Russia-Ukraine updates: Putin suspends key US-Russia nuclear treaty in speech denouncing West
President Vladimir Putin said he'd sought an "open dialogue" with the West.
Almost a year after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine, the two countries are engaged in a struggle for control of areas throughout the east and south.
Putin's forces pulled out of key positions in November, retreating from Kherson as Ukrainian troops led a counteroffensive targeting the southern port city. Russian drones have continued bombarding civilian targets throughout Ukraine, knocking out critical power infrastructure as winter sets in.
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US, UK, France reject Russia's 'dirty bomb' allegation
The governments of the United States, the United Kingdom and France released a joint statement on Sunday rejecting "Russia's transparently false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory."
"We, the Foreign Ministers of France, the United Kingdom, and the United States, reiterate our steadfast support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russia's ongoing aggression," they said in the joint statement. "We remain committed to continue supporting Ukraine's efforts to defend its territory for as long as it takes."
"Earlier today, the defense ministers of each of our countries spoke to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu at his request," they continued. "Our countries made clear that we all reject Russia's transparently false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory. The world would see through any attempt to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation. We further reject any pretext for escalation by Russia."
They added: "The Foreign Ministers also discussed their shared determination to continue supporting Ukraine and the Ukrainian people with security, economic, and humanitarian assistance in the face of President Putin's brutal war of aggression."
Blinken speaks with Ukrainian counterpart about Russia's 'dirty bomb' allegation
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke via telephone with his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, on Sunday "to reaffirm the United States' steadfast support for Ukraine's sovereignty, independent, and territorial integrity," according to a statement from U.S. Department of State spokesperson Ned Price.
"Secretary Blinken expressed to Foreign Minister Kuleba that the United States rejects Russian Defense Minister Shoygu's transparently false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory and that the world would see through any attempt by Russia to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation," Price said.
"They also discussed the U.S. and international commitment to continue supporting Ukraine with unprecedented security, economic and humanitarian assistance for as long as it takes, as we hold Russia accountable," he added. "They further noted our ongoing efforts to manage the broader implications of President Putin's war."
Russian defense minister claims Ukrainians planning 'dirty bomb' attack
Russian Minister of Defense Sergey Shoigu called his counterparts in Turkey, France and the United Kingdom on Saturday, claiming that Ukraine is preparing a provocation with the use of a "dirty bomb."
The first mention of a possible Ukrainian "dirty bomb" attack appeared Sunday in a morning message of the RIA Novosti state-owned news agency. The article, citing "credible sources in various countries, including Ukraine," stated that "the Kiev regime is preparing a provocation on the territory of its country related to the detonation of the so-called 'dirty bomb' or low-power nuclear munition."
"The purpose of the provocation is to accuse Russia of using weapons of mass destruction in the Ukrainian theater of operations and thereby launch a powerful anti-Russian campaign in the world aimed at undermining confidence in Moscow," RIA Novosti reported.
Shoigu also had a telephone conversation with the U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Sunday, during which they discussed the situation in Ukraine, according to a Pentagon official.
"Secretary Austin rejected any pretext for Russian escalation and reaffirmed the value of continued communication amid Russia’s unlawful and unjustified war against Ukraine," said Pentagon press secretary, Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder.
Russian military jet crashes into a residential building, 2nd time in a week
A Russian Sukhoi Su fighter jet crashed into a residential building in southern Siberia on Sunday during a an apparent test flight just six days after another Russian Sukhoi Su jet slammed into an apartment block in Yeysk, Russia, near the Ukrainian border.
Two pilots were killed in Sunday's crash in the southern Siberia town of Irkutsk, Russian officials said. The crash ignited a giant fireball when the aircraft nosedived into a two-story house, Igor Kobzev, the regional governor, said in a post on Telegram.
Kobzev confirmed two pilots were killed and said no civilian residents were injured.
The Sukhoi Su-30 jet was on a test flight when the crash occurred, according to the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations.
The crash came about a week after a Russian Sukhoi Su-34 crashed into an apartment block in the southern Russian city of Yeysk, near Ukraine, killing at least 15 people.
Authorities said the initial investigation indicated a technical malfunction of the aircraft caused the crash and that the pilots eject from the jet and survived.
