“On the evening of November 17, US officials quoted by the media said that the US had authorized limited Ukrainian strikes in response to the deployment of North Korean forces on the battlefield in the Kursk region”, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
“Putin responds to any attempt at negotiations with a powerful attack on civilian infrastructure, including electricity infrastructure. It was the strongest attack in recent months with the use of a large number of drones… So it does not seem that he is ready for negotiations – on the contrary,” said a leading EU diplomat, commenting on the massive strike by the Russian Federation on November 17.
Borrell said he did not know whether Scholz’s call to Putin was a good idea.
“I don’t know what Chancellor Scholz talked about with President Putin. I am sure that this is within the scope of our support for Ukraine. My job is to continue to support Ukraine and nothing else. And no matter who talks to whom, I don’t care about that,” Borrell said.
Regarding the potential permission for Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory, Borrell recalled that he supported this decision.
“I continue to believe that this is what needs to be done. I am sure it will be discussed again (at the EU Council – ed.). I hope that the EU member states will agree to this. And if not, anyone will do what they consider necessary to support Ukraine,” said the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
This is the last EU Council at the level of foreign affairs, which will be chaired by Josep Borrell, and, using the opportunity, he called on the EU countries to remain united if they want to “demonstrate strength at the geopolitical level.”
“Russia does not stop the war because you thought about it. Every time we made a decision to support Ukraine, it was delayed. Each time there was hesitation. Should we do something? Do not do? The war continues, the Ukrainian people need more support, and we must provide it. Stop the discussion and start acting faster,” Borrell stressed.
On November 15, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had his first telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin in two years. French President Emmanuel Macron did not rule out that he could talk to Putin, but only when the “context” is suitable for this. Macron believes that Putin “does not want peace” and is not ready to negotiate about it.
On the evening of November 17, US officials quoted by the media said that the US had authorized limited Ukrainian strikes in response to the deployment of North Korean forces on the battlefield in the Kursk region. US officials said the partial lifting of restrictions was intended to have a “specific and limited” effect on the battlefield and would not change the course of the war.
The French publication Le Figaro reported on November 17 that France and the United Kingdom followed the US in allowing the Ukrainian armed forces to use SCALP/Storm Shadow missiles to strike Russian territory, but later changed its report and deleted this information.
There is still no official confirmation of this information from Washington, Paris and London.
The President of Ukraine, responding to such reports, noted that “such things are not announced” and “the rockets will speak for themselves.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin previously stated that strikes with long-range weapons on Russian territory would mean the participation of NATO countries in the conflict with the Russian Federation.