Warsaw wants to host American nukes under NATO’s weapons-sharing scheme

If Poland were to host foreign nuclear weapons, Russia would consider them a primary military target, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has warned.

Warsaw is in talks with Washington on the potential deployment of nuclear arms on its soil as part of NATO’s nuclear sharing program. President Andrzej Duda reiterated Poland’s willingness to host such weapons in an interview this week.

Moscow considers any expansion of NATO’s arrangement as “deeply destabilizing” in nature, “and in fact threatening” Russia, the senior diplomat was quoted as saying by TASS news agency, in an article on Thursday. This applies to joint missions, where non-nuclear members of the US-led bloc are trained to use American hardware, and even more so to the permanent stationing of such weapons “which hotheads in Warsaw are talking about,” he said.

Read more NATO nation’s PM questions president’s nuclear claim

Polish politicians vying for American nukes on their soil “must understand that any shift in that direction will not provide additional security to Poland, since relevant sites will definitely become targets. Our military planners will consider them a priority,” Ryabkov added.

Duda told the newspaper Fakt on Monday that he had personally asked the US to station part of its nuclear arsenal in Poland.

”If our allies decide to deploy nuclear weapons as part of nuclear sharing also on our territory to strengthen the security of NATO’s eastern flank, we are ready for it,” he said.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who belongs to a rival political force, downplayed the president’s remarks on the same day, saying he would like Duda to clarify what his intentions were in making them.

”This idea is very massive, I would say very serious,” the prime minister added, explaining that Poland has no specific plans to host foreign nukes.

READ MORE: US denies submarine pact will trigger arms race

According to public sources, the US keeps some of its nuclear gravity bombs in five non-nuclear NATO states: Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Türkiye. Poland’s previous conservative government led by Law and Justice (PiS), to which Duda belongs, has been seeking admission into this club for years. Tusk is the leader of Civic Platform, and returned to power as prime minister last December.

The politician was addressing a crowd in Maharashtra amid intense temperatures ahead of polling on Friday

Indian Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari collapsed on Thursday while delivering a speech in the western state of Maharashtra, as the country struggles with an extreme heat wave.

The distressing incident happened during a live broadcast of Gadkari’s speech on his social media accounts. The minister was carried away and received first aid, but returned to the platform shortly afterwards to finish his address.

“I felt discomfort due to the heat at the rally,” Gadkari later clarified on X (formerly Twitter), adding that he was “completely healthy.”

Gadkari was delivering remarks in support of Rajashri Patil, an election candidate from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) backed by the regional Shiv Sena group. Polling in eight constituencies out of 48 will be held in Maharashtra on Friday, which marks the second phase of voting. The first phase was held on April 19. The state is the second-largest contributor of MPs to India’s Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament, after Uttar Pradesh.

Union minister & BJP leader Nitin Gadkari Faints During Election Rally in Maharashtra's Yavatmal - he posted on X later that he's fine now after suffering with the heat

📹 The Live Nagpur pic.twitter.com/GzdM6FCXJX

— RT_India (@RT_India_news) April 24, 2024

Voting is taking place as India battles an intense heat wave in which temperatures have reached near-record highs in some parts of the country. According to the national meteorological authorities, a prolonged spell of extreme heat is expected over east and south peninsular India for at least the next five days. An alert has also been issued for parts of Maharastra’s capital, Mumbai, from April 27 to 29, with temperatures expected to surpass 40C (104F).

READ MORE: India votes: How 970 million people are deciding on who the leader of world’s new powerhouse will be

The heat wave has been cited as a reason for the lower-than-expected turnout during the first phase of polling last week. The average turnout registered across the states scheduled for voting on April 19 was around 66.1%, a dip of 4% from the 2019 election. India’s 18th general election is being held in seven phases, during which around 970 million people are expected to cast their votes to elect the next government.

Given the low turnout, the Election Commission of India has discussed steps to ensure polling is not affected by heat in the remaining six phases, national media reported. A taskforce will review heat waves and humidity five days before each polling phase for any “concerning developments,” and will take mitigatory measures if necessary. Voting runs until June 1, and the results will be announced on June 4.

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The American military confirmed the attack, saying it downed one anti-ship missile and four drones

Houthi militants have attacked what they said were two US ships in the Gulf of Aden and an Israeli vessel in the Indian Ocean, a spokesman for the Yemeni military has announced.

