Selenskyj: Ukrainian army wants up to 500,000 additional soldiers
"Several new Patriot systems will be in Ukraine to protect our country in winter," said Selenskyj. He promised not to reveal the number. The arms deliveries were a "very important result" of his recent trips abroad.
Selensky has recently traveled to several Western countries, including the USA, to campaign for further military and political support for Ukraine. Kiev is currently demanding additional arms supplies from its Western allies, who are, however, increasingly reluctant to do so. According to the US-based think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukraine is already being forced to ration ammunition.
In Kiev, Zelensky now assured that he trusted that the USA would not "betray" Ukraine and would comply with the agreements. At the same time, he stated that a possible victory for Republican Donald Trump in the US presidential election at the end of 2024 could have a major impact on the course of the war. Trump would "certainly pursue a different policy" towards Ukraine.
Selenskyj also said that he wanted to speak to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban about blocked European Union funds for Ukraine. Last week, Orban vetoed further economic aid from the EU amounting to 50 billion euros. However, Orban refrained from blocking the accession negotiations with Ukraine and neighboring Moldova. "We are neighbors and we are trying to find solutions to our issues, but for that we need to organize a meeting," said Selenskyj.
Selensky rejected the possibility of negotiations with Russia. He did not see any request for negotiations from Moscow and did not see anything like that in Russia's actions, said Zelensky. "I only see arrogance and murder in their rhetoric."
Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron assured Ukraine of the continued support of the UK and France at a meeting with his French counterpart Catherine Colonna. London and Paris had been "strong supporters" of Ukraine to date and would "continue to be", Cameron said at a joint press conference. It is "crucial that Putin loses the war", said Cameron, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to Colonna, the ongoing support for Kiev is about ensuring "that Russian aggression cannot be rewarded". The cooperation between London and Paris could be "further expanded", said the minister.
Meanwhile, UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk lamented the international community's increasing war-weariness regarding the war in Ukraine. "The world's attention seems to have been dulled by the numerous crises we are confronted with," Türk told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian army admitted that the situation was "complicated" for them in the area in the north-east of the country in view of the Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region. Oleksandr Syrsky, the commander of the Ukrainian army, explained in the online service Telegram that the Russian troops in the region around the city of Kupjansk were "superior" in terms of weapons and personnel. However, the Ukrainian troops held their positions.
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- Selenskyj expressed his expectation for up to 500,000 additional soldiers for the Ukrainian army.
- During his recent trips, Selenskyj visited various Western countries, including London and Paris, to seek further support for Ukraine.
- Upon his return to Kiev, Selenskyj expressed his wishes for continued military and political support from the USA.
- The Ukrainian army is currently relying on additional arms supplies from its Western allies due to rationing ammunition, according to the Institute for the Study of War.
- Selenskyj believed that a Republican victory in the 2024 US presidential election could have a significant impact on the war in Ukraine.
- The Ukrainian president communicated his intentions to speak with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban regarding blocked EU funds for Ukraine.
- Orban had previously vetoed further economic aid from the EU worth 50 billion euros for Ukraine.
- Despite the veto, Orban agreed to continue negotiations on Ukraine's EU accession.
- Selenskyj emphasized that he would not consider any negotiation opportunities with Russia due to their threatening rhetoric and actions.
- British Foreign Secretary David Cameron reassured Ukraine of the UK and France's continued support for Kiev, pledging to keep this stance going forward.
- Cameron underscored the significance of denying victories to Russian aggression and ensuring Putin's defeat in the conflict.
- Meanwhile, UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk expressed concern over the international community's decreased attention on the war in Ukraine in light of other global crises.
Source: www.stern.de
