Russia and Ukraine fight on despite WW2 celebration ceasefire proposal

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Russia and Ukraine launched major attacks on each other Friday, with a two-day unilateral ceasefire that Moscow had declared around its World War II commemorations appearing to be in tatters. Ukraine never said it would abide by Moscow’s call to halt strikes and lambasted Russian leader Vladimir Putin for only wanting to pause fighting so he could stage a grand parade on Red Square on Saturday. Kyiv said Moscow ignored a Ukrainian call to halt fighting earlier this week — a counter-proposal for a short-term ceasefire that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky cast as a test of whether the Kremlin was serious about providing a brief respite in the four-year war. Russia has threatened a massive strike on the heart of Kyiv if Ukraine disrupts the Victory Day parade on Saturday, repeatedly urging foreign diplomats to evacuate the Ukrainian capital ahead of time. “On the Russian side, there was not even a token attempt to cease fire on the front,” Ze...
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China launches war games around Taiwan as island vows to defend democracy

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By Peter CATTERALL with Joy CHIANG in Taipei AFP

China announced “major” military exercises around Taiwan on Monday, saying it would conduct live-fire drills the following day across five zones in waters and airspace near the island.

Beijing claims self-governed Taiwan as part of its sovereign territory and has refused to rule out using military action to seize the island democracy.

The latest show of force follows a bumper round of arms sales to Taipei by the United States, Taiwan’s main security backer.

From Monday, China will send army, navy, air force and rocket force troops to conduct “major military drills” code-named “Justice Mission 2025”, said Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesman for the People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command.

The activities will focus on “sea-air combat readiness patrol, joint seizure of comprehensive superiority, blockade on key ports and areas, as well as all-dimensional deterrence outside the island chain”, Shi said.

A separate statement with a map showed five large zones surrounding the island where “live firing activities will be organised” from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm (0000 to 1000 GMT) on Tuesday.

“For the sake of safety, any irrelevant vessel or aircraft is advised not to enter the afore-mentioned waters and airspace,” the statement said.

Taiwan condemned China’s “disregard for international norms and the use of military intimidation to threaten neighbouring countries”, Presidential Office spokeswoman Karen Kuo said.

Taiwan’s military said it had established a response centre, deployed “appropriate forces” and “carried out a rapid response exercise”.

The drills by China’s ruling Communist Party “further confirm its nature as an aggressor, making it the greatest destroyer of peace”, Taipei’s defence ministry said.

– ‘Joint assaults’ –

Plans involve vessels “approaching the Taiwan Island in close proximity from different directions”, he said.

The “joint assaults” are intended to “test their joint operations capabilities”, he added.

China’s military last held large-scale drills involving live firing around Taiwan in April — surprise manoeuvres condemned by Taipei.

The United States called them “intimidation tactics”, and Britain warned they were “risking dangerous escalation”.

China said this month it would take “resolute and forceful measures” to safeguard its territory after Taiwan said the United States had approved a major $11 billion arms sale.

Beijing announced fresh sanctions on 20 American defence companies last week, though they appeared to have little or no business in China.

Last month, Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi triggered a backlash from Beijing when she said the use of force against Taiwan could warrant a military response from Tokyo.

China demanded that she retract her statement, summoned Tokyo’s ambassador, and warned its citizens against travelling to Japan.



from The Times Of Earth https://ift.tt/VWTiwFX

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