Ukraine Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov told parliament on Friday that there is a low probability of any major escalation with Russia. He added that Ukraine intelligence sees every move made in the area.
Tensions at the Russia-Ukraine border have been ongoing, with several Western nations repeatedly predicting a huge war. Ukraine has chided those nations for causing a panic.
“Our intelligence sees every move that could pose a potential threat to Ukraine. We estimate the probability of a large-scale escalation as low,” Reznikov said.
The timing of the statement is interesting given that just the day prior, President Joe Biden stuck by the White House assessment that an invasion is imminent.
“We have reason to believe they are engaged in a false flag operation to have an excuse to go in,” Biden told reporters at the White House on Thursday. “Every indication we have is they’re prepared to go into Ukraine and attack Ukraine.”
The fact that Ukraine’s defense chief, who is certainly closer to the situation than anyone at the White House, directly contradicted Biden’s words is no minor thing.
Predictions of such a conflict go back years, and while previous Ukraine officials had similar pessimism about it, more recently officials see a lot more chance for diplomacy.
Meanwhile, US officials have continued seeking to convince and warn Kiev that a ‘Russian invasion’ is imminent…
Read More @ Zero Hedge HERE
The Lebanese terrorist group Hizballah claimed to have kept a military UAV in the sky for 40 minutes on Friday, Feb.18 at a depth of 70km over northern Israel. The drone was on a surveillance mission. The intruder eluded Israeli jets, helicopters and Iron Dome air defense missiles before returning unscathed to base. This is now the subject of an IDF investigation.
DEBKAfile reported earlier:
Sirens alerted Galilee dwellers in northeastern Israel, as well as, for the first time since 2006, Jordanian Valley villages north of the Sea of Galilee. Two rounds of alerts a few minutes apart before noon on Friday, followed by explosions in mid-air, sent people running for cover.
“Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek;
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre” Psalm 83:7
The military reported that a small flying object crossed into northern Israel from Lebanon and was tackled by the Air Force and Iron Dome air defense battery before turning tail. No reports of casualties or damage. Life has gone back to normal.
This was the second intrusion from Lebanon in 48 hours. On Thursday, a UAV was tracked as it flew over the border and was intercepted over Avivim.
Read More @ Debka HERE
During a Friday afternoon press conference, Interim Ottawa Police Chief Steve Bell told reporters that Ottawa police have made at least 70 arrests (including high profile organizers Tamara Lich, Chris Barber and Pat King) and towed at least 21 vehicles.
Bell said the plan to move in on protesters “methodical” and well thought out, noting officers had control of the situation on the ground.
“Evil men do not understand justice,
But those who seek the Lord understand all.” Proverbs 28:5
There are snipers on the roof of the Senate and one of the Rideau Centre buildings in Ottawa right now at the Freedom Convoy protest. pic.twitter.com/Ly5QqkLDWU
— Marie Oakes (@TheMarieOakes) February 18, 2022
“We will run this operation 24 hours a day until the residents and community have their city back,” Bell said.
Officers from across Ontario and Quebec, as well as the RCMP, have joined Ottawa police in a bid to end the protests.
Read More @ Zero Hedge HERE
Assessment: Is it a coincidence that Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in 2014 under the last weak president? …
NATO allies are reportedly concerned by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to depart his country this weekend and go to Germany as the threat of Russian invasion looms over the country.
“Allies of the 30-member alliance are reportedly worried that Russia could exploit the president’s absence as tension in Eastern Europe has reached a boiling point not seen in decades,” Fox News reported. “Zelenskyy, who is set to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday, is expected to be a key target if Russia does successfully invade Kyiv.”
The report comes as a massive explosion rocked a gas pipeline in Ukraine late on Friday, according to Reuters.
“Son of man, prophesy against Gog and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshek and Tubal.” Ezekiel 39:1
This is bad. All Russian media is reporting that there was an explosion to a gas pipeline in Luhansk. The fact that it is breaking across all Russian media is not a good sign https://t.co/hNg6SqDouj
— Olga Lautman ???????? (@OlgaNYC1211) February 18, 2022
Democrat President Joe Biden said on Friday that he believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin has already made up his mind on whether he will invade Ukraine.
“We believe that they will target Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, a city of 2.8 million innocent people,” Biden said. “We’re calling out Russia’s plans loudly and repeatedly, not because we want a conflict, but because we’re doing everything in our power to remove any reason that Russia may give to justify invading Ukraine and prevent them from moving.”
Read More @ Daily Wire HERE
Assessment: The Israel Defense Forces fired an Iron Dome interceptor missile at a small unmanned aircraft that entered the country from Lebanon Friday, but missed it, the military said …
The infiltration and failed interception attempts triggered air raid sirens across wide swaths of Israel’s north.
The IDF said it also scrambled fighter jets and attack helicopters to deal with the aircraft, which entered Israel a day after the army shot down two other drones that entered its airspace, one of them from Lebanon.
“Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation,
That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.” Psalm 83:4
(Hezbollah drone shot down by IDF, January 7, 2022)
The Israel Defense Forces fired an Iron Dome interceptor missile at a small unmanned aircraft that entered the country from Lebanon Friday, but missed it, the military said.
The infiltration and failed interception attempts triggered air raid sirens across wide swaths of Israel’s north.
The IDF said it also scrambled fighter jets and attack helicopters to deal with the aircraft, which entered Israel a day after the army shot down two other drones that entered its airspace, one of them from Lebanon.
Read More @ Times of Israel HERE
