Russia - Ukraine War Update
<div class=\"default-font-wrapper\" style=\"line-height: 1;font-size: 12pt; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif;\"><div style=\"line-height: 1;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif;\">Russia - Ukraine War Update <br id=\"isPasted\"><br>--Reuters reports that the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission has recorded an "alarming rise" in reported executions of Ukrainian soldiers captured by the Russian armed forces during the war in recent months, it said on Monday.<br>--"Russia's horrific executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war demonstrate that Ukraine confronts true beasts," he said on X. "We need new and effective international legal tools, and concrete steps to hold the perpetrators accountable."<br>--The Russian defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.<br>--The UN body obtained and analysed video and photographic material published by Ukrainian and Russian sources showing executions or dead bodies and conducted detailed interviews with witnesses.<br>--It said the reported executions took place in areas where Russian offensive operations were underway.<br>--The Ukrainian prosecutor's office earlier said it was investigating dozens of cases of executions of Ukrainian military personnel by Russian forces.<br>--Ukrainian battalions running short on supplies on the frontline. U.S. armored vehicles supplied by the U.S. are on the way but clearly delayed.<br>--Uncertainty over Ukraine's war effort has intensified with Trump's return to power in Washington. His new administration can halt shipments anytime, even those already committed. In his first week in office, Trump froze foreign aid to Ukraine, among many other countries.<br>--He and his congressional backers have made clear they want to cut support for Ukraine, and at a presidential debate he refused to say whether he wanted Ukraine to win. Among his campaign promises was a boast he could end the war in a day. That hasn't happened, but many Ukrainians fear he'll impose terms favorable to Russia.<br>--In December 2023, as Ukraine's second counteroffensive was winding down to an inconclusive end.<br>--They said some close to Biden worried about unrealistic expectations about Washington's ability and long-term willingness to help achieve what Ukraine saw as its victory objective: Liberating all Ukrainian land captured by Russia since 2014.<br>--Some Pentagon leaders fear the focus on Ukraine is diverting attention from critical situations elsewhere, including the Middle East, U.S. officials said.<br>--U.S. officials are warning that Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, just 25 kilometers from the Russian border, was at risk of falling to Russia.<br>--Multiple U.S. officials with knowledge of the current inventories attributed the decisions to hold back aggressive weaponry through last summer to fears that American stockpiles were running low.<br>--Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are seen by Russia as possible venues for a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, two Russian sources with knowledge of the discussions told Reuters.<br>--Trump has said he will end the war in Ukraine as soon as possible and said he is ready to meet with Putin. Putin congratulated Trump on his election and stated he is ready to meet Trump to discuss Ukraine and energy.<br>--Russian officials have repeatedly denied any direct contacts with the U.S. about preparations for a phone call between Trump and Putin, which would precede an eventual meeting later this year.<br>--Senior Russian officials have visited both Saudi Arabia and the UAE in recent weeks, according to the Russian sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation.<br>--One source said there was still some opposition to the idea in Russia as some diplomats and intelligence officials were pointing to the close military and security links that both the Kingdom and the UAE have with the United States.<br>--Saudi Arabia and the UAE did not respond to requests for comment. The Kremlin declined comment. But both Trump and Putin have developed friendly relations with rulers of Saudi Arabia and the UAE.<br>--Trump said on Sunday that his administration had "meetings and talks scheduled with various parties, including Ukraine and Russia." When asked about those remarks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that contacts were 'apparently planned'.<br>--Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was the first foreign head of state Trump called after taking office. He described the Crown Prince as "a fantastic guy" during his speech via video link to an audience at the World Economic Forum in Davos.</span></div></div>