Free Republic

While lawmakers on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. debate sending billions more in military aid to Ukraine, an American citizen journalist, Gonzalo Lira, is languishing in a Ukrainian prison on allegations of spreading Russian propaganda, throwing into question the status of free speech in the supposed democracy the Biden administration argues is worthy of more taxpayer dollars. The Biden administration is asking Congress to approve another $24 billion for Ukraine for now through the end of this year, which would add to the $113 billion that Congress has committed to the country since its war with Russia began in February...

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has thanked the soldiers who took part in the liberation of Klishchiivka in Donetsk Oblast, as well as everyone who protects the Ukrainian sky and fights on the front lines. "I would like to express gratitude today. To everyone who defends the sky of our country. Our pilots and engineers of the Air Force, warriors of mobile fire groups, all our anti-aircraft gunners. Thank you for constantly increasing the number of downed Russian missiles and drones, and thus the number of our people and infrastructure saved. Thank you, warriors! And to everyone who is now on the...

Agency head Yuri Borisov said Sarmat missiles have been placed on combat duty, according to Russian news agencies. Further details were not reported. The Sarmat is one of several advanced weapons whose development Putin announced in 2018. The silo-based missile, capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads, is intended to replace the R-36 ICBMs that are known by the NATO reporting name of Satan. The Sarmat reportedly has a short initial launch phase, allowing little time for surveillance systems to track it. In 2022, about two months after sending troops into Ukraine, Putin said the Sarmat would “reliably ensure the security...

NATO military chief US Gen Christopher Cavoli and British Admiral Sir Tony Radakin traveled to the Polish-Ukrainian border ten days ago for a crisis meeting with the Ukrainian chief military commander Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, for what was privately billed as “a council of war”, The Guardian reported. The meeting was “no ordinary discussion”, The Guardian writes. “Zaluzhnyi brought his entire command team with him on the roughly 300-mile journey from Kyiv. The aim of the five-hour meeting was to help reset Ukraine’s military strategy – top of the agenda was what to do about the halting progress of Ukraine’s counteroffensive,...

Creeping doubts about Ichabodovich's judgement and leadership...

Author Peter Schweizer went on with Jesse Watters on Monday night where he proceeded to drop another bomb on the Biden Crime Family. According to Schweizer, who wrote a best-seller “Secret Empires” on the Biden Family crimes, told Jesse that one of Vlodomyr Zelensky’s top officials was sitting in the room when they were discussing bribing the Bidens, Joe and Hunter. Ukrainian President Zelensky has a top official who was sitting in on meetings where they talked about bribing the Bidens. Schweizer suggests Zelensky is using this as leverage over the Biden regime for weapons and billions in US dollars....

Ukrainian forces began firing US-provided cluster bombs on Russian forces in southeastern Ukraine. Using cluster bombs in battle is a war crime. Joe Biden continues to destroy America’s reputation in the world. The Washington Post reported. The Washington Post @washingtonpost · Follow Ukraine has begun firing U.S.-provided cluster munitions against Russian forces in southeastern Ukraine in a push to break up well-fortified Russian positions that have slowed Ukraine’s summer offensive, according to Ukrainian officials familiar with the matter.… Show more The Biden administration decided two weeks ago to send thousands of cluster bombs to Ukraine despite these bombs being banned...

WASHINGTON — A bombshell FBI informant file containing a $10 million bribery allegation against President Biden and his son was released Thursday by Sen. Chuck Grassley, showing that a Ukrainian oligarch claimed he was “coerced” into making the payoff. The owner of Ukrainian gas company Burisma Holdings, Mykola Zlochevsky, told the FBI informant in 2016 during a meeting at a coffee shop in Vienna, Austria, that “it cost 5 [million] to pay one Biden, and 5 [million] to another Biden,” according to the redacted FD-1023 form. “Zlochevsky made some comment that although Hunter Biden ‘was stupid, and his (Zlochevsky’s) dog...

Russia is taking 'appropriate' measures in response to the possible accession of Sweden and Ukraine to NATO, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today. Lavrov said Russia would protect its own 'legitimate security interests' as world leaders met in Vilnius, Lithuania for the first day of a NATO summit. The summit is expected to send a 'positive' message about Ukraine's hopes of one day joining the alliance, as Sweden makes progress after months of deliberation. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for immediate action, saying it was 'unprecedented and absurd' not to have a timetable in place. NATO membership can...

Donald Trump was president for four years and in that time was unable to resolve the Ukraine-Russia conflict, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview that aired Sunday, rejecting as pure fantasy the Republican's claim that he could end the war in a day. Speaking in Kyiv with ABC's Martha Raddatz, Zelenskyy said there were some "dangerous signals coming from particularly politicians" regarding future aid to Ukraine, though he noted the question of future support is "up for Americans to decide, and I would hate to interfere." While many Republicans back the Biden administration's military support, including a recent...

