Ukraine updates: Moscow, Kyiv trade blame over plane crash

President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that the results of Russia's investigation into one of its military planes that came down in Belgorod would be published in two to three days. 

Russia claims Ukraine shot down the plane, killing 74 people on board, including 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war.

"The main intelligence department of the Ukrainian army knew that we were taking 65 servicemen there. They did it by mistake or thoughtlessly, but they did it," Putin said without providing more evidence. 

Ukraine has neither confirmed nor denied that its forces downed the plane and said there was no proof of who was on board.

Russia and Ukraine traded barbs over over the crash of the Russian military aircraft, which Moscow claims was shot down by Ukrainian forces in Russia's Belgorod region on Wednesday. 

 "All of the information that we have today show that we are dealing with a premeditated, thought through crime," said Russia's deputy ambassador to the UN, Dmitry Polyanskiy, whose delegation had requested the emergency meeting at the United Nations Security Council. 

According to Russia, 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war were on board the plane for a planned prisoner swap when the plane crashed — killing all of them, along with three Russian servicemen and six crew members. 

"The leadership of Ukraine knew the route very well, knew about the way the soldiers were going to be transported to the place of exchange," Polyanskiy said.

Ukraine rejected the Russian statements at the UNSC. 

"Ukraine was not informed about the number of vehicles, roads and means of transportation of the captives. This alone may constitute intentional actions by Russia to endanger the lives and safety of the prisoners," said Ukraine's Deputy Ambassador Khrystyna Hayovyshyn. 

"This alone may constitute intentional actions by Russia to endanger the lives and safety of the prisoners," she said.

US deputy envoy Robert Wood said that Russia has "repeatedly attempted to shift responsibility for the tragedies of this senseless war of choice, as though it is the victim and not the aggressor." 

Former US General Ben Hodges has expressed doubts about the extent of Western will in supporting Ukraine. 

Speaking at a German military symposium, he said that producing enough arms is going to be the main challenge in 2024.

"The Russians realize they cannot knock out Ukraine. Ukraine now cannot knock out Russia. So, it's a competition between can the Russians rebuild their industry and produce ammunition or can we, can we do it fast enough," said Hodges, who led the US Army in Europe from 2014 to 2017. 

"We know from history war is a test of will and a test of logistics. Clearly the Ukrainians have superior will. Do we? Does Berlin, Washington do we have superior will to the Kremlin? Right now I'm not sure. That's the biggest danger that we face."

 

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) arrested two of its own nationals for allegedly passing information about the country's military to Ukraine.

Russia has arrested several citizens it says have worked with Ukraine or funded the Ukrainian army since it launched its full-scale offensive in Ukraine, now approaching its second anniversary in February.

The two men, FSB said, were arrested on suspicion of treason, a crime that could see them jailed behind bars for 20 years if they're convicted. 

They were arrested in Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia, close to the Ukraine border, and home to the headquarters for Russia's southern military command. 

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he expected Hungary's parliament to ratify Sweden's accession to the military alliance when it reconvenes at the end of February. 

Turkey finalized the ratification of Sweden’s membership in NATO on Thursday, bringing the Nordic country a step closer to joining the military alliance. Hungary now remains the only NATO ally not to have ratified Sweden's accession.

But Swedish Prime Minster Ulf Kristersson told Sweden's TV4 he would not negotiate with Hungary on matters of joining the alliance, saying "demands that are related to NATO membership" were not "on the table" when the two leaders meet at the European Council meeting next week in Brussels.

Kristersson said he didnt' know when Sweden would become NATO's 32nd member, but expected it to be "very soon".

Turkey has held out on approving Sweden’s bid, accusing the country of being too lenient toward groups that Ankara regards as security threats.

A senior Russian lawmaker said that Ukraine was informed about an aircraft carrying prisoners of war 15 minutes before it entered the Russian region where it crashed. 

A Russian investigative committee on Thursday said that the plane was shot by a Ukrainian missile.

"The Ukrainian side was officially warned, and 15 minutes before the plane entered the zone they were given complete information," Andrei Kartopolov, a former general with close ties to Russia's Defense Ministry, told lawmakers. 

Ukraine has denied Russia's claim that it had received information about the aircraft.

Ukrainian military intelligence spokesperson Andriy Yusov said that Kyiv had received no requests from Russia to refrain from attacks in the airspace where the plane was shot. 

"No evidence has been provided for the charges ... Nothing has been shown to prove the wreckage and the presence of people on board," Yusov said on national television.