THE Kremlin has sent a thinly veiled warning to the West, branding US plans to supply tanks to Ukraine as "a blatant provocation" against Russia.
America is expected to announce as soon as today that it will send heavy tanks to back the defenders in the Ukraine war – although this was unconfirmed during a news conference yesterday.
And now, Russian ambassador Anatoly Antonov claims it is "obvious" Washington is trying to inflict a "strategic defeat on us".
Vladimir Putin mouthpiece Antonov wrote on Telegram: "If the United States decides to supply tanks, then justifying such a step with arguments about 'defensive weapons' will definitely not work. This would be another blatant provocation against the Russian Federation."
It comes as Ukraine's Armed Forces claimed to have "shot down three Russian Ka-52 attack helicopters" within the space of 30 minutes.
Read our Ukraine war blog below for the latest news…
Olaf Scholz has addressed parliament to answer questions about sending Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.
The German chancellor said he spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky before he arrived to make his speech.
Scholz said: "The reason for the challenges we are facing is the terrible war of aggression against Ukraine.
"A terrible war where the principles we have agreed upon in Europe have been called into question."
He continued: "We have war in Europe not very far from here.
"One thing has to be clear, we will do what is necessary, what is possible to support Ukraine but at the same time we want to make sure there is no escalation of the war between Russia and NATO."
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has thanked German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for the decision to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.
Morawiecki tweeted: "Thank you @Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz.
"The decision to send Leopards to Ukraine is a big step towards stopping Russia.
"Together we are stronger."
Thank you @Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz. The decision to send Leopards to Ukraine is a big step towards stopping Russia. Together we are stronger.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak praised the decision made by Germany and NATO allies to send battle tanks to Ukraine.
Sunak tweeted: "The right decision by NATO Allies and friends to send main battle tanks to Ukraine.
"Alongside Challenger 2s, they will strengthen Ukraine’s defensive firepower.
"Together, we are accelerating our efforts to ensure Ukraine wins this war and secures a lasting peace."
The right decision by NATO Allies and friends to send main battle tanks to Ukraine. Alongside Challenger 2s, they will strengthen Ukraine’s defensive firepower.
Together, we are accelerating our efforts to ensure Ukraine wins this war and secures a lasting peace. https://t.co/55BKg7orfJ
Germany will send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and approve re-export from other countries, according to a statement earlier today from German government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit.
Germany will send 14 battle tanks as well as ammunition and logistics.
Countries such as Norway, Poland and Spain will now also be permitted to send their stocks of Leopard 2 tanks.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz said: "This decision follows our well-known line of supporting Ukraine to the best of our ability.
"We are acting in a closely coordinated manner internationally."
Russia said US tanks sent to Ukraine will ‘burn like the rest’ earlier today.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "Technologically, this is a failed plan.
“This is an overestimation of the potential that this will add to the Ukrainian army.
“These tanks burn like all the rest. They are just very expensive."
The warning comes following America agreeing to potentially send dozens of M1 Abrams tanks in an escalation of its involvement in the war.
Four people were injured in the shelling of Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region yesterday, according to reports.
Governor Pavlo KyrylenkoIn released a statement on Telegram: “This shelling is another Russian crime and another proof that there are no absolutely safe places in Donetsk region. Save your life – evacuate!”
Two children were among the injured, he added.
Olaf Scholz is expected to unveil the tank plan to be rolled to Ukraine to Parliament on Wednesday.
This will confirm the decision to finally allow the exportation of the German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and help battle the Russians.
It comes after the US made a preliminary agreement to send M1 Abrams tanks.
Germany wants that the rolling of the Leopard 2 tanks is closely coordinated with allies, mainly the US.
With Washington sending over some of its tanks too, Berlin hopes that it minimises the risk of any backlash from Russia.
The speech in Parliament is set to be given this early afternoon.
The Ukrainian President mentioned the ongoing talks about tanks being provided to Kyiv in his nightly address.
He said: "By the way, there is a lot of talk about tanks now. About the modern tanks we need. And about how to fill this deficit. A lot of effort, words, and promises.
"But it is important to see the reality: it is not about five, or ten, or fifteen tanks. The need is greater. Every day we are doing everything necessary to fill the deficit. And I am grateful to everyone who supports us in this.
"However, discussions need to end with decisions. Decisions to really strengthen our defense against terrorists. Our allies have the necessary number of tanks.
"When the necessary weight of decisions is reached, we will be happy to express gratitude for every weighty decision."
In his daily evening address, President Zelensky thanked Lithuania for their support in the war.
The Ukrainian President said: "So is another decree signed today. The capital of Lithuania, Vilnius, starts celebrating the 700th anniversary of its foundation. All this time, the histories of our nations have been closely intertwined.
"And we actually share a common destiny of our freedom: the more protected one nation is, the more protected the other is. Perhaps this is understood more clearly now than ever before in our history.
