It was announced Tuesday that the United States has sent Patriot missiles to Poland as part of their efforts to strengthen protection against potential attack. Vice President Kamala Harris was in Poland for discussions about ways to help Ukraine resist the Russian invasion.
Harris will fly to Warsaw from Wednesday, where she will begin a three day trip. She will also be visiting Romania.
Her visit has been complicated by the Pentagon hours before her arrival pouring cold water on Poland’s offer to hand all its MiG-29 fighter jets to the U.S., apparently as part of an arrangement to deliver the warplanes to Ukraine’s armed forces where they are desperately needed to fight off invading Russian forces.
The idea has been floating around for more than a week after Ukraine pleaded for more aircraft, but the plan has been dogged by questions about how to deliver the planes to Ukrainian territory without dragging NATO into the conflict.
But Pentagon press secretary John F. Kirby said on Tuesday night the deal was unworkable and would cause serious concerns for the ‘entire NATO alliance.’
According to a spokesperson for U.S. European Command, two Patriot missile battery batteries are being shipped to Poland now as a defensive deployment’.
The Patriots are an air defense missile system that is designed to destroy short-range missiles and advanced aircraft, as well as cruise missiles.
Capt. Capt.
“This prudent force protection measure is underpinning our commitment to Article Five. It will not support offensive operations.
“Every step that we take is designed to discourage aggression and assure our allies.”
Article Five of NATO Agreement states that all NATO members should come together to help a NATO member in an attack.
The situation surrounding Kyiv was also deteriorating. There were reports of hand to-hand combat at Irpin (located 20 miles northwest from the capital).
Stas (a Ukrainian paratrooper lieutenant) said, “There’s real street fighting right now.”
AFP was told by he that ‘in some places there is hand to-hand combat.’
He said that there was a large column, 200 soldiers, 50 armored vehicles and several tanks.
“We’re trying to get them out but we don’t know how much longer it will take. It is extremely unstable.
Tatiana Perebeynos (43), her children Alise (9 years old) and Nikita (18-18 years old) were travelling with a friend when Russian forces opened fire on their town. An NY Times camera crew captured these shocking photos.
While the Ukrainians fought for their homeland, outsiders debated how they could best help them.
On Tuesday, a Patriot anti-missile defence launcher was seen in Poland. Two more Patriot anti-missile missile defense launchers were sent by the United States to Poland on Tuesday night, according to NATO.
An Italian military plane is seen landing beside a Patriot missile launcher at the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division airfield near Rzeszow, Poland, on Tuesday.
Joe Biden was seen arriving at the White House Tuesday, after returning from Fort Worth Texas.
Kamala Harris was seen Monday at an event in the White House. She will arrive Wednesday in Poland to start a three day visit to Poland, Romania, and other countries. Overshadowing her trip was the wrangling regarding how best to assist Ukraine’s airforce.
Kirby explained why the U.S. rejected Poland’s offer to give its planes to them for distribution in Ukraine.
“As we’ve said, the final decision on whether or not to transfer Polish planes to Ukraine belongs to the Polish government.
“We will continue to consult with our Allies, partners, and about our ongoing security assistance for Ukraine,” because the proposal by Poland shows only a small portion of the complexity this issue presents.
He said that the possibility of U.S./NATO fighter jets departing from Germany’s U.S./NATO Base to fly in airspace that’s being contested by Russia and Ukraine “raises serious concerns for the NATO alliance.”
“It is not evident to us that this has any substantive justification.” While we will consult Poland and other NATO Allies on this matter and the logistical difficulties it poses, we don’t believe that Poland’s proposed solution is viable.
This announcement, made Tuesday by the Polish government was seen as an effort to pressure NATO and the US to back the Ukrainian cause. However there are increasing concerns that it could be perceived as a escalation of Vladimir Putin’s actions.
If adopted by the Ukrainian Air Force, there were some suggestions that NATO electronics might need to be taken out. Russia could have replied if Ukrainian pilots brought them in via a foreign airport. It could have been interpreted by NATO forces inside Ukraine if they were dropped in from the Polish or American pilots.
