Ukraine appeals for immediate military assistance at meeting of world leaders
2023.02.17 12:16
Ukraine appeals for immediate military assistance at meeting of world leaders
By Tiffany Smith
Budrigannews.com – As senior Western leaders gathered in Munich to evaluate the year-long war that has been shaking Europe, Ukrainian soldiers who are fighting to thwart a Russian push on the small eastern city of Bakhmut pleaded for more weapons from outside the country.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the president of Ukraine, urged allies to send weapons faster to stop the Russian invasion and warned world leaders gathered in Munich that dithering and delays also threatened their safety.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that allies who are able to deliver battle tanks to Ukraine should now do so, adding that Germany would facilitate this decision by providing logistics, stock replenishment, and training for Ukrainian soldiers.
Since now was not the time for dialogue with Moscow, French President Emmanuel Macron appeared to take a more assertive stance toward Moscow, urging allies to increase their military support for Ukraine in order to assist it in repelling Russia’s invasion.
Speaking prior to the Munich gathering, Zelenskiy stated that the West must not delay arms deliveries to assist in repelling Russian forces and that it was “obvious” Ukraine would not be the final stop of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion.
Reiterating Kyiv’s position prior to the Munich conference, a senior Ukrainian official ruled out peace talks with Moscow unless Russia withdraws from Ukraine.
The Kremlin warned that Washington was now directly involved in the conflict because “crazy people” had dreams of defeating Russia and accused the United States of inciting Ukraine to escalate the war by condoning attacks on Crimea.
According to a high-ranking U.S. trade official, Russia’s ability to rebuild its war machine has been gradually reduced by export controls.
The World Health Organization asked for more money to help the health industry in Ukraine, which has been badly hurt by the Russian invasion.
According to Ukraine’s air force, Russia fired 32 missiles in the early hours of Thursday, following a pattern of heavy aerial bombardment of Ukrainian battlefields or diplomatic advances. It added that half were shot down, a lower rate than usual.
According to Ukraine’s prosecutor general, Russian rockets and artillery struck a residential area in the city of Bakhmut on Thursday, killing three men and two women and injuring nine others. The incident was also being investigated as a war crime.
According to a senior Ukrainian official, negotiations to extend a U.N.-backed initiative that has allowed Ukraine to export grain from ports blocked by Russia following its invasion will begin in a week.
