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Tag: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

  • Pace is of essence: Zelenskyy appeals fast lend a hand from allies as Russia kilos Ukraine

    As Ukraine’s Bakhmut prepares for a Russian attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has recommended its allies to be rapid in sending extra army lend a hand.

    New Delhi,UPDATED: Feb 15, 2023 09:00 IST

    Bohdan, “Fritz”, the deputy of commander of the unit in 79th Air Attack Brigade, fires a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) against Russian positions on a frontline close to town of Marinka (Photograph: Reuters)

    By means of India Lately Internet Table: With Russia making ready to release a significant new offensive as the primary anniversary of the invasion is nearing, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has recommended its allies to be rapid in sending extra army lend a hand. The attraction used to be made when NATO defence ministers met in Brussels on Tuesday to speak about the warfare and stockpiles.

    Ukraine’s jap town, Bakhmut, is making ready for Russian attack and Ukrainian troops have fortified positions in anticipation of boulevard combating.

    Ukrainian troops mentioned Russian forces skilled mortar and artillery hearth on greater than 20 cities and villages within the Bakhmut a part of the entrance line, together with the town itself.

    Additionally they introduced missile moves at the business towns of Kostyantynivka and Kramatorsk in Donetsk, it mentioned. Ukraine is determined for fighter jets and longer-range missiles to nip any vital new Russian offensive within the bud.

    “Russia used to be in a rush to succeed in up to it might with its newest push earlier than Ukraine and its allies may acquire energy,” the President used to be quoted through Reuters as announcing.

    ALSO READ | A successful Ukraine must be EU member: Zelenskyy’s emotional attraction at Brussels

    “Because of this pace is of the essence,” he mentioned in a night video cope with.

    “Pace in the entirety – adopting choices, wearing out choices, transport provides, coaching. Pace saves folks’s lives, pace brings again safety, and I thank all our companions who notice that pace is necessary,” Zelenskyy added.

    Zelenskyy has ceaselessly bared his frustration about no longer acquiring sufficient tanks from some Western international locations to lend a hand Ukraine’s defence towards Russian forces.

    Bakhmut’s seize would supply a stepping stone for Russia to advance on two larger Donetsk towns, Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, and provides Moscow momentum after months of battlefield setbacks following its invasion closing February, reported Reuters.

    The Ukrainian President requested for army guns and in addition made an emotional attraction for EU club on the EU headquarters in Brussels. On his first discuss with to the United Kingdom since Russia’s invasion, Volodymyr Zelenskyy met King Charles and Top Minister Rishi Sunak and requested for fighter jets to lend a hand with its warfare with Russia.

    In the meantime, US mentioned it’s anticipating Ukraine to release its personal offensive towards Russia within the spring. Kyiv’s allies have been running to make sure they’d the armour, firepower and logistics to make it efficient, US Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin instructed Reuters.

    NATO Leader Jens Stoltenberg mentioned Putin used to be “making ready for extra warfare, for brand spanking new offensives and new assaults.”

    ALSO READ | ‘Give us wings’: Zelenskyy meets Rishi Sunak, seeks fighter jets from UK

    ALSO READ | Ukraine’s Zelenskyy arrives in Britain looking for extra hands towards Russia

    (With company inputs)

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    Feb 15, 2023

  • Biden broadcasts USD 625 million help to Ukraine, says US ‘won’t ever recognise’ Russia’s annexation in Ukraine

    US President Joe Biden advised his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday that Washington won’t ever recognise Russia’s purported annexation of the Ukrainian territories, as he introduced an extra USD 625 million in army help to the war-ravaged japanese Ecu nation.

    Russia’s parliament authorized rules on Monday on annexing 4 occupied Ukrainian areas, specifically Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia into Russia, following a ‘sham referendum’ that Ukraine and the West denounced as coercive and illegitimate.