‘The authorities of the Republic of Poland, after consultations between the president and the government, are ready to deploy – immediately and free of charge – all their MIG-29 jets to the Ramstein Air Base and place them at the disposal of the government of the United States of America,’ said the Polish foreign ministry.
Poland has 28 MiG-29s, a Soviet-era fighter that was flown by the Ukrainian Air Force. However, not all of them are operational.
In a statement, it stated that “At the same, Poland requested the United States provide us with used airplanes with the corresponding operational capabilities,” earlier Tuesday.
Although the US was considering sending F-16s to Poland as a ‘backfiller’ for its Air Force, it has been suggested that caution should be taken. They were taken aback by the Polish announcement.
Victoria Nuland was the State Department’s undersecretary and she was asked about this decision by a Senate committee that met to discuss Ukraine.
She said, “I was at a meeting about this before I arrived so it was surprising that they did that.” According to sources familiar with the matter, the problem was in how the planes would be delivered to Ukraine.
Russia stated that any Ukrainian use of territory from a neighboring country will be considered a “casus belli,” or justification to attack, by Russia. Russians will not allow Ukrainian pilots to take off in MiGs or from Poland. Russia would view asking Polish pilots to fly in as NATO’s entry into the conflict.
The move came with Kremlin officials ‘privately denouncing’ Putin’s ‘clusterf**k’ invasion as US officials warned that the isolated Russian despot could lash out in anger at Ukraine’s fierce resistance by using small nuclear weapons on some of its cities.
Farida Rustamova was a Russian journalist who had been well-connected to government officials before she fled Russia as the Kremlin cracked down on dissidents.
Now, the group is allegedly making ‘apocalyptic’ predictions about weeks and even months ahead. Fighting continues as punitive sanctions are applied.
According to reports, the Pentagon has rejected the offer of Poland to give all its MiG-29 fighter aircrafts to the US as part of an agreement to supply warplanes for Ukraine’s armed forces to combat invading Russian troops.
Poland claimed it would deploy its MiG-29 fighters immediately and for no cost to Ramstein Air Base. They will then be placed at the disposal of the United States Government.
The President Joe Biden issued a ban for Russian oil and gasoline imports on Tuesday. But Washington must now make tough decisions on what to do about the offer by Poland of MiG fighters in Ukraine’s favor.
Ukrainian artillery targets Russian military vehicles in Kozarovychi, Kyiv Oblast
The Ukrainian tank was seen rolling along Kyiv’s main street on Tuesday. Russia’s main invading column continues to be stalled outside of the capital
Photo: Russian tanks were destroyed in Sumy, Ukraine on Monday March 7, 2007
The Polish Air Force has a Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter jet.
Pictured are some of the military aircrafts from the US Air Base Ramstein (in Landstuhl, Germany) on February 25, 2018.
When Jen Psaki, White House Press Secretary, was asked questions about Tuesday’s deal, Jen Psaki said that there were “some logistical issues – very important questions” about where the planes would land and take off from.
Kirby had already rebuffed any attempts to provide planes with supplies a day prior.
I would like to reiterate that it is still early in the discussion about this possibility. He said that it’s still not a finalized deal.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that NATO would need to take delivery of offensive weapons. This further dampened hopes that the MiGs could provide an instant breakthrough.
“This is why our fleet of fighter jets will be given to Ramstein. But we don’t have the resources to do so on our own, because we, like I stated, aren’t party to this conflict,” he declared during a news conference in Oslo with his Norwegian counterpart.
This is after the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for the use of aircraft against Russian invaders on Saturday during a video conference with U.S. lawmakers, said Chuck Schumer.
“These planes will be greatly needed.” He stated that he would do everything possible to assist the administration in making their transfer easier.
The Polish move comes amid US intelligence chiefs’ warnings that Putin, angry and frustrated, could increase his aggression despite setbacks.
Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier told Congress an estimated 2,000-4,000 Russian soldiers had been killed so far.
Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence said that Putin will not be stopped by the inability of his forces to make progress and the resistance from the Ukrainians.
She told the House intelligence panel that Putin felt aggrieved by the west’s inability to give him deference, and she viewed this war as one he can’t afford losing.
