In the absence of our aid, hospitals and youngsters face potential vulnerability.
Baerbock Justifies Western Weapons Supply to Ukraine, Warns Against Weakening Kyiv's Support German Foreign Minister Baerbock justifies the delivery of defensive weapons to Ukraine and cautions against waning support for Kyiv. She debunks the misconception that less fighting and deaths in Ukraine would occur if no such weapons were provided, stating, "The idea that there would be no conflicts and no casualties in Ukraine if there were no defensive weapons is as straightforward as it is untrue." Baerbock made these remarks during the UN General Debate in New York on Thursday. She added, "If Russia halts its aggression, the war concludes. However, if Ukraine discontinues defending itself, it's the end of Ukraine." In response to Russian President Putin's bombing of a children's hospital upon receipt of a peace conference invitation, Baerbock underscores that it would mean "leaving Ukraine's hospitals and children unprotected if we were to withdraw our support, which would potentially lead to more atrocities, possibly even in other nations." She also pointed out that Russia has repeatedly threatened the inviolability of the Baltic states and Poland's borders.
Golob Advocates for Discussion of Leveraging Long-Range Weapons for Ukraine's Defense Slovenia's government advises against hastily deciding on the deployment of long-range Western weapons on Russian territory, acknowledging German skepticism. Prime Minister Golob emphasized that it is generally not wise to predetermine topics as off-limits. He went on to suggest that all potential options should be considered, with the most suitable one eventually chosen to address the current situation. Golob addressed concerns about the use of long-range cruise missiles in the Ukrainian conflict, revealing that Germany and the US have been resistant to this idea.
Baerbock Encourages Iran to Cease Aiding Russia's War Efforts German Foreign Minister Baerbock urges Iran to halt all support for Russia's war against Ukraine, as well as the transfer of ballistic missiles and drones. The German Foreign Office made this statement on platform X, following Baerbock's meeting with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araktschi on the fringes of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Trump Arranges Meeting with Zelenskyy in New York Former US President Trump plans to confer with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on Friday in New York. The scheduled meeting will take place at Trump Tower in Manhattan, according to Trump. Zelenskyy reportedly extended his stay in the US to meet with Trump following his Thursday encounter with President Joe Biden. Before his journey, Zelenskyy expressed his interest in meeting Biden, Trump, and Vice President Kamala Harris to propose his "victory plan" to end the war in Ukraine. Read more about this here.
Harris Assures Zelensky of US Support, Subtly Warns Against Trump Victory US Presidential candidate Harris pledged her continued support to Ukrainian President Zelensky and indirectly cautioned against a Republican opponent's victory (unmentioned) in the upcoming elections. She stated, "My commitment to the Ukrainian people remains unwavering. (...) I will stand by Ukraine and work diligently to ensure that Ukraine emerges victorious in this conflict, living in safety and prosperity." She highlighted the need for the war's resolution to be a collective, cooperative decision, warning that some in the US would attempt to dictate an end to the conflict by forcing Ukraine to surrender significant territory, accept neutrality, and waive security guarantees from other nations – proposals that mirror Putin's demands.
Ukraine Reports Shelling West of Kherson Russian forces shelled the town of Tomyna Balka west of the Ukrainian-controlled city of Kherson on Thursday, leading to the death of a woman and the injury of another person, as reported by Telegram.
UK to Provide Additional Self-Propelled Artillery Systems to Ukraine The UK will supply more AS90 self-propelled artillery systems to Ukraine's armed forces. A total of 10 such systems have already been provided to Ukraine, with an additional six set to be delivered over the coming weeks, according to the British Ministry of Defense.
UN Struggles with Financing Aid to Ukraine for Winter Survival The United Nations lacks sufficient funds to support the Ukrainian population during this winter season, with Karolina Lindholm Billing, the UN Refugee Agency's Ukraine coordinator, stating that they are currently only 47% funded for this crisis. Last year at this time, the UNHCR had received 70% of the required funds.
Biden Vows to Strengthen US Aid to Ukraine Before His Term Ends US President Biden pledged to bolster aid to Ukraine during the remainder of his tenure. This enhancement, according to Biden, aims to fortify Kyiv's bargaining position in negotiations while minimizing the potential impact of a successor who may express less commitment to Ukraine. Biden acknowledged that his opponent, a Republican nominee, could lessen US involvement with Ukraine following his departure from the White House in January.
21:34 Ukraine: Russia Planning to Amplify Assaults in Saporizhzhia RegionAs per intel from Ukraine, Russian troops are poised to ramp up attacks in the Saporizhzhia region. "There's a pattern of escalation in the conflict zone of the Saporizhzhia region," a representative for the troops stationed in southern Ukraine stated on national TV. "In the past 24 hours, there were five [Russian] assaults, and based on our info, this figure might escalate, as it seems the adversary is assembling assault squads near the settlement of Pryiutne." Furthermore, light armored vehicles have been reportedly delivered to the Russian side, the representative added. "This suggests they're readying for offensive operations."
21:00 Biden in Conference with Zelensky: Russia Won't Get the Upper HandDuring their initial encounter in Washington, US President Joe Biden guaranteed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of continuous US backing. "Russia won't come out on top, Ukraine will," Biden declared as he welcomed Zelensky to the Oval Office at the White House: "And we'll be right by your side at every step." Delve deeper into this here.
You can review all prior events here.
The European Union has been a significant supporter of Ukraine, providing defensive weapons and expressing continuous support for Kyiv. In the context of the Ukrainian conflict, Germany's Foreign Minister Baerbock and Slovenia's Prime Minister Golob have both advocated for addressing the situation with a thoughtful approach, considering all potential options for Ukraine's defense.