"Ukraine will always be grateful to Lithuania, to Mr. President Nausėda, to all Lithuanian leaders, to all Lithuanian families who perceived the Russian aggression against Ukraine as an attack on their freedom. Who help us protect our common future in a free and peaceful Europe.
"Today, I signed a decree awarding Vilnius the honorary distinction of a "Rescuer City" for everything that the city and Lithuania as a whole have done to help us in the fight against Russian terror."
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is considering a trip to Ukraine after he had been invited by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Japan is hosting the Group of Seven meeting this year and he told Parliament: "Nothing has been decided at this time regarding my visit to Ukraine."
"I will consider this in light of various circumstances and conditions."
Mr Kishida was invited by President Zelensky during a call on January 6.
In his daily evening address, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine spoke with France and Finland over more support.
The Ukrainian President said: "Today I had extensive negotiations with President of France Macron. We discussed many topics.
"I thank Mr. President for his willingness to strengthen Ukraine's air defense and expand our armored cooperation. This armored element is becoming increasingly important for the situation at the front. So is the artillery element.
"I thank France and Emmanuel personally for the much-needed decisions to strengthen Ukraine's artillery. I am also grateful for the respective leadership within our anti-war coalition.
"And I heard today a full understanding of the situation both in a conversation with Mr. President Macron and in a conversation with Mr. President of Finland, who was on a visit to Kyiv today.
"There is a new package of support from Finland, including defense support. There is a willingness to strengthen sanctions against Russia and to join our diplomatic initiatives. We have a vision of how we can use this year to our countries’ advantage to cooperate within European and Euro-Atlantic institutions.
"That is, today, thanks to the French and Finnish stages of our diplomatic marathon, we have significantly strengthened Ukraine's defense.
"The main thing now is the speed of implementation of everything we agreed upon. Today I discussed in great detail the points of our Peace Formula – what can be done together with France, what can be done together with Finland.
"It is very important for European leadership in these diplomatic efforts to be tangible. And today, in particular in my conversation with Emmanuel, I was pleased to hear his leadership initiatives.
"I am also grateful to Finland for the vision of the role of this country in guaranteeing our common security under the Peace Formula. I signed several decrees on awarding the defenders of our country.
A UK national that is yet to be named, has been arrested in Mallorca after he was accused of helping a Russian tycoon avoid sanctions on his £80million yacht.
The Brit was wanted by the US authorities on fraud and money laundering charges.
The yacht was one of those seized because of its links to the Russian tycoon Viktor Vekselberg.
The Brit was arrested on Monday by the Civil Guard in collaboration with the FBI and the Homeland Security Investigation (HSI).
Norwegian newspapers Aftenposten and Dagens Naeringsliv claimed that anonymous sources told them that the government is thinking about sending some of its Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine once Germany gives the official green light.
Nato member Norway, which is also a neighbouring country to Russia, might provide Ukraine with four or eight Leopard 2 tanks.
Norway currently holds 36 such tanks.
Germany is expected to make a decision today on whether to provide Ukraine with Leopard 2 tanks or not.
Berlin has been highly pressured to finally make a decision and aid Ukraine with the much-needed tanks.
Germany almost reached a decision on Tuesday, however, it was then reported that Chancellor Olaf Scholz will be confirming the decision on Wednesday instead.
German media such newspaper Der Spiegel and news channel NTV reported that Scholz is ready to give the green light.
President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said he will not support Sweden’s NATO membership bid.
The news comes following a protest in front of the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm over the weekend where a copy of the Qur’an was burnt.
After a cabinet meeting today, Erdoğan said: “Those who allow such blasphemy in front of our embassy can no longer expect our support for their Nato membership.”
He added: “So you will let terror organisations run wild and then expect our support for getting into Nato.
“That’s not happening.”
The EU has agreed to send €500million in military aid to Ukraine, according to sources.
Although they previously blocked such assistance, Hungary approved the decision.
But Hungary signified its opposition to any sanctions that would restrict its cooperation with Russia in terms of nuclear energy.
Emergency blackouts affected five Ukrainian regions yesterday, including four cities, according to Ukrenergo, Ukraine’s electricity transmission system operator.
Supply couldn’t keep up with demand following the electricity network and power plants being targeted by Russian drone and missile attacks on January 14.
Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhya, Lviv, and the Volyn province exceeded consumption limits earlier today, leading to the shutdowns.
Ukrenergo said they were “constantly working to restore damaged facilities affected by enemy attacks.”
They added, however, that “after each subsequent attack by the Russians on the energy infrastructure, recovery becomes increasingly difficult and takes longer.”
In July, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations worked to come up with the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
Before the Ukraine war commenced, Russia and Ukraine accounted for almost a quarter of grain exports globally.
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, exports plummeted potentially causing a food crisis.
Under this agreed plan, more than 670 ships have been sent out from Ukrainian ports.
Three more carrying wheat and corn have now also sailed to Spain, Turkey and Djibouti.
