Ukraine war latest: Kyiv strikes oil rigs in Caspian Sea with dramatic drone footage

Greenlanders could vote to join Russia if US president Donald Trump did not move quickly to secure the Arctic island, a senior Russian official said.

“Trump needs to hurry. According to unverified information, in a few days there could be a sudden referendum, at which the entire 55,000-strong Greenland could vote to join Russia,” said Russian security council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev.

“And then that’s it. No new little stars on the (US) flag,” he said.

While Russia makes no claim to Greenland, it has long monitored the island’s strategic role in Arctic security, given its position on North Atlantic routes and the presence there of a major US military and space surveillance facility.

Trump has revived his push for the United States to take control of Greenland, a self-governing Danish territory, arguing Washington needs to own it to deter Russia.

The US president has said its location and resources make Greenland vital for national security, prompting firm objections from Denmark and Greenland.

Russia ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia has threatened Ukraine to accept Moscow’s terms for ending the war or watch the negotiations worsen.

“He was warned long ago, with each passing day, each day which he squanders, the conditions for negotiations will only get worse for him,” Nebenzia said.

Speaking at the emergency meeting called by the Security Council, Nebenzia said that until Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky “comes to his senses and agrees to realistic conditions for negotiations, we will continue solving the problem by military means.”

“Similarly, each vile attack on Russian civilians will elicit a stiff response,” he said.

Donald Trump’s repeated threats to seize control of Greenland are straining relations with US allies within Nato, prompting stark warnings that such an aggressive move could spell the end of the world’s largest security alliance.

While historical tensions have occasionally flared between some Nato members, notably Greece and Turkey, the prospect of its most powerful country, the United States, annexing the territory of another ally would establish a dangerous precedent.

Mr Trump reaffirmed his stance on Sunday, declaring, “One way or the other, we’re going to have Greenland.” The White House has not ruled out the use of military force in this endeavour. Mr Trump stated his desire to prevent Russia or China from taking over the island, though he conceded that making a deal would be “easier.” Greenland is a semi-autonomous island that forms part of the Danish realm.

Read the full article here:

The US has accused Russia of a “dangerous and inexplicable escalation” of its nearly four-year war in Ukraine at a time when the Trump administration is trying to broker a ceasefire.

Tammy Bruce, US deputy ambassador to the UN, flagged Russia’s launch of a nuclear-capable Oreshnik ballistic missile near Ukraine’s border with Poland, a Nato nation.

Speaking at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, Bruce said that the US deplores “the staggering number of casualties” in the conflict and condemns Russia’s intensifying attacks on energy and other infrastructure.

“At a moment of tremendous potential, due only to President Trump’s unparalleled commitment to peace around the world, both sides should be seeking ways to de-escalate,” she said.

“Yet Russia’s action risks expanding and intensifying the war,” she said.

Bruce reminded Russia that nearly a year ago it voted in favour of a Security Council resolution calling for an end to the conflict in Ukraine.

“It would be nice if Russia matched their words with deeds,” she said.

“In the spirit of that resolution, Russia, Ukraine and Europe must pursue peace seriously and bring this nightmare to an end.”

Shortly before Christmas, the new chief of MI6, Blaise Metreweli, made her first public speech since taking charge. She chose as her subject the multifaceted threat posed by Russia, warning of the growing danger from Vladimir Putin’s regime. “We are operating in a space between peace and war,” she said.

The recently appointed “C” said “the front line is everywhere”, explaining that Putin is provoking a new “age of uncertainty” by busily rewriting the unwritten rules of conflict. “The export of chaos is a feature, not a bug, in the Russian approach to international engagement,” said Metreweli.

Last week has seen the cementing of the axis between the UK, France and Germany with the promise of troops on the ground to monitor peace in Ukraine, a move that is bound to antagonise Putin. Concerns about Russian retaliation are growing still further following the boarding of a tanker in Russia’s “shadow fleet” by US forces off the British coast. The involvement of the Royal Navy will have been noticed and noted in Moscow. The hostility continues to ramp up in intensity.

Read the full analysis from Chris Blackhurst here:

Elderly residents and those with vulnerable family members told The Independent they are cold and unable to cook proper meals as they face temperatures as low as -15C.

Despondent and fearing death, many are struggling through the winter as blackouts plunge Ukraine’s cities into darkness, lit up only by the bright flash of Russian drone and missile attacks.

“It gives you depression,” 33-year-old Dnipro resident Kyril Tulenev says. “You cannot do anything. You cannot check the news. You cannot properly use your things. Sometimes you cannot call anyone because there is no connection.”

Read the full article here:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that the world had to help Iranians build on protests to engineer change to free them from rule that brought evil to their own and other countries, including Ukraine.

Zelensky, speaking in his nightly video address, described the nationwide protests gripping Iran as an “uprising”.

He said the unrest showed that Russia had to rethink its close links with Iran, which have included its wide use of Iranian-made “Shahed” drones in the nearly four-year-old war against Kyiv.

“Every normal person on Earth very much wants the people of Iran to finally be fortunate enough to free themselves from the regime that exists there and that has brought so much evil, including to Ukraine and to other countries,” Zelensky said.

“It is important that the world not miss this moment, when change is possible. Every leader, every country, international organisations must engage now and help people remove those who are responsible for Iran unfortunately being what it has been.”

Russia launched an overnight missile attack on Kyiv, Ukrainian authorities said early on Tuesday.

“Stay in safe places! The Russians are attacking the capital with ballistic missiles!” Timur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, said on Telegram.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that air defence units were trying to repel the attack.

Shortly before Christmas, the new chief of MI6, Blaise Metreweli, made her first public speech since taking charge. She chose as her subject the multifaceted threat posed by Russia, warning of the growing danger from Vladimir Putin’s regime. “We are operating in a space between peace and war,” she said.

The recently appointed “C” said “the front line is everywhere”, explaining that Putin is provoking a new “age of uncertainty” by busily rewriting the unwritten rules of conflict. “The export of chaos is a feature, not a bug, in the Russian approach to international engagement,” said Metreweli.

Chris Blackhurst reports: