Warsaw Considering NATO's Nuclear Weapons-Sharing Program
An official from Poland’s Defense Ministry says Warsaw is considering whether to request access to nuclear weapons through a NATO program that involves nonnuclear states borrowing them from the United States.
Poland’s Deputy Defense Minister Tomasz Szatkowski told the private broadcaster Polsat on December 5 that the issue is currently being discussed within the ministry.
The development comes amid growing concerns in Poland and the Baltics about Russia’s military buildup in the region and the Kremlin’s role in Ukraine’s conflict.
Szatkowski’s comments mark the first time a Polish official has said Warsaw was considering NATO's so-called "nuclear-sharing" program in order to strengthen the country's ability to defend itself.
Only three countries in the 28-member NATO alliance have a nuclear weapons capability -- the United States, France, and Britain.
But Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey have hosted U.S. nuclear weapons as part of the nuclear-sharing program.
Based on reporting by AP and Polsat
This ends our live blogging for December 5. Barring any breaking news, be sure to check back tomorrow for our continuing coverage.
Moscow says Washington refused any guarantee for Kyiv's loans:
Russia says it has received an official refusal from the U.S. government to provide guarantees for Ukraine's debts and that Moscow will sue Kyiv if it doesn't pay its debt on time.
The Russian Finance Ministry said on December 5 that without Washington's guarantee for Ukraine's debt, Moscow cannot restructure the $3 billion loan and will sue Kyiv if it doesn't repay the debt by December 20, when it is due.
Russia had offered to restructure Ukraine's Eurobond loan in equal installments over the next three years if the West agreed to provide guarantees.
But Ukraine has included the Russian loan among several loans that are to be restructured in a deal with a group of its largest creditors, in effect spurning Russia's restructuring offer.
The Russian Finance Ministry claimed that its restructuring offer had better terms for Ukraine than the IMF loan terms.
Ukraine is restructuring its debts under an IMF-led $40 billion bailout program.
The Eurobond was issued by the government of former President Viktor Yanukovych in 2013. (Reuters, TASS)
Here is today's map of the security situation in eastern Ukraine, according to the National Security and Defense Council:
Savchenko trial expected to finish by end of year:
A spokesman for Russia's top investigative agency says the trial of the Ukrainian military officer charged with the murder of two Russian journalists is expected to finish before the end of the year.
Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin told Russian media on December 4 that he expects a "tough" verdict in the trial of Nadia Savchenko.
She faces 25 years in prison if found guilty of complicity in the killing of two Russian journalists in eastern Ukraine in 2014 and of crossing into Russia illegally.
Savchenko rejects the charges and says she was kidnapped by Russians after being captured by Russian-backed separatists.
Savchenko's plight and defiant stance in captivity have made her a national hero in Ukraine.
The 34-year-old has spent over a year in custody in Russia during which she protested her detention by going on hunger strike for more than 80 days.
She was also elected in absentia to Ukraine's parliament last year. (AP, Interfax)