will deal with the restoration of Ukraine. Pavel Koval, the head of the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs, will be appointed for this role. Among other things, Tusk gave his assurances that Poland would fully support Ukraine's accelerated accession to the EU.
EU may sanction Russian aluminum as part of next package. "Russian aluminum products are among the goods in focus for the EU’s next sanction package on Russia," according to EU diplomats, Politico said.
Putin plans to visit Turkey in February to discuss Ukraine. Russian
33 RUSSIA Country Report February 2024 www.intellinews.com