Situation at a glance - Selenskyj: Bombed-out hospital to be rebuilt
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the reconstruction of a children's hospital in Kiev, heavily damaged by a Russian rocket attack, with 100 million Hryvnias (approximately 2.3 million Euro) already allocated for its support, and an additional 300 million Hryvnias to follow, he said. Zelenskyy thanked all private donors who supported the clinic and promised help to all families whose relatives were killed or injured in the attack.
More than 40 people were killed and over 100 were injured nationwide in the Russian rocket attack on Ukraine on Monday. The shelling of a children's hospital in Kiev caused widespread outrage internationally. In an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, there was sharp criticism of Russia's actions.
Moscow speaks of Ukrainian PR after rocket attack
"This is obviously a PR stunt, in this case a PR stunt based on blood," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in an interview with Russian state television. The Ukrainians were so clumsy in their use of air defense that one of these rockets hit the hospital, he claimed. Now, Kiev is trying to use this tragedy as a backdrop for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's participation in the NATO summit, he added.
USA and partners pledge Ukraine air defense reinforcement
The USA and other NATO countries plan to provide additional equipment to Ukraine for air defense against Russian air raids. This was announced by US President Joe Biden at a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the NATO alliance in Washington. In a joint statement by the USA and several partners, there was also talk of "additional" Patriot air defense systems.
Furthermore, dozens of tactical air defense systems - such as the Nasams or Iris-T type - were to go to Kiev, it was further stated. "These systems will further expand and strengthen Ukraine's air defense." The joint declaration came from the USA, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and Italy, among others.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude in Washington. On the platform X, he wrote that the Patriots and air defense systems would help "destroy Russian drones and rockets and protect Ukrainians better from Russian terror from the air," as in the brutal attack on the country's most important children's hospital.
Kiev has reportedly received a total of four Patriot systems so far. Three of them were provided by Germany. Another was offered by Romania.
The war in Ukraine is one of the main topics at the NATO summit in Washington. The heads of state and government of the 32 member states of the NATO alliance are celebrating its 75th anniversary there.
Pistorius appeals to NATO: More Ukraine aid needed
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) called on NATO partners to provide stronger military support to Ukraine. According to the budget plans, there is "no gap in this sense," but there is a smaller amount than this year, the SPD politician said on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington. It is our common task to help Ukraine with what it needs, but also with what we can afford.
Pistorius also made an appeal to all other European partners to do more to help Ukraine this year and the next.
Putin and Modi pledge close cooperation in Moscow
During his two-day visit to the Kremlin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the partnership between the two countries, praising it as a "privileged strategic partnership" that should be further developed. In a joint statement following their talks, the two leaders expressed their intention to continue military-technological cooperation. The production of spare parts for Russian weapons and military equipment in India was reportedly to be encouraged.
According to government statements in Moscow, India has become the largest buyer of Russian oil in the wake of Western sanctions. "India is our most important market, and as of today, India is one of our key partners in the energy sector," Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency. Novak reportedly stated that Russia had exported 90 million tonnes of oil to India in the previous year.
Video statement by Zelenskyj
- Boris Pistorius, the German Defense Minister, urged NATO partners to provide stronger military support to Ukraine, stressing the importance of helping Ukraine with what it needs within budget constraints.
- The reconstruction of the heavily damaged children's hospital in Kiev, which was targeted in a Russian rocket attack, was announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with an initial allocation of 100 million Hryvnias and a promise of additional funds.
- In an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, sharp criticism was directed towards Russia's actions in the attack on Ukraine, with several countries expressing their condemnation.
- Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, defended Russia's position, stating that the Ukrainians' use of air defense was clumsy and led to the rocket striking the hospital, a claim met with widespread skepticism.
- Volodymyr Selenskyy, the Ukrainian President, thanked private donors for their support of the children's hospital and promised assistance to families affected by the attack.
- USA President Joe Biden, along with NATO allies, announced their plans to provide additional air defense equipment to Ukraine to bolster its defenses against Russian aerial assaults.
- The leaders of 32 NATO member states gathered in Washington for the NATO summit, marking its 75th anniversary, with the war in Ukraine being one of the main topics of discussion.
- The Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Alexander Novak, praised India as Russia's most important market and key partner in the energy sector, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Moscow further solidifying their strategic partnership.
- The USA and several partners, including Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and Italy, jointly pledged to provide dozens of tactical air defense systems to Ukraine to strengthen its aerial defenses against Russian attacks.
- More than 40 people lost their lives and over 100 were injured nationwide in the Russian rocket attack on Ukraine, highlighting the devastating impacts of the ongoing conflicts and the urgent need for de-escalation and peace.