Mr Lavrov met with South Africa’s foreign minister Naledi Pandor who is in support of a “peaceful resolution” between Ukraine and Russia.
She said: “We are fully alert that conflict, wherever it exists in the world, impacts negatively on all of us, and as the developing world it impacts on us, particularly as the African continent.
“This is why as South Africa we consistently articulate that we will always stand ready to support the peaceful resolution of conflicts in the continent and throughout the globe.”
While visiting South Africa, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov spoke about the West aiding Ukraine in the war.
He said that the “hybrid” conflict with the West is now “almost a real one.”
Mr Lavrov added: “It is well known that we supported the proposal of the Ukrainian side to negotiate early in the special military operation and by the end of March, the two delegations agreed on the principle to settle this conflict.
“It is well known and was published openly that our American, British, and some European colleagues told Ukraine that it is too early to deal, and the arrangement which was almost agreed was never revisited by the Kyiv regime.”
Yevgeny Prigozhin – who runs the 50,000-strong Wagner private army – hit out at Russian defence chiefs as his relationship with Vladimir Putin strains further.
Prigozhin said: “Female war correspondents go into the absolute heat of [war]. Jail inmates fight better than units of the Guards.
“Servicemen with broken spines pass on their military experience at training camps, moving around like robots.
“And a bunch of clowns try to teach fighters exhausted with hard military labour how many times they ought to shave — and what kind of perfume they must use to greet high commanders.
“I believe we must introduce legal restrictions, and the harshest punishment with a jail term of up to 50 years for the glamorisation of the army.”
The Royal Navy is set to retire a number of weapons this year, including Harpoon cruise missiles.
These missiles can have a maximum range of 240km – six times further than the GMLRS that Britain supplied so far.
The UK is considering the option of providing Ukraine with these missiles.
Defence Minister Baroness Goldie said: “The UK has not ruled out the possibility of providing longer-range weapons to counter Russia’s indiscriminate mass targeting of civilian infrastructure.”
She insisted UK weapons were used “in accordance with international humanitarian law”.
Baroness Goldie added: “We liaise on a daily basis with the Ukrainian Government, and they are clear that equipment provided by the UK is intended for the defence of Ukraine.”
January 24, 2022, marked the 11-month anniversary since Russia invaded Ukraine.
In his nightly address on Monday, President Zelensky pointed out how the 335th day of the war was spent the same as others – "uniting all our forces for one thing – victory."
The Ukrainian President added: "Not of someone against someone among us. But for the sake of the whole of Ukraine. For the sake of the victory of our entire country in the war for freedom and independence for all Ukrainians.
"It will happen. And all the steps necessary for this will be taken.
"I thank all our warriors at the front! Today I would like to celebrate our anti-aircraft gunners of the Air Forces – you gave us a good day. Russian aircraft, helicopter and missiles were shot down.
"I would also like to thank the warriors of the 35th separate marine brigade and the 79th separate air assault brigade for their bravery and the results Ukraine needs in the Donetsk direction. Thank you, guys!"
President Zelensky spoke on how Russians are stealing agricultural supplies from Ukrainian farmers on occupied territory.
He also pointed out a horrifying stat that "about two million Ukrainians were forcibly taken to Russia – deported."
The Ukrainian President said: "At the beginning of this address, I called the Russian war against Ukraine a predatory one.
"And this is not a random word. Perhaps this is exactly what connects the Kremlin with some anti-democratic regimes in various parts of the world, such as the Iranian regime, – what makes them accomplices.
"On the entire territory, temporarily occupied by the Russian troops, robbery is reigning. Everything they have not destroyed, they are stealing and shipping to Russia. Everything…
"Russians are stealing grain and agricultural machinery from Ukrainian farmers. The occupiers dismantle the factories and send the equipment to Russia. Warehouses, shops and people’s homes are being looted.
"And they kidnap people – they see people as a resource. About two million Ukrainians were forcibly taken to Russia – deported.
"The fact that Russia tried to steal the part of our land by declaring an illegal annexation – is the finalization of their predatory policy."
The Ukrainian President aims to win this war and free his country while he's thankful for the United States' aid in it.
In his nightly address on Monday, Zelensky said that once they start working to reform Ukraine, business with the Americans will surely help to also "push forward global economic growth."
Zelensky said: "It is already clear that this will be the largest economic project of our time in Europe. It is obvious that American business can become the locomotive that will once again push forward global economic growth.
"We have already managed to attract attention and have cooperation with such giants of the international financial and investment world as Black Rock, J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs.
"Such American brands as Starlink or Westinghouse have already become part of our, Ukrainian, way. Your brilliant defense systems – such as HIMARS or Bradleys – are already uniting our history of freedom with your enterprises. We are waiting for Patriots. We are looking closely at Abrams."
He finished his speech by saying: "Thanks to all American people – from leaders to every American! God bless our countries and our heroes!"
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