‘On
Monday, millions of Swedes will start receiving copies of a pamphlet
advising the population how to prepare and cope in the event of war
or another unexpected crisis.
“In
case of crisis or war” has been updated from six years ago because
of what the government in Stockholm calls the worsening security
situation, by which it means Russia’s full-scale invasion of
Ukraine. The booklet is also twice the size.
Neighbouring
Finland has also just published its own fresh advice online on
“preparing for incidents and crises”.
And Norwegians
have also recently received a pamphlet urging
them to be prepared to manage on their own for a week in the event of
extreme weather, war and other threats.’
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjr4zwj2lgdo
Shades
of the UK’s Protect and Survive.
A
report on social media, sourcing the Financial Times,
(paywalled) says that Estonia’s Foreign Minister has said that if
the President Elect of the USA makes a peace deal between Ukraine and
Russia, one of the terms is that Ukraine does not join NATO, then a
European coalition, led by Britain and Poland should step in to
fihght on Ukraine’s side. This apparently will stop Russian
aggression.
A
Sun ‘journalist’ writes that the USA should have provided Ukraine
with the missiles it may now have access to at the beginning of the conflict. The latest decision to
provide these weapons will not lead to WW3 he asserts. He
opines that, ‘Ukraine
is maybe Europe’s front line but its soldiers are fighting for more
than their homes. They are defending the world as we know it.
‘
What
world might that be? Shades of Billy Bragg’s fighting to keep the
world safe for capitalism.
‘US
President Joe Biden has reportedly authorized Ukraine to use
long-range American missiles to strike targets inside Russia’s
pre-2014 borders, according to a New York Times reporting anonymous
American officials.
The
decision, if accurately conveyed by the newspaper, marks a major
shift in Washington’s policy and will raise the stakes in the
conflict between Moscow and Kiev. The White House has yet to comment
publicly on the matter.
The
report states that Ukraine is expected to deploy the Army Tactical
Missile Systems (ATACMS) against Russian forces and alleged North
Korean troops in Russia’s Kursk Region, where fierce fighting is
ongoing. The supposed presence of North Korean forces has been used
as part of the justification for the policy change, though there is
no verified proof of Pyongyang’s troops operating in Russia.
ATACMS
missiles can be fired from HIMARS launchers, which Ukraine has
had in its arsenal since 2022. Kiev's forces have had ATACMS missiles
since April, but have until now been limited to using them on land
considered Ukrainian by Washington. ATACMS missiles travel at
supersonic speed and have a range of 300 kilometers (190 miles).
“The
move is a significant escalation and may provoke a direct response
from Moscow,”
the report notes. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly
warned that any attacks on Russia’s internationally recognized
territory with American-supplied weaponry would be viewed as NATO
entering the conflict directly. Such actions, he has suggested, could
lead to severe repercussions, including retaliation against Western
interests.
The
reported US policy shift has also divided Biden’s advisers, the
newspaper claims. While some argue the change is necessary to counter
Moscow’s supposed military moves, others fear it could
further escalate tensions and risk a broader conflict.
Supporters
of arming Ukraine more aggressively believe that previous hesitation
by the US has emboldened Moscow, while critics warn of potential
Russian retaliation against American and Western European assets.
The
Times report also highlights that while the Ukrainian military may
first target Russian and alleged North Korean forces in Kursk, the
strikes could potentially be expanded to other regions.
The
long-range capabilities of ATACMS would allow Ukraine to strike deep
into Russian territory, potentially disrupting supply lines and troop
concentrations.
Kiev’s
desire for long-range capabilities has been a longstanding request.
With Biden’s reported authorization, the geopolitical dynamics of
the conflict could now shift dramatically.’