The Houthis, styling themselves as the government of Yemen, began targeting Israeli-linked ships in late October in response to Israel’s retaliatory strikes in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza. The group have more recently started targeting vessels linked to owners or operators in the UK or US following airstrikes by those countries on their positions.

The militant group claimed responsibility for the attack on Wednesday, saying they had targeted the US ship Maersk Yorktown and a US warship in the Gulf of Aden, as well as the Israeli ship MSC Veracruz in the Indian Ocean.

“Both operations achieved their goals successfully,” spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree said in a statement aired by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV without specifying the date of the strikes.

American authorities confirmed the attack and said US-led coalition forces off the coast of Yemen had shot down four drones and an anti-ship missile launched by the Houthis.

Read more Red Sea attacks halving Suez Canal trade

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday that a coalition vessel had “successfully engaged one anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM)” launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

“It was determined that the ASBM and UAVs presented an imminent threat to US, coalition, and merchant vessels in the region,” CENTCOM added.

The US and the UK have repeatedly launched airstrikes against the Houthis since mid-January in an effort to “degrade” the group’s capabilities and ensure the safe passage of merchant ships through the Red Sea.

The Houthis have been attacking ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since November. They pledged to continue their campaign “until the Israeli aggression against our steadfast brothers in the Gaza Strip stops.”

Attacks on vessels in the Red Sea region disrupted global shipping through the Suez Canal, a vital route between Asia and Europe. Consequently, numerous shipping firms rerouted vessels involving longer and more expensive journeys around the Cape of Good Hope.

Russian authorities claim Kiev’s attacks involving Western-supplied munitions have killed over 200 civilians since the start of the year

Ukraine will step up its long-range strikes inside Russia, the chief of Britain’s defence staff has predicted. Admiral Tony Radakin also suggested that incoming Western aid will help Kiev gain the upper hand despite the “difficult” situation.

On Monday, the British government announced what it described as its largest-ever military aid package to Ukraine, worth £500 million ($617 million). It includes an undisclosed number of long-range Storm Shadow missiles.

Two days later, US President Joe Biden signed off on a massive defense aid package that envisages $61 billion for Kiev. The legislation had been deadlocked since last fall over political bickering in Congress.

While expressing gratitude to Washington, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba told the Guardian on Wednesday that “no single package can stop the Russians,” with a long-term Western commitment needed for this.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov predicted that “these new batches of weapons… will not change the dynamics on the frontline.”

In an interview with the Financial Times published on Thursday, Radakin said that “as Ukraine gains more capabilities for the long-range fight… its ability to continue deep operations will [increasingly] become a feature” of the conflict.

Read more Pentagon details massive shipment of military supplies to Ukraine

While acknowledging that “Russia has been able to conduct more effective long-range strikes than last year,” the British admiral warned against focusing on the current gloomy “snapshot.” He argued that long-term trends might favor Ukraine, as more Western weapons allow Kiev to “shape [the fighting] in much stronger ways than it has before.”

On Wednesday, several US media outlets, citing an anonymous US government official, reported that Washington had secretly provided Kiev with an unspecified number of longer-range ATACMS missiles in March.

Last September, the US opted to deliver only the mid-range modification of the rocket to Ukraine, citing risks of an uncontrollable escalation of the conflict.

The Ukrainian military allegedly used the new weapon, boasting a range of up to 300 kilometers (186 miles), last Wednesday, targeting a Russian airfield.

Earlier this month, Russia’s ambassador-at-large for Ukraine’s crimes, Rodion Miroshnik revealed that between January 1 and March 31, 201 Russian civilians, including 11 children, were killed in Ukrainian shelling of Russian territories, with hundreds more injured.

The diplomat claimed that Kiev’s forces mostly used Western-supplied shells in the attacks, accusing Ukraine’s backers of turning a blind eye.

Belarus needs guaranteed political stability and a trustworthy successor to take charge, the president has said

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has revealed that he would consider ending his political career after 30 years in power, once he is certain that a smooth transition is ensured.

Lukashenko made the remarks on Wednesday at the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly, a significant political gathering that convened in Minsk. The body, which includes officials from all branches and levels of government, as well as representatives of civic society, was given constitutional powers after a referendum in 2022. Lukashenko was elected chairman of the assembly during the session.

In his acceptance speech, the president said he backed giving the body the authority to take key policy decisions to ensure future stability in Belarus.

“You must not be silent. If you will be, it would mean I was mistaken. That you will not be able to defend the country, especially without me,” he told the audience.

Read more Future of the world will be decided in Ukraine – Russian ally

“Even if the head of state is wrong, you must say so directly,” he added. “You must be like wolfhounds.”

