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US aid freeze is a ‘very severe blow’, Ukrainian soldier’s wife says
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Many Ukraine-based humanitarian projects are in limbo after Donald Trump ordered an immediate freeze on all US aid.
Ukraine has been providing for the humanitarian needs of millions through foreign aid, with the US contributing the largest chunk.
The aid freeze is impacting organisations supporting veterans, removing land mines, providing healthcare and aiding the recovery of injured soldiers. Maria Vorotylo, a soldier’s wife who had been receiving help from Veteran Hub, wrote on Facebook that its closure was “a very severe blow”.
On the battlefield, North Korean troops have withdrawn from the frontline in part of Russia’s Kursk region after suffering heavy losses, a Ukrainian commander said.
Another commander, codenamed “Puls”, told Sky News the North Koreans were likely either learning lessons from mistakes made during their first fierce clashes or waiting for reinforcements.
And Volodymyr Zelensky has defended the mobilisation of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians fighting in the war against Russia, stating that if half his army is disbanded then Vladimir Putin “will kill us all”.
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Donald Trump defined the conflict between Ukraine and Russia as “bullets whacking and hitting men” as he spoke to reporters in North Carolina on Friday, 24 January, during a visit to assess damage caused by Hurricane Helene. The 47th US president described Russia’s invasion as “a butchering tragedy for both sides” in which “it’s just bullets whacking and hitting men, mostly men, almost in all cases, men, and over a million men are killed and they’re losing thousands of people a week.” In an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity earlier this week, Mr Trump claimed that the nearly three-year-old war between Russia and Ukraine was the fault of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s failure to preemptively capitulate before Russian troops began their attack.
Russian president also echoes new US president’s claim conflict in Ukraine could have been prevented had he been in White House in 2022
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A senior member of the Polish government accused Russia on Tuesday of attempting to recruit Poles on the dark net to try to influence Poland’s presidential election campaign.
The European Union and Nato member state has warned before of the danger of Russian interference in the mid-May election but Moscow has repeatedly denied meddling in foreign elections.
Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski said Russia was looking for Polish citizens willing to influence the campaign from inside the country, offering them 3,000-4,000 euros ($3,130-$4,170) to spread content containing disinformation.
Gawkowski said recruitment was being done via the dark net, a part of the internet accessible only using a specialised web browser. Poland has been observing such attempts since the start of the year, he said.
“This is money directed from the Russian services GRU and FSB, which are looking for such patrons of their content here,” Gawkowski told Reuters, referring to Russia’s military intelligence and its Federal Security Service.
Moscow did not immediately comment on his remarks.
Poland said this month it had identified a Russian group tasked with influencing Polish elections through disinformation and stoking instability.
Warsaw says its role as a hub for supplies to Ukraine to defend itself against Russia’s invasion had made it a target for spies working for Russia and its ally Belarus, as well as for acts of sabotage. Minsk and Moscow have dismissed accusations that they are behind acts of sabotage.
In December, fellow Nato and European Union member Romania annulled a presidential election after accusations of Russian meddling, which Moscow denied.
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