“He won’t stop” Zelensky calls for more anti-aircraft systems
January 10, 2024, 9:49 pm Listen to the article
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Ukraine has resisted a Russian invasion for nearly two years and depends on Western support for equipment. In Lithuania, President Zelenskyy calls for joint resistance against Putin and calls on NATO countries to urgently strengthen Ukraine's air defenses.
Due to ongoing heavy Russian airstrikes, Ukraine seeks proximity to its partners in the Baltics and NATO. On his first foreign visit to Lithuania this year, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for more arms aid to prevent bombings. “Air defense systems are at the top of the list of things we lack,” he said in Vilnius after a meeting with his colleague Gitanas Nauseda.
The NATO-Ukraine Council, founded in 2023, met in Brussels due to particularly massive Russian airstrikes. According to NATO, at the meeting several allies outlined plans for providing additional capabilities. This is support worth billions of euros. According to Zelensky, Russia fired at least 500 rockets, cruise missiles and drones at Ukraine during the New Year. 70% of them were intercepted, he said. However, there were dozens of deaths and injuries, as well as extensive damage in Ukraine.
Zelensky: Putin will not stop
Ukraine has resisted a Russian invasion for nearly two years and largely depends on Western support for equipment. In many countries, however, there are currently discussions about the extent and purpose of aid. In the US, the main supporter, the new aid is currently tied up in political disputes in Congress. Zelensky said in Vilnius that he felt no pressure from the allies to freeze the war on the existing front. Russian President Vladimir Putin's rhetoric must be taken seriously; he wanted to completely occupy Ukraine. And if his country doesn't resist, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia or Moldova will be next at risk.
Zelensky called for joint resistance against Putin: “He won't stop until we finish him off.”
Little Lithuania helps
Nauseda assured Ukraine of further support from Lithuania. “We will again send ammunition, generators and explosive systems to Ukraine in January,” he announced. “In February we will deliver M577 armored personnel carriers, train Ukrainian soldiers and strengthen cooperation with the defense industry.” According to him, Vilnius approved a long-term military aid plan worth around 200 million euros.
After the unannounced visit to Lithuania, Zelensky also wants to visit his Baltic neighbors, Latvia and Estonia, in the coming days. Representatives from the 31 NATO states and Ukraine discussed the latest developments in the war zone in Brussels. The Kiev government requested the meeting because of Russian missile attacks over the New Year. What was specifically promised by NATO partners initially remained open-ended. NATO cited the planned provision of additional air defense systems as an example of aid commitments.
Kharkiv is building an underground school
Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said: “As Moscow increases its attacks on Ukrainian cities and civilians, NATO allies are strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses.” Also in Brussels, the EU is moving forward with preparations for new billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine, despite resistance from Hungary. Representatives of member states decided by majority to start negotiations with the European Parliament, diplomats said. The aim is to be able to implement the aid program quickly after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban possibly gives in. The European Parliament must agree to this. In fact, Member States wanted to decide on aid worth €50 billion for the next four years at the EU summit last December. But Hungary blocked itself.
In the city of Kharkiv, in eastern Ukraine, the first underground school is expected to open in March due to constant Russian attacks. Construction is proceeding as planned regardless of enemy fire and frost, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on Telegram. Several classrooms had already been installed in the city's subway. More than 1,000 school children are currently taking turns learning underground in around 65 classes. According to authorities, only around 40% of the more than 110,000 students are in Kharkiv. Of the remainder, a large proportion have fled abroad and are learning online in their old schools.