PACE decided on use of frozen Russian assets and Orban supported €50 bln aid to Ukraine - Tuesday brief

Russia's war against Ukraine

• Drones attacked Russia and temporarily occupied Crimea. In total, the enemy Ministry of Defense counted 21 UAVs.

• British intelligence noted that over the past month, cases of Russian aircraft dropping bombs on its territory have become more frequent. This happened for the first time in Belgorod in April last year.
• Ukrainian forces fire approximately 2,000 shells daily, while the occupying forces unleash five times that amount. Meanwhile, Ukraine's main ally, the United States, continues to increase its production, but as for Russia, it is facing difficulties in reaching a higher capacity due to sanctions restrictions. Military-political analyst Oleksandr Kovalenko explained the production of ammunition in Ukraine and Russia, comparing the Western potential with the aggressor country.

No light at end of tunnel: Borrell acknowledges increasing intensity of hostilities in Ukraine

Despite significant sanctions imposed by the European Union against Russia, which have significantly weakened its military machine, the war against Ukraine continues. The intensity of hostilities on the front is escalating, according to a statement from the EU High Representative, Josep Borrell, at the Investors Forum for EU-Central Asia Transport Connectivity.

"The sovereignty and independence, and territorial integrity of any country should be indisputable. And we must avoid going back to a world where 'might makes right' and where powerful countries can change borders unilaterally," Borrell emphasizes.

"And if I can say it, the intensity of the fighting increases and we do not see the light at the end of the tunnel," adds the EU High Representative.

Orban ready to support €50 billion from EU to Ukraine, but under condition

Hungary is ready to support the provision of assistance to Ukraine from the European Union budget, however, subject to an annual vote on the continuation of funding, according to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

"We decided to make a compromise proposal: okay, we don't agree with the amendments to the budget. We do not agree that we should give 50 billion euros (to Ukraine - ed.), which is a huge amount. We do not agree that we should give it for four years and so on. But let it be so, Hungary is ready to participate in the solution of twenty-seven if they guarantee that every year we will decide whether we will continue to send this money or not," Orban says.

Intelligence chief reveals when Russian offensive will end, predicts what enemy to await

At the moment, the offensive operation of the Russian Federation in Ukraine persists, but it is expected to be entirely exhausted at the beginning of spring, says the head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine during a telethon.

"Not yet (the situation on the front is not yet clear - ed.). Closer to spring. Now I can tell you that the offensive operation of the Russian Federation is currently ongoing," stated Budanov.

According to Budanov, the offensive commenced in November 2023 and has been in progress for two and a half months. The head of intelligence acknowledged that characterizing the outcomes of the offensive as remarkable would be inaccurate. However, he admitted that near Avdiivka in the Donetsk region, there had been a certain advancement by the occupiers.

PACE approves draft resolution on use of frozen Russian assets

The Political Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) advocates for redirecting frozen Russian state assets to a new fund for the restoration of Ukraine, as per a resolution adopted by the committee, according to the PACE press service.

The initiative, based on a report by Albania's representative Lulzim Basha, asserts that Russia, as an aggressor state, must provide "full compensation for the damage caused by its internationally unlawful actions, including the destruction of infrastructure, loss of life, economic hardships, and other negative consequences."

Approximately $300 billion of frozen Russian assets are now recommended to be transferred "for the reconstruction of Ukraine," according to the Committee.

Mission failed: Russian aircraft intending to violate German airspace intercepted, escorted over Baltic Sea

Yesterday, on January 30, Germany was forced to scramble a fighter jet to intercept a Russian military aircraft, reports the German Air Force.

The fighter jet took off from runway A at Laage and detected the Russian military aircraft in the international airspace over Rügen. The German fighter had been accompanying it for a short period before it turned back to the east.

"The Il-20M military aircraft was flying without a transponder signal," noted the German Air Force.

In Germany, it was clarified that the 71st tactical squadron of the Richthofen Air Force took part in the interception. The military compound is equipped with Eurofighter Typhoon fighters.

Macron calls on Europe to be ready to compensate for reduction of U.S. aid to Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron has urged European countries to be prepared to compensate for any potential reduction or cessation of aid to Ukraine from the United States, according to Le Figaro.

During a press conference in Stockholm with Swedish President Ulf Kristersson, Macron called on Europeans to support Ukraine "in the long term" and addressed the challenges in the U.S. regarding the funding of further assistance for Ukraine.

"We must organize ourselves so that if the United States makes a sovereign choice to stop or reduce this aid, it should not have an impact on the ground," emphasized the French president.