    Biden was once additionally joined through Vice-President Kamala Harris within the name, all over which they “underscored that the USA won’t ever recognise Russia’s purported annexation of Ukrainian territory,” the White Space stated.

    The USA President additionally introduced the supply of a brand new USD 625 million safety help bundle that incorporates further guns and kit, together with HIMARS, artillery programs and ammunition, and armoured automobiles.

    This spherical of army help marks the primary time america has despatched further HIMARS to Ukraine since past due July.

    Biden affirmed the continuing readiness of america to impose critical prices on someone, entity, or nation that gives toughen to Russia’s purported annexation.

    “He welcomed the luck of the settlement that has allowed the protected export of Ukrainian grain to international markets and the want to make certain that continues,” the White Space stated.

    “As well as, President Biden famous the continued efforts of america to rally the sector in the back of Ukraine’s efforts to protect its freedom and democracy, as enshrined within the United Countries Constitution,” the White Space added.

    The decision comes as Zelenskyy has “speeded up” Ukraine’s utility for NATO club after Russia annexed 4 Ukrainian territories.

    In the meantime, the Secretary of State Tony Blinken introduced that he has permitted The united states’s twenty fourth drawdown of america fingers and kit for Ukraine since August 2021.

    “This USD 625 million drawdown comprises further fingers, munitions, and kit from US Division of Defence inventories. This drawdown will deliver the whole U.S. army help for Ukraine to greater than USD17.5 billion for the reason that starting of this management,” he stated.

    That is the primary tranche of US help delivered within the new fiscal yr, which started on October 1.

    — ENDS —

  • NATO leader: Alliance faces greatest problem since WWII

    NATO leaders have been sitting down Wednesday to take a look at to show an pressing sense of goal induced through Russia’s invasion of Ukraine into motion — and to patch up any cracks of their team spirit over cash and undertaking.

    Secretary-Common Jens Stoltenberg stated the alliance used to be assembly in Madrid “in the course of probably the most severe safety disaster we now have confronted because the 2nd Global Battle.” Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shattered Europe’s peace and pushed NATO to pour troops and guns into japanese Europe on a scale no longer noticed because the Chilly Battle.

    Participants of the alliance have additionally despatched billions in army and civilian support to Ukraine. The 30 NATO leaders will listen at once from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who’s more likely to ask them to do much more when he addresses the collection through video hyperlink. Cash can be a delicate factor — simply 9 of NATO’s 30 participants recently meet the group’s goal of spending 2% of gross home product on protection.

    The conflict has already induced a large build up in NATO’s forces within the east, and allies are anticipated to agree on the summit to extend the power of the alliance’s fast response drive just about eightfold, from 40,000 to 300,000 troops through subsequent yr. The troops shall be based totally of their house international locations, however devoted to precise international locations on NATO’s japanese flank, the place the alliance plans to increase shares of apparatus and ammunition.

    Stoltenberg stated NATO used to be enterprise “the largest overhaul of our collective protection because the finish of the Chilly Battle.” The leaders also are set to put up NATO’s new Strategic Thought, its once-a-decade set of priorities and targets. Russia is ready to be declared the alliance’s primary risk, however the record can even set out NATO’s means on problems from cybersecurity to local weather trade — and the rising financial and army succeed in of China.

    For the primary time, the leaders of Japan, Australia, South Korea and New Zealand are attending the summit as visitors, a mirrored image of the rising significance of the Indo-Pacific area.
    Stoltenberg stated China used to be no longer NATO’s adversary, however posed “demanding situations to our values, to our pastime and to our safety.”

    The summit opened with one downside solved, after Turkey agreed Tuesday to raise its opposition to Sweden and Finland becoming a member of NATO. In keeping with the invasion, the 2 Nordic international locations deserted their long-held nonaligned standing and implemented to sign up for NATO as coverage in opposition to an more and more competitive and unpredictable Russia — which stocks an extended border with Finland.

