President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he had held new talks on French President Emmanuel Macron's proposal to send troops to Ukraine as a way to help achieve a stable peace. “We share a common vision. Credible guarantees are essential for a truly viable peace,” the Ukrainian president, who was in Brussels on Wednesday for talks with NATO and European leaders, said in a statement. ” he said. “We remain committed to President Macron's initiative regarding the presence of troops in Ukraine, which could contribute to stabilizing the path to peace.” “This is an absolute priority,” and continued to provide Ukraine with “the means to defend itself and foil Russia's war of aggression.” President Macron intends to maintain “close dialogue with Ukraine and its international partners towards a return to a just and lasting peace.” Zelenskiy is also scheduled to attend an EU summit in the Belgian capital on Thursday.
asked How would Britain react if Zelenskyy asked for British troops to be sent to Ukraine?British Foreign Secretary David Lammy told Sky News there was no sign that the Russian president was ready to negotiate. “The discussion is about equipping Ukraine for the coming days. That is why we are meeting at this very depressing time to ensure that Ukraine survives the winter and enters 2025. I know there's a lot of speculation, but the truth is that President Putin is not someone you can negotiate with when he's causing such havoc.”
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has spoken publicly about when peace talks will begin and whether European peacekeepers will participate, expressing frustration that European leaders are playing into the hands of Vladimir Putin. expressed. Rutte said the focus has to be on “doing everything now to make sure that in terms of air defense, in terms of other weapons systems, we can provide everything we can…I think we're very smart. ” he said. to put a lid on this [pre-empting a peace process] And the immediate challenge is to ensure that Ukraine has what it needs to prevent Putin from winning. ”
Russia's Investigative Committee announced that it had detained an Uzbek national whom investigators accused of planting the bomb that killed Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov.. The Kremlin-controlled news agency Tass reported claims by Russia's domestic intelligence service, the FSB, that the 29-year-old was recruited by Ukraine's special services and promised $100,000 and a trip to the EU. The man was arrested in the village of Chernoye in Moscow's Balashikha district, state news agency Ria reported, citing the Interior Ministry. Russia's Foreign Ministry announced that it would take up Kirillov's assassination at the UN Security Council on Friday.
Britain on Thursday announced 225 million pounds ($286 million) in new military aid to Ukraine next year. Includes drones, boats, and air defense systems. British Defense Secretary John Healy visited Kyiv on Wednesday to meet with Ukrainian Defense Secretary Rustem Umerov.
North Korea demonstrated this year that it can manufacture ballistic missiles and supply them to Russia for use against Ukraine within months.said Wednesday the head of a research institute that tracks weapons used in wars. Jonah Lev told the UN Security Council that researchers on the ground are examining the remains of four North Korean missiles recovered in Ukraine in July and August, including a He said some of the items had markings indicating they were manufactured. “It was produced in North Korea and used in Ukraine within months, not years,” he said.
World Bank approves $2.05 billion in funding for Ukraine This includes the first grant from a $20 billion U.S. loan fund for Kiev backed by proceeds from frozen Russian government assets. The package also includes a $1.05 billion World Bank loan with enhanced loan guarantees from a trust fund backed by Japan and the United Kingdom, the bank said. About $50 billion in funds destined for Ukraine comes from Russian assets frozen abroad.
Keir Starmer's office said in a phone call with Donald Trump that he reiterated the need for international allies to come together in support of Ukraine.. “The Prime Minister reiterated the need for allies to stand together with Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression and ensure that Ukraine is in the strongest possible position.”
Ukraine has dismissed as 'false and nonsense' Russia's claims that its drones repeatedly dropped white phosphorus in Septemberstated that Kiev is in full compliance with international arms control obligations. “We are convinced that by making these false accusations, the Russian government is trying to shift responsibility for its own actions and mislead foreign audiences,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorghi Tiki told Reuters. “There is,” he said.
The United States on Wednesday imposed new sanctions against several Russia-based companies over their involvement in the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.announced the State Department. They include Russia-based maritime services and shipping organizations, state-owned salvage services and more than a dozen ships, as well as project operator Nord Stream 2 AG and Russia-based insurance companies. Included. project.
Ukraine's air force said Wednesday that Russia launched 81 drones overnight to attack Ukraine, but 30 of the “copycat drones” failed to reach their targets and 51 were shot down. .
