UK’s Labor gov’t to allow Ukraine to use British-supplied weapons for strikes on Russia The #British #Labor government will continue pursuing the line of the previous Conservative Cabinet and will allow the #Ukrainian military to use UK-supplied weapons to strike targets on Russian soil, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday citing PM Keir Starmer. According to the Financial Times, recently-elected British Premier Starmer, who leads the country’s Labor Party, made it clear that arms donated by Britain must be "used in accordance with international humanitarian law" and for "defensive purposes." However, #Starmer added that: "It is for Ukraine to decide how to deploy it for those defensive purposes."

Kyrgyzstan says outside forces trying to recruit citizens for terrorist attacks in Russia Recruiters through social networks are trying to recruit #Kyrgyz citizens, including minors, to carry out #terrorist attacks in Russia, #Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Migration said. "The representative office of the Ministry of Labor, Social Security and #Migration in #Russia warns that [external forces are trying] to recruit citizens, including minors, through social networks and popular messengers, such as Telegram, to participate in terrorist attacks in Russia," the statement posted on the ministry’s website said. According to the representative office, recruiters operate mainly through dating sites, looking for potential victims, "analyzing correspondence in various religious, cultural, national and other social groups," betting on "vulnerable people, depressed or experiencing any difficulties." The representative office urged Kyrgyz citizens residing or temporarily staying in Russia not to give in to various provocations, not to seek employment through social networks, not to participate in various actions, as well as to control children. "At the same time, the office reminds that participation in a terrorist act is punishable by up to life imprisonment under Russian criminal law," the statement said.

#Zelensky says #Ukraine in talks with #France on supplies of fighter #jets Kyiv is in talks with Paris about delivering combat aircraft to Ukraine, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said. "Yes, we are holding talks about fighter jets," Zelensky said, when asked by a reporter from France’s LCI television whether the option of providing Mirage 2000 fighter jets to Kiev was on the table. The president did not elaborate. On 16 February, the chief of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate, Kirill Budanov (who is on the Russian list of extremists and terrorists), said Kiev had hopes of getting Mirage 2000 fighter jets from Paris. In September 2023, the French news website Intelligence Online reported that Kiev and Paris were close to concluding a deal for the transfer of these jets to Ukraine. Ukrainian Ambassador to France Vadim Omelchenko said in an interview with the Le Point magazine on February 23 that Paris and Kiev are currently working to train Ukrainian pilots. He urged against believing rumors that there was a chance of transferring Mirage 2000D aircraft, saying that Ukraine had opted for the US F-16s, but added that Ukraine was still considering all available options for Western assistance.