Lukashenko expressed concern that Belarus could be vulnerable to malign foreign influence during the transition to a new generation of officials. Younger people tend to be overconfident and disregard the experience of their predecessors, the leader claimed, urging delegates to remain firm because “you don’t hold power with a loose hand.”

“I want to finish my political career in a dignified way… so that we don’t ruin everything we’ve built with our own hands,” Lukashenko said. “I will retire, once you tell me in some form: ‘enough’. And once there is a person next to me who would not betray [Belarusian interests]” .

The leader denied accusations of corruption directed at him by critics abroad, declaring that he “was never a crook” and that he holds his family and associates to the same standards.

READ MORE: US voter interest sinks to historic low – poll

Under the constitution, the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly is considered the highest representative body of the population. Its authority includes the power to remove the president from office, impose a state of emergency, initiate referendums, certify the legitimacy of elections, and authorize military deployments on foreign soil.

The Americans will get stuck in a bloody swamp in Ukraine, Russia’s Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov has warned

The long-range ATACMS missiles that the US has supplied to Ukraine are “extremely dangerous weapons,” but they will not help Kiev turn the tide of the conflict against Moscow, Russian ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov has said.

On Wednesday, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters that back in February, US President Joe Biden had ordered the provision of Kiev with a “significant” number of ATACMS missiles for use inside Ukraine, which commenced the following month. The ATACMS, which have a range of 300km, “were transferred quietly to Ukraine in order to maintain operational security,” Pentagon spokesman Major Charlie Dietz stressed.

The delivery of long-range missiles to Kiev is “impossible to justify,” Antonov said in a post on Telegram on Thursday. The move by Washington “increases the threat to the security of Crimea, including Sevastopol, the new Russian regions [the People’s Republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, and the Kherson and Zaporozhye Regions] and other Russian cities,” he added.

The assurances by the US officials that the long-range missiles will not be used against Russian territory are “particularly cynical,” the ambassador stressed. “How can we ignore the numerous terrorist attacks by Kiev’s criminals? Deadly strikes on hospitals, schools, kindergartens, bridges and even their own servicemen?”

Read more US secretly shipped ATACMS missiles to Ukraine – media

Antonov reminded that the Russian forces have already shot down mid-range ATACMS missiles, which Ukraine had received last September. The same will happen with their long-range counterparts, he assured, adding that “neither these missiles nor other weapons can help defeat Russia.”

“Aren’t local politicians [in the US] afraid of drowning in the quagmire of conflict? Washington will not be able to get out of the horrible swamp that has absorbed the blood of ordinary soldiers,” the ambassador warned.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova pointed to the fact that Washington’s acknowledgement of the delivery of long-range ATACMS to Ukraine comes amid attempts by Kiev and its Western backers to “deceive the international community into some kind of conference on the ‘Zelensky formula’.”

“Washington’s plan is sickeningly simple: drag everyone into a pointless meeting under the pretext of ‘peaceful intentions’, while at the same time boosting [Ukrainian President Vladimir] Zelensky’s terrorist potential,” she said on Telegram.

Switzerland said earlier this month that it is going to host a peace conference on Ukraine in June, without Russia’s participation.

READ MORE: Pentagon’s ‘new’ Ukraine aid package was spent months ago – Politico

Zelensky’s plan for ending the conflict, which he has been promoting since 2022, calls for Russia to withdraw from all territory held by Ukraine prior to 2014, for Moscow to pay reparations, and for the formation of a war crimes tribunal. Russia instantly rejected the plan as “unrealistic” and a sign of Ukraine’s unwillingness to look for a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

Hungary is concerned that “pro-war voices are extremely loud”

Budapest supports Beijing’s plan as a potential basis for peace in Ukraine, as it believes there is “no solution to wars on the battlefield,” Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has said, following talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on Wednesday.

The top Hungarian diplomat expressed concern that the “pro-war camp,” supported by global media and NGOs networks, remains “extremely loud” and undermines any effective steps towards peace.

“We support the Chinese peace plan, simply because it exists and calls for peace. And in our opinion, any initiative that diverts international political debates and international political discourse from war to peace is useful,” Szijjarto said in a statement following the talks.

“But we must be louder in supporting peace,” he added . “Both China and Hungary are strengthening the peace camp.”

