The expectations of Ukraine, which has been attacked by Moscow, are high from the meeting of its supporters in Ramstein. President Zelensky says what he wants to achieve. Meanwhile, Odessa reports an air strike.
Before the summit meeting of the Ukraine Contact Group in Ramstein, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urgently called on the country’s allies to deliver significantly more arms. Sufficient supplies for the front, equipment for the brigades and long-range weapons are needed for the coming autumn months to stop Russia and force it towards peace, Zelensky said in his video message broadcast in Kiev. In Ramstein this Saturday he wanted to convince the partners of the “urgent need to significantly strengthen our skills and positions,” he emphasized.
“We invite our partners to define how they envision the end of this war, Ukraine’s place in the global security architecture and the joint steps that can bring this war to an end,” Zelensky said. For the first time, the heads of state and government of Ukraine-supporting countries are meeting in Ramstein, including US President Joe Biden, who is visiting Germany at the end of this week. In the past, the defense ministers of the federal states met primarily at the US air force base in Rhineland-Palatinate.
The meeting should also focus on investments in Ukrainian arms production, said Zelensky. It is primarily about the production of drones and electronic warfare systems. The head of state had repeatedly stated that he wanted to make Ukraine one of the largest arms producers in the world.
Zelenskyj wants to present a “victory plan”.
Zelensky also announced that at the meeting he would present his “victory plan” to those countries that can strengthen Ukraine and bring peace closer. So far, the plan, which Zelenskyj has repeatedly promoted for months, is not publicly known. What is clear, however, is that the country expects permission from the West to use long-range weapons against Russian territory and an invitation to NATO membership.
According to the President’s Office, the head of Zelensky’s office, Andriy Yermak, spoke again with former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen about joining the Western military alliance. “The main priorities for Ukraine remain a clear and understandable approach to the invitation to join NATO with defined time frames and conditions of accession, as well as the lifting of all restrictions on conventional types of weapons, in particular on the use of long-range weapons for attacks deep in Russian territory.” said Yermak. Rasmussen is also expected in Ramstein.
According to Zelenskyj, a team from the Ukrainian leadership was also in the USA to discuss the military and military-political details of the “Victory Plan” in Washington. Zelensky himself discussed his plan with President Biden during a visit to the US in September.
Ukraine has been defending itself against the Russian war of aggression with Western help for more than two and a half years. The Ukrainian leadership has recently repeatedly stated that the goal of the defensive struggle must be to destroy Russia militarily so that it can never attack another country again. The nuclear power warns of attacks on its territory that threaten its existence.
Odessa reports deaths after rocket fire
The Ukrainian port city of Odessa on the Black Sea was again attacked by Russian ballistic missiles. A rocket hit a civilian ship, killing a 60-year-old Ukrainian, the military governor of the southern Ukrainian region of Odessa, Oleh Kiper, said on the social network Telegram. Five foreigners were injured.
The ship sailed under the flag of the Pacific island state of Palau. According to the authorities, the target of the Russian attacks was once again the port infrastructure. The Ukrainian who was killed took care of the ship’s cargo for a private company, Kiper said. There were initially no details about the cargo itself or the identity of the injured foreigners.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibyha complained that Russia had damaged two cargo ships within two days. It was only on Sunday that a ship loaded with corn bound for Italy was attacked. “This is a deliberate terrorist tactic,” he said on the X news network. Russia had already fired on ships in September.
While Ukraine emphasizes that these are civilian ships, the Russian Defense Ministry speaks of shelling military targets. Russia claims that the civilian ships were covertly transporting weapons for the war in Ukraine. There is no evidence of this.
Harris: No talks with Putin without Ukraine involvement
Meanwhile, Democratic US presidential candidate Kamala Harris emphasized that she did not want to meet Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin without representatives from Kiev if she won the election. When asked if she would meet with Putin to negotiate a solution to the war in Ukraine, she said on TV show “60 Minutes”: “Not bilaterally, without Ukraine. No, Ukraine has to have a say the future of Ukraine.”
The US vice president gave an evasive answer to the question about Ukraine’s NATO membership. “These are all questions that we will deal with if and when the time comes,” said the 59-year-old, referring to the security alliance. “Right now we support Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against unprovoked aggression from Russia.”
Under President Biden, the USA is Ukraine’s most important supporter in the defense against Russia’s war of aggression. Former President Donald Trump has signaled that if he is re-elected, he will dramatically reduce or completely stop support for Kiev. He also repeatedly claims that he could end the war within 24 hours.
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.
