Update on the conflict in Ukraine for January 18, 2023.

- Bakhmut faces encirclement by Russian forces;

- The Netherlands is considering sending Patriot missile systems after West blames Russia for residential building strike;

- Ukrainian presidential adviser Arestovich has resigned after suggesting the building was hit because of a failed Ukrainian interception of a Russian cruise missile;

- The building strike appears to be serving as a pretext for a planned escalation by the US and its allies;

- Ukraine also lost its interior minister to a helicopter crash;

- The Western media admits current aid to Ukraine is not sufficient, although suggested increases will unlikely turn the tide;

- The US and its allies are preparing for their monthly meeting discussing expanded military aid to Ukraine on January 20, 2023;

References:

NYT - Netherlands Considers Sending Patriot Missile System to Ukraine:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/17/us/politics/netherlands-patriot-system-ukraine.html
BBC - Ukraine War: Zelensky adviser resigns over Dnipro remarks:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-64304310
CNN - Biden reaches a vital new tipping point on Ukraine:
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/18/politics/biden-ukraine-new-tipping-point/index.html
BBC - Ukraine war: Who was Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky?:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-64316081
The Atlantic - Western Aid to Ukraine Is Still Not Enough:
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/01/western-military-aid-ukraine-russia/672737/
US Department of Defense - Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Travel to Germany for Ukraine Defense Contact Group Meetings Jan. 17, 2023:
https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3270190/secretary-of-defense-chairman-of-the-joint-chiefs-travel-to-germany-for-ukraine/

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