Read more Many NATO leaders believe they are at war with Russia – Hungary

Szijjarto previously said that many leaders of EU and NATO member states suffer from a sort of “ war psychosis ,” feeling as if they are already at war with Russia. He described the tone at a recent meeting of EU foreign and defense ministers as that of an army headquarters, where for hours “almost everyone was talking about how many units of what weapons and according to what schedule they are ready to supply to Ukraine” from stockpiles that are practically empty.

From the outset of the conflict, Hungary has been calling for a ceasefire and negotiations to save Ukrainian lives, with Prime Minister Viktor Orban insisting “time is on the side of the Russians” and that “almost nobody ” believes that Kiev can actually win on the battlefield.

Read more China reveals plan to end Ukraine conflict

Beijing has also long urged peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, and issued a 12-point peace plan to end the hostilities on the first anniversary of the conflict in February 2023. The initiative, hailed by Moscow, includes a call for a cessation of hostilities, the resumption of peace talks, abandoning a “Cold War mentality,” and respecting the sovereignty of all nations.

In contrast to Beijing’s proposal to end the fighting, Kiev’s ten-point peace formula first presented by President Vladimir Zelensky in the autumn of 2022 demands the complete and unconditional withdrawal of Russian forces from all territories within Ukraine’s 1991 borders.

Moscow has described Zelensky’s peace formula as an “absolutely hollow” ultimatum that is “divorced from reality.”

Many Poles are “outraged to see young Ukrainian men in cafes,” the country’s defense chief has claimed

Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz has said that Warsaw would be willing to “help” Kiev repatriate men of fighting age, an unspecified portion of some 950,000 Ukrainians granted temporary sanctuary in Poland.

Earlier this week, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry banned all men between the age of 18 and 60 from getting or renewing their documents, including passports, at consular offices outside of the country. The Polish defense chief told the Polsat broadcaster on Wednesday that he was “not surprised” and supports Kiev’s move.

“The Ukrainian authorities are doing everything to provide new soldiers to the front, because the needs are huge,” Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said.

The Polish official said that Warsaw had previously offered to help Kiev track down those who dodge their “civic duty,” but noted that “the form of assistance depends on the Ukrainian side.”

Read more Ukrainian men protest Zelensky’s new draft measure in Poland (VIDEO)

“I think that many of our compatriots were and are outraged when they see young Ukrainian men in cafes and hear about how much effort it takes us to help Ukraine,” he added. Kosiniak-Kamysz also echoed Kiev’s official narrative that Ukrainians who could not avoid the draft have “justified grievances against their peers who have scattered around the world.”

Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba claimed on Tuesday that the decision to strip Ukrainian men of their rights was “fair” and in line with the controversial military mobilization reforms, which President Vladimir Zelensky signed into law this month.

Read more Zelensky explains why young people ‘make better fighters’

Zelensky’s reforms , set to come into force next month, will lower the draft age from 27 to 25, tighten exemptions and oblige all men, regardless of eligibility, to report to a conscription office to “update” their personal data.

According to EU officials, an estimated 650,000 Ukrainian men of fighting age are living in the bloc. Kiev has identified that pool as a significant untapped source of manpower for the armed forces. However, asked in early April how many troops Kiev intended to mobilize, Zelensky dodged the question.

Some 57% believe the US is spending “too much” on foreign aid, a new survey has shown

Around a half of US voters believe that their country is needlessly wasting taxpayer dollars on supporting its foreign partners such as Israel and Ukraine, a new Rasmussen Reports poll has found.

Overall, some 57% of respondents said that the US government is spending “too much” on foreign aid in general, according to a survey of 1,126 likely voters conducted on April 16-18.

President Joe Biden signed a new $95 billion funding package on Wednesday, under which Ukraine is slated to receive $48bn in weapons and other assistance while another $23bn will be used to replenish the Pentagon’s depleted stocks.

Even before the latest bonanza cleared procedural hurdles, some 47% said it was “too much,” while around 20% wanted Washington to spend even more cash.

Read more Biden signs $95 bn foreign military spending bill

The respondents were more supportive of US aid to Israel, with 49% saying that $14 billion intended for West Jerusalem was either “about right” or “not enough.”

A CBS News/YouGov survey, conducted earlier this month also showed waning public support for continuing to send weapons to Kiev. Just 53% of US adults believe their government should give military aid to Ukraine, down from 72% two years ago.

Support for Ukraine aid was highest (72%) among Americans who believe the US has a “responsibility to promote democracy” across the world, that poll showed. Among those who see no such obligation for their country, only 28% believe Washington should give military aid to Ukraine.