Bill Burns, the CIA director, said that he foresaw a “horrible next few weeks” as Putin intensified war ‘with scant consideration for civilian casualties’
The US and its allies are continuing to provide military assistance to Ukraine. The aircraft arrives on planes that fly to neighbouring countries, with up to 17 planes per day. They unload weapons and equipment in one location.
CNN reported that General Mark Milley, the Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff visited the airfield in order to view the remarkable effort.
According to defense officials, while Russia is still firing long-range artillery on Ukrainian cities and making territorial gains in its southern regions, it hasn’t yet attacked supplies transfers.
An armed Ukrainian contingent stands guard in front of Czech-supplied “hedgehog” defenses downtown Kyiv
Russian troops attempt to surround Kyiv before an attack is planned. Intense fighting has been reported in the west, which includes hand-to-hand combat against Russian forces.
CIA Director Bill Burns said that Putin intended to take Kyiv TWO DAYS prior to the implosion.
On Tuesday, Bill Burns, Director of the CIA, appeared in front of Congress
On Tuesday, the director of Central Intelligence Agency revealed that Vladimir Putin had plans to seize the Ukrainian capital Kyiv in just two days. He also warned that frustrated Russian President could escalate his attacks against civilians.
He stated to the House intelligence committee, “You know, it is a matter that deep personal conviction for me,”
“He has been stewing for years in a fiery mixture of ambition and grievance.”
After two weeks of fighting, he said that Russian forces were still not able to surround Kyiv. Putin had planned to seize it in just two days.
Burns stated that he was likely to increase his efforts to reduce the Ukrainian army without regard to civilian casualties.
“But the problem that he faces, and this has been the most important question over our analysis for his planning for months now is… that he doesn’t have a sustainable political plan in the face the fierce resistance of the Ukrainians.
This includes providing 17,000 anti-tank missiles and an additional 2,000 anti-aircraft missiles – at a time when video on the ground has showed Russian trucks and armored vehicles stopped in their tracks, while Ukrainian forces report downing helicopters and other aircraft.
According to the US, it committed $1 billion in the last year for Ukraine’s defenses. The US also claims that the majority of recently announced aid in $350 million has arrived.
According to one senior defense official, however, the sky is still disputed.
Early in the morning, President Joe Biden told Vladimir Putin that Putin would never win the election in Ukraine.
He made a White House speech in which he pledged to pursue oligarchs and praised Ukrainian resistance, while also slamming the Russian leader for refusing to permit humanitarian aid ceasefires.
He stated that Putin seems determined not to stop his murderous ways no matter how much it costs.
Biden claimed that Putin miscalculated as he tightened economic sanctions on Moscow, banning Russian oil and gas imports.
He said, “He already made two million Ukrainians refugees.”
While Russia may keep pushing its advances at an awful price, this is clear: Ukraine won’t be a victory for Putin.
“Putin might be able take over a city but not the entire country.
“And we must respond immediately to Putin’s attack on world peace and stability, or the cost to freedom today and tomorrow will be greater,”
Russia’s major column of armour has been stuck outside Kyiv since days, amid poor morale, shortage of supplies and technical difficulties.
The lack of fuel and food for captured soldiers has been a major complaint.
Despite Russian gains in other areas, this means that Putin failed to execute his US-approved plan to take over the capital city within two days.
According to them, he underestimated the power of the Ukrainian opposition and under-estimated his ability to save his country from sanctions.
Biden declared: “We’re enforcing one of the largest economic sanctions packages in all history and it’s causing considerable damage to Russia’s economies.”
Putin also said that he would not stop trying to make Putin’s life harder for his oligarchs.
“The US Department of Justice assembled a special task force to investigate the Russian oligarch crimes. Together with European allies, we will find and seize the yachts of the Russian oligarchs.
“Some of them are… I don’t think one I read measured more than 400 feet. It is worth many hundreds of millions.
Ukrainian troops of the 81st Separate Airmobile Brigade fired anti-tank JAVELIN rockets provided by the US.
