A report by British members of parliament has discovered that the U.K. is not doing enough to prevent Russia from circumventing sanctions in Central Asia. The report called “Countries at crossroads: UK engagement in Central Asia,” highlights the failure to prosecute money-laundering crimes as a major factor in facilitating kleptocratic regimes in Central Asia. This is problematic because it is enabling Russia to avoid sanctions using countries in the region such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, thereby undermining Western efforts to stifle Moscow’s economy following its invasion of Ukraine.
In another development, Russia has claimed that it intercepted an attempt by Ukrainian forces to establish a bridgehead on the eastern bank of the River Dnipro and nearby islands. According to the Russian defense ministry, the assault led to the killing of 505 Ukrainian servicemen and the destruction of 18 field artillery guns, 15 boats, and 25 vehicles. However, these claims could not be independently verified by CNBC.
The former national security advisor for the U.K., Peter Ricketts, has highlighted the difficulties in condemning Russia’s actions while also providing support for Israel. He also discussed how these conflicts are impacting Western intervention in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Germany has pledged to increase its defense budget to meet NATO spending targets following a commitment that its military will become the “backbone” of European security. Meanwhile, the U.K.’s Ministry of Defence has revealed that 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been trained in combat skills since the onset of Russia’s invasion, under Operation Interflex. This marks the largest military training program in the U.K. since World War II.
In other news, U.S. President Joe Biden is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday in what could be a critical diplomatic engagement aimed at reducing tensions between the two global superpowers. Furthermore, Russia claimed that Ukrainian officials must realize that they cannot defeat Russian forces on the battlefield, following reports of continuous clashes along the country’s contact line.
Russian forces have been reported to be trying to surround the eastern Ukrainian stronghold of Avdiivka. This comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine will not participate in any negotiations with Russia until all Russian forces are withdrawn from the occupied areas.
Additionally, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has opposed starting membership talks between the European Union and Ukraine, with Hungary being strongly against such negotiations. Meanwhile, Moscow has indicated that Russian President Vladimir Putin will win confidently if he decides to run for another term in office.
Lastly, President Zelenskyy has expressed gratitude to Ukrainian troops for their strength and resilience on the front lines in battling Russian forces. This comes as the conflict in Ukraine continues to unfold.
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