UKRAINE: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has appealed to NATO for more weapons and air defences to prepare for potential Russian attacks on power plants and infrastructure. Zelenskiy visited NATO headquarters for the first time since Russia’s invasion, amid political unrest in the US Congress and a global crisis in Israel.
The Ukrainian President compared Russian President Vladimir Putin to Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and emphasized the importance of Western military assistance in the ongoing conflict.
He emphasized the winter air defence as a crucial part of the war’s end and its justness for Ukraine. Speaking at a gathering of NATO and other military assistance nations, he highlighted the need to win the winter struggle against terror.
U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has unveiled a $200 million defence package for Ukraine, including air defence ammunition and equipment to counter Russian drones. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warns that Putin is preparing to use winter as a weapon of war, and with advanced air defence capabilities, the West can make a significant difference in preventing further attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Ukraine’s counteroffensive in the summer aims to reclaim land but has struggled to break through Russia’s fortifications and minefields. Washington has provided $44 billion to Kyiv to buy tanks, rocket launchers, and ammunition, but support among Americans is dwindling for both major political parties.
Austin and Air Force General Charles Q. Brown aim to convince Ukraine and NATO allies that Washington will continue to support Kyiv despite partisanship in Congress, and aid delays.
Presidents have attempted to shift attention away from the Middle East, but crises there can divert military resources from other regions.
Zeleniskiy added, “Terrorists like Putin or like Hamas seek to hold free and democratic nations as hostages and they want power.”
He said that Russia has the ability to stir up conflicts and transform them into major tragedies, as seen in the Sahel and potentially in Israel and the Middle East.
Russia claims it was forced to conduct a “special military operation” in Ukraine, denying targeting civilians and blaming the West for the conflict.
Ukraine accuses Moscow of escalating the Middle East crisis, but Russia denies this. Hamas, which seeks Israel’s annihilation, claims the 16-year Gaza blockade and Israeli crackdown justify its strike.
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