A Ukrainian military serviceman shoots an NLAW Anti-Tank Weapon during an Exercise in the Joint Forces Operation in Donetsk (eastern Ukraine), Tuesday, February 15, 2015.
Ukrainian soldiers aid an elderly woman in crossing a bridge when she evacuates Irpin, north of Kyiv.
Ukrainians escape Irpin by crossing an illegal path that was built under the bridge.
Civilians are still fleeing Irpin from ongoing Russian-led attacks. Irpin snowfalls in Ukraine on March 8th 2022.
On Tuesday, Kyiv stated that 12,000 Russian soldiers had died in fighting against Ukraine. However, 300 tanks, more than 1000 armored vehicles and 48 planes were destroyed. 80 helicopters have also been lost. Three boats have also been damaged. Moscow acknowledged that it suffered losses, but did not provide any recent updates. It is not yet known what the losses in Ukraine.
On Tuesday, strikes on civilian areas continued. The city of Sumy in the east was also hit by bombs that the mayor claimed killed 21 people and injured two others. The parliament of Ukraine published an image showing a bleeding infant that they claimed was injured in the attack.
Russia offered again to create ‘humanitarian corridors” today in order to let civilians flee bombed areas. However, Kyiv quickly rejected the offer. Zelensky accused Moscow of cynicism, saying that its troops had placed mines along the route and destroyed buses meant to be transported.
“There was an accord on humanitarian corridors. Was that a success? Russian tanks replaced it, Russian Grads (multiple launchers), Russian mines,” Zelensky claimed in Telegram.
They ensure that there is a narrow corridor between the occupied territories and the people who live in it. The propagandists are directed towards Russia, not towards Russia.
Despite the Russian strike that killed many people in the early morning, at least one corridor – the Sumy-bound one – continued to operate on Tuesday.
Ukraine’s deputy prime Minister announced that more that 5,000 civilians had been evacuated from the northern Ukrainian capital under a temporary ceasefire. This was mostly true.
Dmytro Zivytsky was the regional governor. According to him, around 1,700 of them were international students studying in Sumy. The ceasefire was also broken by an incident near a checkpoint.
However, the foreign ministry in Ukraine stated that Mariupol’s route was reopened after it had been left without power or water for most of the week.
Mariupol was one of the most severely hit cities in Ukraine since the invasion. Russian forces caused widespread destruction to administrative and residential centers.
Even though Russia had previously agreed to allow citizens to leave the city through ‘humanitarian corridors,’ its forces broke their ceasefire and continue to shell civilians with what appears to be targeted strikes.
Zelensky stated that people trapped in the urban center are suffering from an acute shortage of food, water, and medicines.
Although some Ukrainian residents were able to receive vital supplies from the territorial defense forces, many others remain in isolation and are unable access lifesaving food.
According to Bucha’s mayor, who is located northwest of Kyiv and said that there has been so much shelling in the area, medics are not able to enter the streets to remove the bodies. The dead bodies have now been ‘pulled apart by stray dog’.
He said, “It is a nightmare,”
According to the United Nations, the refugee count in Ukraine is already at 2 million. This represents the largest exodus Europe saw since World War II.
UNICEF spokesperson James Elder tweets that one million of them were children and called it “a dark historical first”. Other than that, most were female.
In Zhyotymyr, west of Kyiv, a fire at an oil depot was extinguished in the early hours of the morning while in Mykolaiv, in the south, several fires in residential areas had broke out due to Russian attacks – with four civilians killed and five others rescued from the rubble and taken to hospital
Russian shelling caused nine floors of destruction and 27 apartments to catch fire in Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine. It took more than four hours for rescuers to put out the flames. At most four were killed.
British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace spoke to BBC and stated that Russian forces have become’more desperate’. He also said, ‘We are seeing the Russians double down their brutality as the attack stalls.
When Russian troops continue their attack on Ukraine, Irpin residents run across the river to flee.
As she flees Irpin (northwest of Kyiv), a woman takes her dog with her to help cross the bridge.
Ukrainians gather under the bridge that has been destroyed as they attempt to cross the Irpin River in the outskirts Kyiv.