US government on the hunt for the mole
The US government is trying to clarify after the release of intelligence documents about the war in Ukraine. “We’re taking this very, very seriously,” National Security Council communications director John Kirby said in Washington on Monday (local time). The Department of Defense is leading an interdepartmental inquiry “of what impact this could have on national security”. The Ministry of Justice is conducting a criminal investigation. President Joe Biden is kept informed.
Apparently, secret documents from US agencies about Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine have been circulating on the Internet for weeks. American media have been reporting sensitive material about both warring parties for days without publishing the documents themselves. It is unclear who published the documents that were circulated on pro-Russian channels weeks ago. The research network Bellingcat proved that some were subsequently manipulated.
Kiev: Information about the counter-offensive is still secret
While the media reported that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s entourage had reacted angrily to the data breach, Kiev showed calm, at least to the outside world: the Secretary of the National Security Council, Oleksiy Danilov, denied that data on military operations, the size of units and the direction had reached the audience. “This information is absolutely classified,” he said in an ARD interview. The start of the Ukrainian counter-offensive will only be decided at the last moment.
Ukraine doubts US wiretapping of Zelenskyy
Ukrainian leaders also questioned an alleged US wiretapping operation against Zelenskyy. Consultations between the head of state and the army differed from published secret service documents, presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak said on Ukrainian television on Monday. The publications do not jeopardize Ukraine’s relations with its Western partners. “These are normal analyses,” he said. Plans for a Ukrainian counter-offensive would also not be torpedoed because they are still being worked on.
Earlier there had been reports of classified documents from the US Department of Defense, according to which Zelensky had proposed drone strikes on Russian military sites in the Russian state of Rostov in late February in consultation with the army command. That may have encouraged Washington not to supply long-range weapons to Kiev, it said. Podoliak contradicted this statement: “It makes no sense to simply say in the abstract:” Let’s bomb the Rostov region. Such consultations would rather set priorities and strategies.
Zelensky welcomes prisoner exchange with Moscow
Zelenskyy ignored the publication of the documents in his daily video address. Instead, he welcomed the exchange of more than 200 prisoners of war between Moscow and Kiev. “These are 100 families who received real joy for Easter,” Zelenskyj said of the Ukrainian returnees on Monday. The Orthodox Churches celebrate Easter next Sunday.
The head of state thanked Germany for further military aid. Over the past two weeks, armor technology, air defense systems, ammunition, machinery and medical technology have been delivered. Referring to Russia, Zelensky added: “The word loser should accompany the word aggressor. And only a Ukrainian victory can ensure that.”
Belarusian ruler Lukashenko asks Russia for protection
Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko called on the large neighboring country of Russia to protect Belarus as “Russian territory”. During a meeting with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Monday in Minsk, Lukashenko asked for appropriate security guarantees, state news agency Belta reported. He also thanked for the stationing of thousands of soldiers on Belarusian territory. Russia had announced that it would also station nuclear weapons in Belarus.
Russia launches major military maneuvers in the Arctic
Russia’s Northern Fleet began major maneuvers in Arctic waters. 1,800 soldiers and more than a dozen ships will participate in the exercise, which will last several days, the fleet’s press service reported Monday, Interfax news agency reported. There are also 40 aircraft and helicopters in service, as well as land operations vehicles. The Arctic is thus increasingly becoming another area of tension between Russia and the West. Russia makes territorial claims here, including the North Pole.
What will be important on Tuesday
As fighting continues in eastern Ukraine, the focus is also on China. There begins the visit of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who also wants to talk about a peace plan for Ukraine. Ukraine has already rejected its proposal to Kiev to give up the Crimean peninsula annexed by Russia. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov receives his Kazakh counterpart Murat Nurtleu in Moscow. (sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
