Morning headlines – February 15th 2022

Global political and military events

• Putin is willing to negotiate. Kremlin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, has stated on Monday evening that Vladimir Putin is willing to negotiate, but he added that Ukraine is one of the biggest security concerns of Russia.
• Germany’s chancellor is visiting Russia. The new German chancellor Olaf Scholz arrives on Tuesday in Moscow to meet with president Vladimir Putin after he discussed on Monday in Kiev with the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenski. (AFP)
• NATO discusses the battle group in Romania. On Tuesday the NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg will have a press conference before the reunion of the defence ministers from allied countries where it will be decided the establishment of a permanent battle group in Romania. (NATO)
• Great Britain sends military observers to Lithuania. The British defence minister has announced on Monday that it will send a small number of troops to Lithuania to support the host nation with information and surveillance and research mission. (AFP)
• The US: a Russian invasion in Ukraine could start any moment. Karine Jean-Pierre, the deputy press secretary of the White House has stated, on Monday, that a Russian invasion in Ukraine might start any moment, including this week, but there is still hope for dialogue. (AP)
• Russia moves missiles and artillery elements close to the border with Ukraine. Many Russian artillery units and missile systems were filmed while they were heading to the border with Ukraine. (CNN)
• Discussion between Biden and Johnson. The two leaders have discussed on Monday on the phone, for more than 40 minutes, about coordinating their actions related to the Russian danger in Ukraine. The two have said that there are chances to negotiate and cool down the tensions. (AFP)
• Ukraine gets finance guarantees worth of 1 billion dollars from the US. The White House’s spokesperson, Karine Jean-Pierre, has stated on Monday that the US will give Ukraine financial guarantees worth of 1 billion dollars. Last year alone, the US gave Ukraine weapons worth of 650 million dollars. (AFP)
• Former American commander: The region’s key is in Turkey’s hands. General (r) Ben Hodges, former commander of the US Army Europe said on Monday that Turkey could have a great importance in stopping a Russian invasion in Ukraine. He suggested that the US should work better with Turkey. (Aksam)
• France withdraws from Mali because of Russian mercenaries. About 1,000 Russian mercenaries have arrived in Mali, according to French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. He stated that the conditions for the continuation of the mission of the French Barkhane force are no longer fulfilled. (AFP)

Romania's defense and security

• Prime Minister Ciuca meets with energy officials. Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca will have two more meetings with energy officials on Tuesday. According to the official program, transmitted by the Government, the Prime Minister will coordinate, from 10.00, the meeting of the Interministerial Committee in the field of energy, and from 14.00 he will participate in the working meeting with the officials in the field of energy. (TVR)
• Hungary's foreign minister is campaigning in Transylvania. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó visited several towns in Transylvania on Monday, along with Romanian Deputy Prime Minister Hunor Kelemen. Hungary will hold parliamentary elections in April, the first in which Viktor Orban will face a united opposition. (Digi24)