At 08:08, a Ukrainian border town faced an assault, resulting in numerous casualties.
In the southern part of Ukraine, the city of Izmail has been under attack. As reported by Oleh Kiper, the governor of the Odessa Oblast, three individuals, all elderly, including a woman in her 90s, were tragically killed in a Russian drone strike this morning. Apart from these fatalities, eleven others, including a child, sustained injuries. The attack also led to damage to buildings, cars, and several fires. Izmail is situated on the border with Romania, with the northern end of the Danube forming the boundary.
Time to Amplify Aid: SPD Foreign Policy Expert Roth Advocates for "Substantially More" Military Aid to UkraineMichael Roth, an SPD foreign policy expert, is urging European countries to significantly increase their military aid to Ukraine. According to Roth, who spoke to "Tagesspiegel", it is crucial that the larger European nations provide more military support to keep Ukraine as a free and democratic nation. He emphasized that now is the right time to mobilize all available resources to strengthen Ukraine's position in the event of potential negotiations. Roth stressed that whoever wishes to bring an end to the war quickly must ensure that Ukraine has the necessary resources. In his view, military strength and diplomacy are two inseparable components of the equation. Roth highlighted that Russia will likely agree to negotiations only if Putin feels that a victory over Ukraine is impossible.
Baerbock Defends Western Weapons Deliveries to Ukraine and Warns Against Weakening Support for KyivForeign Minister Baerbock defended the delivery of weapons to Ukraine and warned against weakening support for Kyiv. She argued that the notion that there would be no fighting and no casualties in Ukraine if defensive weapons were absent is both simple and false. Baerbock, who spoke during the UN General Debate in New York, cautioned that if Russia stopped its attack, the war would conclude. However, if Ukraine stopped defending itself, the end result would be devastating for Ukraine. Baerbock emphasized that Putin had responded to an invitation to a peace conference in June with a bombing of a children's hospital. She pointed out that as long as Putin remains unwilling to engage in negotiations, withdrawing support would mean that Ukrainian hospitals and their children would be left unprotected. Baerbock reiterated that Russia has consistently tested the inviolability of the Baltic states and Poland's borders.
Slovenia Should Consider All Options for Aiding Ukraine with Long-Range WeaponsThe Slovenian government has advised against making hasty decisions concerning the deployment of long-range Western weapons on Russian territory. Prime Minister Robert Golob acknowledged that the issue was complex but emphasized the importance of exploring all available options. He did not rule out the possibility of utilizing long-range cruise missiles, pending a thorough assessment of the situation. Germany and the US have shown reservations regarding this matter. Recently, Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed opposition to providing long-range precision weapons to Ukraine.
Baerbock Demands Iran to Stop Assisting RussiaForeign Minister Baerbock called on Iran to halt any aid to Russia's war effort against Ukraine and cease supplying ballistic missiles and drones. This demand was made following her meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araktschi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Trump Announces Meeting with Zelensky in New YorkFormer US President Donald Trump announced that he would be meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday in New York, at Trump Tower in Manhattan. Zelensky, who earlier met with President Biden, extended his stay in the US to facilitate the meeting.
Harris Extends Support to Ukraine and Cautions against Republican VictoryDemocratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris pledged her continued support for Ukraine and warned against the prospect of a Republican victory without explicitly mentioning Trump. During a meeting with Zelensky in Washington, Harris expressed her unwavering support for the Ukrainian people and emphasized the crucial role of Ukraine in bringing about an end to the war. She warned of individuals in the US who wished to alter the conflict's terms, forcing Ukraine to cede substantial territories, surrender neutrality, and abandon security guarantees from other nations. These proposals were similar to those proposed by Putin and signaled surrender.
Ukraine Reports Attacks West of KhersonThe region of Tomyna Balka, located west of the Ukrainian-controlled city of Kherson, was subjected to repeated shelling by Russian forces on Thursday, as reported by the governor of the region, Prokrudin. A woman was killed, and another individual was injured in the attack.
23:33 UN Struggles Financially to Aid Ukrainians in Winter According to the UN, they are financially struggling to assist people in Ukraine during the winter season. Karolina Lindholm Billing, the Ukraine coordinator for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), stated, "The funding level of organizations like ours is disappointingly low for this period." Currently, the UNHCR only has 47% of the funds necessary to assist the millions of Ukrainians who have been displaced or impacted by the war within their country. Last year at this time, the UNHCR was 70% funded.
22:13 Biden: America to Increase Aid to Ukraine President Joe Biden announced that the United States will amplify its aid to Ukraine throughout the remainder of his term. He explained during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington that this would enhance the negotiating power of the government in Kyiv. Biden's term concludes in January. Potential successors include Vice President Kamala Harris or Republican Donald Trump, who may significantly reduce America's involvement with Ukraine.
21:34 Ukraine: Russia Preparing to Escalate Attacks in Zaporizhzhia As reported by Ukrainian intelligence, Russian troops are expecting to intensify attacks in the Zaporizhzhia region. "We are witnessing a rising trend in escalation in the combat zone sector in the Zaporizhzhia region," said a spokesperson for the troops based in southern Ukraine on national television. In the past 24 hours, there were five Russian attacks, and the spokesperson warned that this number could increase as information suggests that the enemy is consolidating attack groups near the Pryiutne settlement. Additionally, the spokesperson disclosed that Russia has acquired light armored vehicles, indicating that they are preparing for offensive operations.
21:00 Biden to Zelensky: Russia Will Not Triumph At the beginning of their meeting in the White House, US President Joe Biden reassured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of ongoing US support. "Russia will not triumph, Ukraine will," Biden declared as he welcomed his Ukrainian counterpart to the Oval Office: "And we will support you every step of the way." You can learn more about this here.
Source: Previous Developments
In light of the ongoing Ukrainian conflict, it's crucial for international communities to consider providing more military aid to Ukraine to strengthen its position and deter potential negotiations with Russia on unfavorable terms. This is according to SPD foreign policy expert Michael Roth, who emphasized the importance of military strength and diplomacy in ending the conflict.
The call for increased military aid comes as Russia continues to escalate attacks in the Zaporizhzhia region, with Ukrainian intelligence reporting that Russian troops are consolidating attack groups and preparing for offensive operations, as revealed by a spokesperson for the troops based in southern Ukraine.
