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US PRESIDENT JOE Biden has said the United States will not provide F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, as Kyiv expands the list of weaponry it needs to be better able to drive Russian forces from occupied territories.
Fighting continued at key points along the long front as Russian forces sought to expand their hold on territory in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
The Kremlin-appointed Donetsk leader, Denis Pushilin, claimed Russian forces were advancing near Vugledar, a strategically valuable town southwest of Donetsk city.
“Now we can say that units have established positions in the eastern part of Vugledar, and work is also being carried out in the vicinity,” Pushilin said, according to Russian news agencies.
But Kyiv rejected the claim, while conceding that the fighting there was tough.
“There are constant attempts to break through our defence,” Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said late Sunday.
“The enemy… maintains a high intensity of attack.”
Last week, Western countries including the United States and Germany approved the delivery of heavy battle tanks to Ukraine.
The move is a departure from a previous position that tanks were considered a step too far in their support for Ukraine and could risk a widening backlash from Russia.
But Biden has appeared to draw the line on supplying American fighter jets to Ukraine.
“No,” he said when asked by reporters yesterday at the White House if he was in favor of sending F-16s or others.
But European leaders said they were open to the idea, even if Ukraine has not yet formally requested advanced fighter aircraft from its allies for the war.
Analysts believe both Ukraine and Russia are gearing up for significant offensive movements in the coming months and Western aircraft could increase Kyiv’s strength, with its own air force significantly depleted by 11 months of war.
French President Emmanuel Macron said yesterday that he would not rule out giving fighter aircraft to Ukraine but warned against the risk of escalation in the conflict.
Macron had talks with Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who has already floated the idea of sending Dutch F-16s to Ukraine.
“Nothing is excluded in principle,” Macron said.
Any arms delivery “must not weaken the capacity of the French armed forces,” he said, adding that France would have to be confident that the weapons would not be used to strike inside Russia, which could escalate the war.
“There is no taboo but it would be a big step,” said Rutte.
Over in South America, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Brazil “has no interest in sending ammunition to Ukraine” during a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz — the first Western leader to meet the leftist premier since he took office.
“Brazil is a country of peace… My suggestion is that we create a group of countries to sit at the table with Ukraine and Russia to try to reach peace,” Lula said.
He added that he had discussed this idea with Macron and would bring it up with Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in future planned visits.
Lula caused a stir last year when he claimed that Zelensky was “as responsible as” Russian President Vladimir Putin in the conflict.
Now, he said he believes Russia “made the classic mistake of invading another country’s territory” — but maintained his position of non-engagement.
“If one doesn’t engage, then the two (sides) won’t fight,” Lula said.
With Ukraine’s supplies of artillery munitions heavily depleted, France and Australia announced Monday a deal to jointly produce 155 mm shells for Kyiv’s forces.
“Several thousand 155 mm shells will be manufactured jointly,” French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said.
“There are some unique capabilities that exist in Australia and some synergies that can be achieved by Australia and France working together,” said his Australian counterpart Richard Marles.
Meanwhile in Seoul, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg asked South Korea to “step up” military support for Ukraine, suggesting it reconsider its policy of not exporting weapons to countries in conflict.
There is an “urgent need for more ammunition”, Stoltenberg said.
It is “extremely important that President Putin doesn’t win this war,” he stressed.
Tehran on Monday summoned a Ukrainian diplomat to protest at remarks made by an aide to Zelensky following unattributed weekend strikes that targeted an Iranian defense industry site in Isfahan that reportedly produced drones.
Although no link could be made between the weekend strikes and Ukraine, Mykhailo Podoliak tweeted about the “explosive night in Iran”, highlighting the site’s drone and missile production and oil refineries.
“Ukraine did warn you,” he said.
Iran has been supplying attack drones to Russia for use against Ukraine.
Ukraine’s charge d’affaires in Tehran was summoned to provide “an official and immediate explanation” for remarks it called “strange and biased”, said Iran’s foreign ministry.
