Ukraine continues to rely on military support from abroad. Zelensky wanted to ask for help in Washington. But that doesn’t work. The night at a glance.
Ahead of Armed Forces Day in Ukraine on Wednesday, President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked everyone involved in the fight against the Russian invasion – soldiers and volunteers alike. “Glory to all who fight and work for Ukraine and Ukrainians!” he said in his video speech on the eve of the holiday.
Ukraine has been fending off a large-scale Russian invasion since February 2022 and is dependent on foreign support. However, the process of obtaining aid suffered a setback: a video call by Zelensky to Washington to convince members of the US Senate to continue the aid was canceled at short notice on Tuesday. Something came up at the last minute, said Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
On Wednesday night there was an air alert again over large parts of Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia attacked again with combat drones. According to the Ukrainian military, Wednesday will be the 651st day of the war.
Zelensky cancels Washington and speaks in Japan instead
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will take part in a video summit of G7 heads of state and government led by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday. Zelenskyj will be included in the first part of the meeting, Japanese government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno told journalists. The summit will discuss “important issues for the international community, such as the situation in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East,” he added.
Shortly before, the Ukrainian president had surprisingly canceled a virtual appearance before the US Congress. According to Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, “something came up at the last minute.” It was previously expected that Zelenskyj would appeal to members of the Chamber of Congress on Tuesday for further military support for his country.
No information was given in Washington as to why the Ukrainian head of state’s video link with the US senators was canceled at short notice. Zelensky’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that he was in the US capital for talks.
Democratic Senator Schumer appealed to journalists to his Republican colleagues to quickly approve further US aid. US President Biden asked parliament in October for $61.4 billion (56.5 billion euros) for Ukraine. However, an agreement in the House of Representatives is made more difficult, among other things, by the fact that there is disagreement within the Republican faction about aid to Ukraine.
Pistorius: We deliver what we can – the opposition wants more
In Germany, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) admitted delays in arms deliveries to Ukraine. At the same time, he said that capacities would be increased as quickly as possible. “We currently have the problem, as is well known, that the defense industry cannot deliver in certain areas as quickly as the needs are there,” he said in the ZDF “Heute Journal”. However, Germany is now Ukraine’s second largest supporter of arms deliveries. “We deliver what we can.”
CDU defense politician Henning Otte called for the federal government to expand military aid. “Despite many losses, the course of the front is unlikely to change fundamentally in the winter months. Long-term support for Ukraine remains all the more important,” said the vice chairman of the Defense Committee of the German Press Agency.
The government should abandon its negative stance on the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles. “With the delivery of Taurus, Ukraine could combat the likely increase in Russian missile attacks at the missile base,” said Otte. The Taurus is one of the Air Force’s most modern missiles with a range of around 500 kilometers.
Another night of Russian drone strikes
According to Ukrainian information, Russia attacked the neighboring country again with combat drones on Wednesday night. The Ukrainian Air Force initially reported danger to the south of the Odessa region. Later, another group of Iranian-made Shahed drones flew over the Mykolaiv region. Then the air alert was expanded to central Ukraine and the capital Kiev.
At the same time, the Ukrainian Air Force announced that it had shot down a Russian Sukhoi Su-24 fighter bomber over the west of the Black Sea near Snake Island. Zelenskyj confirmed the shooting in his video address.
Ukraine: Apartments for heroic soldiers
Ukrainian soldiers who have been awarded the highest award as “Hero of Ukraine” will in future receive an apartment from the state. In Kiev, Zelenskyj handed over the first 21 ownership documents to the soldiers or – if they were decorated after death – to their surviving relatives. Since the Russian invasion began in February 2022, about 360 soldiers have been honored as “Hero of Ukraine.” 210 of them received the honor posthumously.
Putin at the world climate summit
Despite an international arrest warrant, Russian President Vladimir Putin is visiting the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. According to the Kremlin, Putin, who has an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), will meet President Mohammed bin Sajed al-Nahjan on a “working visit” to the Emirates to discuss cooperation between the two countries and the situation in the Middle East speak. In Riyadh, the Kremlin boss is received by Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
According to the Kremlin, the talks in Riyadh will focus on trade, investments and international politics. According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Putin particularly wants to talk about the Middle East conflict and the reduction in oil production decided by the OPEC+ oil cartel. It was initially unclear whether Putin would also attend the UN climate conference, which is currently taking place in Dubai in the Emirates. Despite the arrest warrant against him, Putin does not have to expect arrest in the Emirates and Saudi Arabia, as both countries are not parties to the ICC in The Hague.
That will be important on Wednesday
In the USA, the defense industry is discussing weapons production with Ukrainian representatives. The White House said it wanted to explore “opportunities for co-productions and other industrial collaborations in Ukraine.”
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
