Ukraine war briefing: Don’t let Patriot missile systems gather dust, says Zelenskyy, after deadly strike on clinic
www.theguardian.com
Wed, 11 Dec 2024 02:27:40 +0200
President calls for more air defence systems from allies, and blames Russia for drone hitting nuclear inspectors car.
What we know on day 1,022See all our Ukraine war coverageVolodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Ukraines allies to provide 1012 more Patriot air defence systems that he said would fully protect its skies, after a Russian missile killed at least four people in the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia.
The attack destroyed a private clinic and injuring 20 more people, including a child.
We repeat again and again that air defences should save lives, not gather dust at storage bases, Ukraines president said.In Zaporizhzhia, rescuers worked in piles of rubble from the collapsed building where at least six people were trapped, the regional governor, Ivan Fedorov, said on the Telegram messaging app.
Anna Zubchenko, a 26yearold ophthalmologist, was working in her office when the attack happened.
The ceiling just collapsed onto my head.
Another doctor was with me, she was hit harder.
Once I dug myself out I started shouting please help, Zubchenko said.
She helped to partially dig out her colleague who was later evacuated by rescuers.The US has disbursed a 20bn loan for Ukraine backed by proceeds earned on frozen Russian assets, as part of a 50bn G7 support package.
Zelenskyy said he was deeply grateful for the disbursement, calling it a powerful act of justice.
The US treasury secretary, Janet Yellen, called it a critical infusion of support as Ukraine defends its country against an unprovoked war of aggression.
Donald Trump, who will become US president in January, has said he will probably reduce aid to Kyiv.On Tuesday, the International Atomic Energy Agency said a drone attack had severely damaged its official vehicle heading to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in a Russianoccupied part of the region.
No one was injured and workers were safe, said the agencys chief, Rafael Grossi.
Zelenskyy said the drone was Russian.
There was no immediate comment from Moscow.The US state department has approved the potential sale to Ukraine of F16 sustainment services and related equipment for 266m, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.
The principal contractors will be Sabena, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and Pratt and Whitney, the Pentagon said in a statement.Polands prime minister, Donald Tusk, said peace talks on ending Russias war in Ukraine could begin this winter.
Poland is a staunch backer of neighbouring Ukraine and next month will take over the rotating EU presidency.
Tusk also announced a series of upcoming talks with foreign officials.
Our EU presidency will notably be coresponsible for what the political landscape will look like, perhaps how the situation will look during peace negotiations, which could begin though there are still question marks in the winter of this year.
Continue reading...
Latest news
more news