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I spent more time playing with the big yellow teapot than my sister did
On christmas day years ago..Santa got me a Scalextrix track – It was set up under the tree the night before all working perfectly. my brother woke up before me and started playing with my present. by the time i woke up he had broke it the bollox!
If you got your OWN new underpants and socks you were made up! Till they went into the communal sock/underpants box in the hot press. Then it was over
Evel Knievel stunt cycle
Try saying that after a few pints.
My God Evel Knievel was the ultimate, got it one Christmas from Santa… Blew. My. Mind!
Action man and his various outfits is another glaring omission, and what about the compendium set with Ludo, Snakes and Ladders etc etc?
My brother got the Evel Knievel one Xmas with the wind up mechanism. He’d only ever go a foot or so and fall over, but hours of fun were had.
Yeah but William, no one ever asked Santa for a games compendium, they just kept appearing year after year.
Yeah true enough Dermot it wasn’t exactly top of the list but I loved it. my grandmother never let me down.
Crossbows and catapults. Even playing against yourself could be immense craic.
Still waiting on my Raliegh Vektor!!
It was the business back in the day. I had a Raleigh Marauder and loved it but a bike with a computer was mind blowing.
Raleigh activator!!!!!! Still waiting for that to!
What was the one with Stuart Pearce in the ad? *Googles*
Raleigh Dirtcross!!
Jaysus imagine the poor Raleigh marketing team in 1997.. “Can we get McManaman, no? Redknapp? The Beckham lad? Giggs? Who then? Ahhh lads, Stuart Pearce! FFS…”
Crushing ice with Mr Frosty was not as easy to crush as it looked on the add. After making one you would need it to cool down from making it. A vicious circle.
Wouldn’t know Patrick – still waiting on mine and Im not bitter, no, not at all, not one little bit
Maybe just a little bit bitter ?
Oh God Patrick I remember Mr frosty well, the damn thing buckled as I was helping my youngest grind the ice, tears from me and screaming from him. Cursed Santa from a height that year.
Worst most wanted present ever. Remember my husband going by motorbike out to Ennis from Limerick to get one for our eldest on Christmas Eve. Piece of shit never worked!
You can buy an actual manual stainless steel ice shaver for around the same price as Mr Frosty…
Asked for rock star Barbie 2 years in a row but didnt get her. My cousin let me have the silver fishnets off hers but it wasn’t the same.
Tramp in the making?
Goth actually. But if u want to air your sexual insecurity here, by all means knock yourself out
Snooze, boring answer! Rtripe
I would still be happy if I got Sylvanian Families for Christmas.
Me too Bevin I’d love the whole collection .
Ill never forget getting the C64 for xmas. 4 hours later of loading a tape and i was finally playing Rambo
And what a heap of shite mr frosty was!!
By the power of Grayskull! How could you forget Castle Grayskull, He-man, Skeletor and Battlecat!
I still have he-man and she-ra on video. Loved it when I was a kid
Game of Life was great. The 6′ x 4′ snooker table. It really bewildered me thinking how the hell did Santa get that into the sitting room.
Fisher price record player…, tried to get one for my kid being that i still remember it.
I forgot about the big red fun bus! Now I want it all over again!
Sylvanian Families are still going strong. The granddaughter is getting one for Christmas
Always wanted a teddy ruxpin for Christmas it never came I remember I asked several times. I got one from Santa two years ago probably 20 years after the original request.
Got one for my daughter and now my granddaughter plays (listens) to him. Lovely voice.
Early versions of teddy ruxpin could play other tapes – I remember working in a toy department in Melbourne playing Rodney Rude comedy tapes on it. Ha ha ha fckuk ya he said …
Etch-A-Sketch
I can’t believe I’ve bought 18 of the 20 over the years for my kids. I always refused the chemistry set in case the little feckers blew up the house
Not one mention for a Nintendo gameboy or sega megadrive
Or the SNES
M.A.S.K.
