A Russian invasion of Ukraine is “imminent”, a UK MP has said as the Kremlin accepted Britain’s invitation to more talks to ease the tension between Moscow and Kiev.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has accepted an invitation to meet his UK counterpart, Ben Wallace, but wants the talks to be held in Moscow, not London.
Mr Wallace extended an invitation to visit London to discuss mutual security last week.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is “taking full advantage of a weakened West”, Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the House of Commons defence select committee, said.
“We are looking risk-adverse and somewhat timid … I suspect an invasion is now imminent.”
Russia has some recent history of involvement in border crises in former Soviet republics while denying it was doing anything untoward.
In 2014, the Kremlin backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, while denying Russian forces were involved. In the same year, it annexed Ukraine's Crimean peninsula.
In recent months, Russia has mobilised about 100,000 troops, deploying some only a few kilometres from its border with Ukraine.
Russian forces have also been sent to Belarus, which has a southern border with Ukraine.
The Kremlin says Russian personnel are in Belarus for joint drills it says are due to start on February 10.
Two divisions of S-400 air-defence systems are also being sent to the country, Russia’s Defence Ministry said on Friday.
Critics say the presence of Russian soldiers in Belarus is yet another tactic being used to intimidate Ukraine.
“Politicians and leaders need to make the case [for Ukraine’s defence]. From where I sit the world is getting more dangerous, not less,” said Mr Ellwood.
“We need to explain it to the British people, we need to explain it to the American people, the consequences … of allowing Russia to advance and change the borders in eastern Europe.
“There are ripple effects that affect international security and, by extension, prosperity as well.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that the Kremlin must decide whether it wants to solve the crisis using conflict or diplomacy.
Mr Lavrov denied Russia was planning an invasion but Mr Blinken said the US and its allies needed to see a de-escalation, not merely words, to take this seriously.
Details of talks between the UK and Russia talks have not been publicly confirmed.
“The Defence Secretary is glad that Russia has accepted the invitation to talk with his counterpart,” a senior British defence source said.
“Given the last defence bilateral between our two countries took place in London in 2013, Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu has offered to meet in Moscow instead.
“The Secretary of State has been clear that he will explore all avenues to achieve stability and a resolution to Ukraine crisis. We are in communication with the Russian government.”
Britain earlier warned Russia would be “punished” if the country pushes ahead with any “destabilising action” in Ukraine.
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Results
2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m; Winner: AF Al Baher, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
2.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m; Winner: Talento Puma, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
3pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,950m; Winner: Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
3.30pm: Jebel Ali Stakes Listed (TB) Dh500,000 1,950m; Winner: Mark Of Approval, Patrick Cosgrave, Mahmood Hussain.
4pm: Conditions (TB) Dh125,000 1,400m; Winner: Dead-heat Raakez, Jim Crowley, Nicholas Bachalard/Attribution, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4.30pm: Jebel Ali Sprint (TB) Dh500,000 1,000m; Winner: AlKaraama, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,200m; Winner: Wafy, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,400m; Winner: Cachao, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
Top 10 most polluted cities
- Bhiwadi, India
- Ghaziabad, India
- Hotan, China
- Delhi, India
- Jaunpur, India
- Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Noida, India
- Bahawalpur, Pakistan
- Peshawar, Pakistan
- Bagpat, India
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
How to get there
Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (all kick-offs UAE time)
Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (10.30pm)
Saturday
Freiburg v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)
Paderborn v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund (5.30pm)
Borussia Monchengladbach v Bayer Leverkusen (5.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)
Sunday
Schalke v Augsburg (3.30pm)
Mainz v RB Leipzig (5.30pm)
Cologne v Fortuna Dusseldorf (8pm)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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1.
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United States
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2.
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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6.
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Canada
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7.
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Singapore
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8.
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Australia
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9.
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Saudi Arabia
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10.
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South Korea
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
MATCH INFO
South Africa 66 (Tries: De Allende, Nkosi, Reinach (3), Gelant, Steyn, Brits, Willemse; Cons: Jantjies 8)
Canada 7 (Tries: Heaton; Cons: Nelson)
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
THE DEALS
Hamilton $60m x 2 = $120m
Vettel $45m x 2 = $90m
Ricciardo $35m x 2 = $70m
Verstappen $55m x 3 = $165m
Leclerc $20m x 2 = $40m
TOTAL $485m
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Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