President proposed cancelling a day off on 7 January, as well as moving the dates of Statehood Day and Defenders Day, which coincide with Orthodox holidays, by 13 days.On 28 June 2023, Volodymyr Zelensky registered Bill 9431, which envisages cancelling the celebration of Christmas on 7 January in Ukraine, as well as postponing the dates of Statehood Day and Defenders’ Day, which coincide with the Orthodox holidays of the Baptism of Rus' and the Intercession of the Virgin Mary. The explanatory note says that "the purpose of the bill is to reject the Russian legacy of imposing Christmas on 7...

Renowned Catholic filmmaker Mel Gibson provided “valuable intelligence” about an international pedophile ring, but he is not involved in producing a four-part documentary series about a sex trafficking mission in Ukraine, according to a report.Amid recent speculation that Gibson was producing the series about a child sex trafficking rescue mission in Ukraine, Operation Underground Railroad (OUR) founder Tim Ballard issued a statement dissolving those rumors but confirming that Gibson provided crucial information about the children who were saved in the 2022 operation.A video from January 2023 of Ballard sharing the story of the Ukraine mission has been circulating on social...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned in a television interview on Thursday that the United States could face the "collapse of NATO" or a direct conflict with Russia if Ukraine does not win the war."Is he ready to go to war? To fight, to send his kids? Are they ready to die?" Zelenskyy asked. "Because anyway, they will have to do this if NATO gets involved."Former President Donald Trump, the Republican frontrunner in the 2024 presidential election, would not commit to supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia, during a CNN town hall last month. Instead, Trump pledged to end the...

Washington reporters have been given the green light to go after Joe Biden. Joe Biden on Tuesday afternoon walked by a group of reporters after delivering remarks at the Chiefs of Mission reception in the East Room. A reporter ambushed Joe Biden and asked him about the Ukraine bribery scheme alleging he received a $5 million bribe from Mykola Zlochevsky, the Ukrainian oligarch who runs Burisma Holdings. ..... Snip..... New York Post reporter Steven Nelson surprised Joe Biden when he asked about the Ukraine-bribery scheme and audio recordings of him and his son Hunter. “Are there tapes that you accepted...

Leaders of the world’s most powerful democracies vowed Friday to tighten punishments on Russia for its 15-month invasion of Ukraine, days before President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joins the Group of Seven summit in person on Sunday. “Our support for Ukraine will not waver,” the G7 leaders said in a statement released after closed-door meetings, vowing “to stand together against Russia’s illegal, unjustifiable, and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine.” “Russia started this war and can end this war,” they said. Zelenskyy will be making his furthest trip from his war-torn country as leaders prepare to unveil new sanctions on Russia for...

France pledged additional military aid for Ukraine on Sunday, including light tanks, armored vehicles, training for soldiers and other assistance as the Ukrainians gear up for a counteroffensive against Russian forces, following surprise talks in Paris between the Ukrainian and French presidents. Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy and France’s Emmanuel Macron met for about three hours at the French presidential Elysee Palace — an encounter kept under wraps until shortly before the Ukrainian leader’s arrival in Paris from Germany on a French government jet, extending his multi-stop European tour. With Ukraine planning to go on the offensive hoping to retake Russian-occupied territory,...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had private talks with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Saturday, later saying he sought support for Ukraine’s peace plan from the pontiff, who in the past has offered to try to help end the full-scale war launched by Russia a year ago. Zelenskyy held his hand over his heart and said it was a “great honor” to meet with the pope. Francis, using a cane for his knee problem, came to greet the Ukrainian president before ushering him into a papal studio near the Vatican’s audience hall. In a tweet after the 40-minute audience, Zelenskyy...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in the Finnish capital for a surprise visit, and talks with Nordic prime ministers. The visit is hosted by Finland's President Sauli Niinistö, who takes the lead on foreign policy issues, and talks will include "Ukraine's defence struggle," as well as Finnish support for Ukraine and bilateral relations, according to a statement from the president's office. Zelenskyy will attend a working lunch with outgoing Prime Minister Sanna Marin, Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, and he'll also meet the incoming prime minister, Petteri Orpo who is currently holding talks on forming a new government after April's...

Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) announces critical new security assistance for Ukraine. This includes the authorization of a Presidential Drawdown of security assistance with more ammunition for U.S.-provided HIMARS, air defense interceptors, and artillery rounds that Ukraine is using to defend itself, as well as anti-armor systems, small arms, heavy equipment transport vehicles, and maintenance support essential to strengthening Ukraine's defenders on the battlefield valued at up to $500 million. In addition, we are announcing a significant package of air defense capabilities, as well as artillery and tank ammunition, mortar systems, rockets, and anti-armor systems using $2.1 billion in...

Fighting around the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut remained "particularly hot", President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, giving no indication the city had finally fallen to Russia as claimed by the founder of the Wagner mercenary force. Yevgeny Prigozhin said his troops, involved in a months-long effort to encircle and capture the bombed-out city, had raised a Russian flag on its administrative building. "Thank you to our soldiers who are fighting in Avdiivka, Maryinka, and Bakhmut," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address on Sunday. "Especially Bakhmut. It is especially hot there."