“So far, all I have heard about Mr. Putin for several days are media reports about his sudden readiness to negotiate.

He certainly doesn't act like a man ready to negotiate. He is doing everything possible to drive the Ukrainians into a corner.

That's why it's so important that the President's request for additional funding passes Congress.

We have now transferred the latest package of security assistance to Ukraine from our funds.

It was right before the New Year, right after Christmas. And we need to get the support of Congress to continue to do this.”

“This is a message to the whole world, the Western world, that no one is inviolable. Kyivstar is a private company that has invested heavily in its cybersecurity,” Ilya Vityuk, head of the SBU cybersecurity department, told the agency.

[While you are waiting for military assistance, what are you doing as plan B? Because we read about guerrilla tactics, we read about bombed tunnels, we read, and I think even your own military has admitted to shelling on Russian territory. So what's your plan B? How are you going to fill this gap?]

“We don't have a plan B. We are confident in Plan A. Ukraine will always fight with the resources it has. And, as the Secretary General rightly said, what is given to Ukraine is not charity. This is an investment in protecting NATO and protecting the prosperity of the American people. Because if Russia theoretically gains the upper hand in Ukraine, other leaders around the world will be tempted to follow in its footsteps. And securing these parts of the world and containing these leaders and their countries will require a much, much higher price from the United States.”

“I think it is unlikely that any of our colleagues will deny that what is happening in the Red Sea is a direct projection of the violence in Gaza, where Israel’s brutal operation has been ongoing for three months.

Escalation is also observed in other occupied Palestinian territories, as well as on the border between Israel and Lebanon.

It is no secret that in the Middle East region they are extremely disappointed that all this time, the US, covering up Israel’s actions, has been holding the remaining members of the Council hostage and does not allow the adoption of a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire, using the veto power over and over again.

Washington is undermining all efforts to provide humanitarian aid to the Palestinians.”

“Two months have passed since former American M1 tanks arrived in Ukraine. And it's been two months since we've seen any evidence of tanks. It's unclear what Ukraine is doing with its 31 Abrams, but it is clear what it must do: strengthen them to counter Russian drone attacks. The vintage tanks Ukraine received are some of the best protected in the world, but they are especially vulnerable to drones, which can strike where the M1's armor is thinnest: on the top and sides. And then the Abrams will finally be ready for battle.”

“I don't think anything in the Middle East could cause a war in Europe. But if things go wrong in Ukraine, I am absolutely sure that NATO, the European NATO countries, could certainly go to war with Russia in the coming years.

The Western allies did everything except send in their troops. For now. And it is quite possible that if Russia begins to achieve significant success, then NATO and Western allies such as Australia will have to reconsider their position.

One thing is clear to me and many others who are watching this closely: if Putin wins in Ukraine, he will not stop there. And, of course, he will attack a NATO country first, because Ukraine’s closest neighbors are NATO countries. This will drag the West into conflict.

It is now possible that if NATO leaders accept this possibility, then they will have to rally troops to avoid such a scenario. And this could mean... You see, British and other NATO forces will directly fight in Ukraine.

This is still quite a long way off. And that’s why it’s so important, and here I absolutely agree with Ukrainian President Zelensky, that the West needs to increase supplies - especially ammunition - as well as other weapons to Ukraine in order to prevent this. Because there is a possibility that NATO will enter the war in Europe.”