Always wanted a Mr.Frosty! Never got one over “the mess” it would make *sniffle*
Best present ever was a vase mould yoke. It had the plaster cast stuff to set around the plastic shape you wanted to make. Made the various vases and then you got to paint them. Now all I can find the kids is the vase etc already made and they get to paint them.
You can get those moulds on aliexpress dot com. You gan get the plaster in a good stationers or craft shop.
Thundercats battlecat… It never arrived :(
Battlecat was from he-man.
Chemistry set was my ultimate present, i was great at making stink bombs with iron filings always getting in trouble for leaving everywhere in a mess, ruined the sideboard with some of the chemicals spilling
The oulde microscope as well… But where is the Lego?
A petite 990 typewriter or tiny tears doll
Used to ask for Jamie Redknapp for christmas because he was such a cuddly soft teddy bear on the pitch
Memory had completely disregarded the big red fun bus and the yellow teapot. Awesome ha
Crossfire.
Commodore 64 , great machine
I got none of these although my brother got a few of them. Santa obviously loved him more than me!!
I always wanted EVEL KNIEVEL TOYS Evel Knievel stuff. The ads they had for them was awesome. Sadly they didn’t live up to expectations. http://www.retrotvads.com/2009/08/evel-knievel-toys-3/
^^^^^Lots of spoiled brats on this board.
We were so poor all we’d get is a Christmas cracker between the 4 of us kids. 2 on each side of it like tug-of-war. Whoever won got to keep the plastic toy inside and share it with the other winner on alternate days.
@codology: Life must have been tough for you in St. Pat’s!
It was a better upbringing than you would have got from the Taliban you love so much.
Calm down there grandad no need to be so bitter towards the young ‘uns
Poor chap wasn’t even given a real name!
Zoids or Starcom
…and a surprise!
The old chemistry set, the fun I had with adding other chemicals to the mix… Brasso, windoleen and something else… Made me wonder if it was alive…
What did you get “for for” christmas, jebus. The journal need auto correct or maybe a primary school level editor.
Auto correct is for typos, you noob.
Way to spell Peregrine dude! :D
Castle Greyskull it’s got to be!
Loads more toy ads can be found here: http://www.retrotvads.com/category/toys/
Screwball scramble brings back so many good memories! I never had one though. Wonder if you can still buy it ?! Lol
Diego Maradona’s Puma Kings…. Class
Oh and how could they forget the finders keeper snail, savage gift
Still have my big yellow tea pot and my nieces and nephews play with it. Most durable Xmas toy EVER. Well done 80s Santa
Wheres manta force?
I got the microscope & chemistry set as well as a telescope and a bike, BEST year ever
For me, it had to be the toy Cable Car which my parents got me from Switzerland. A close second was the Thunder and Shogun Megazords which I got in the Christmases of 95 and 96 respectively. Back then, I was a major Power Rangers fan. Oh, I’m surprised that there was no mention of The Game of Life, View Master or Guess Who.
Christmas… “Christ’s Mass”… don’t forget and say your “Hail Mary’s” and “Our Father’s”
^^^ @Codology
where is the lego
Got a A-Team van one year,loved it to bits then one day the oul fella crashed his van so i bet my van with a poker until it kinda looked likw the oul fellas van,the mother went mental!!! Another year all i wanted was He-Man stuff but i didn’t get it so i decided to go out and pretend i was He-Man by sitting on the dogs back,he flipped out and attacked me so i spent x-mas day in A&E and the dog was sent away to a “farm” down the country.
“Tin Can Alley” by Ideal.
It cost a fortune, I begged my Granny for it, and she deliered the goods (via Santa).
Only thing was it was Complete Shite. I thought it fired real bullets, it didn’t. It fired a harmless beam of light.
I should have listened to Chuck Norris on the TV ad and saved poor Granny Mc 70 Punts..
Happy Crimbo..
I bought my husband subbuito for his 50th birthday he was delighted as it brought it back to his child hood
Buckaroo the sport of Kings .
No Power Rangers !
Where is MASK Boulder Hill??? And of course Heman Castle Grey Skull. But MASK!
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