    NATO operates through consensus, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had threatened to dam the Nordic pair, insisting they modify their stance on Kurdish rise up teams that Turkey considers terrorists. After pressing top-level talks with leaders of the 3 international locations, alliance Secretary Stoltenberg stated the deadlock were cleared.

    Turkey hailed Tuesday’s settlement as a triumph, announcing the Nordic international locations had agreed to crack down on teams that Ankara deems nationwide safety threats, together with the Kurdistan Employees’ Celebration, or PKK, and its Syrian extension. It stated additionally they agreed “to not impose embargo restrictions within the box of protection trade” on Turkey and to take “concrete steps at the extradition of terrorist criminals.”

    Stoltenberg stated leaders of the 30-nation alliance will factor a proper invitation Wednesday to the 2 international locations to sign up for. The verdict needs to be ratified through all person international locations, however he stated he used to be “completely assured” Finland and Sweden would turn out to be participants. Stoltenberg stated he anticipated the method to be completed “somewhat temporarily,” however didn’t set a time on it.

  • Eurovision win in hand, Ukraine band releases new warfare video

    Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra, recent off its Eurovision victory, launched a brand new track video on Sunday of its successful hit “Stefania” that includes scenes of war-ravaged Ukraine and ladies in battle equipment, as the yearly music contest took on ever extra political tones.

    The video used to be launched hours after Kalush Orchestra introduced Ukraine its 3rd Eurovision win, pulling forward of Britain within the grand finale because of a surge of fashionable votes from one of the vital estimated 200 million audience from 40 collaborating nations.

    Band participants posed for footage and signed autographs out of doors their three-star Turin resort on Sunday, packing their very own baggage into taxis en path to an interview with Italian host broadcaster RAI ahead of heading house. They will have to go back to Ukraine on Monday after being given particular permission to go away the rustic to wait the contest; maximum Ukrainian males between age 18 and 60 are barred from leaving in case they’re had to struggle.

    That stark truth made for a bittersweet second on Sunday in Turin, as Kalush vocalist Sasha Tab needed to say good-bye to his spouse Yuliia and two youngsters, who fled Ukraine a month in the past and live with a bunch Italian circle of relatives in close by Alba. She and the youngsters had been on the band’s resort and he or she wept as Tab held his daughter in his palms ahead of entering the cab.

    Russia used to be banned from the Eurovision Track Contest this yr after its February 24 invasion of Ukraine, a transfer organisers stated used to be intended to stay politics out of the competition that promotes range and friendship amongst international locations.

    However politics nonetheless entered into the fray, with Kalush frontman Oleh Psiuk finishing his successful efficiency on Sunday night time with a plea from the level: “I ask all of you, please assist Ukraine, Mariupol. Lend a hand Azovstal at this time!” he stated, regarding the besieged metal plant within the strategic port town.

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed the victory, announcing he was hoping Ukraine would be capable to host the competition subsequent yr and predicting the “victorious chord within the combat with the enemy isn’t a ways off.”

    “Stefania” used to be penned by way of lead singer Psiuk as a tribute to his mom, however since Russia’s invasion it has change into an anthem to the motherland, with lyrics that pledge: “I’ll at all times to find my means house, although all roads are destroyed.”

    The brand new track video options girls infantrymen sporting youngsters out of bombed-out structures, greeting youngsters in shelters and leaving them at the back of as they board trains. The video credit stated it used to be shot in cities that experience noticed one of the vital worst destruction of the warfare, together with Bucha, Irpin, Borodyanka and Hostomel.

    The video used to be obviously made ahead of the band left Ukraine because it options band participants and — possibly — actors appearing within the rubble.

    “Devoted to the courageous Ukrainian other people, to the moms protective their youngsters, to all those that gave their lives for our freedom,” it stated.

    Ukrainians cheered the victory on Sunday as a much-needed spice up, and the nationwide rail operator introduced that the teach that passes thru Kalush, the birthplace of Psiuk, will probably be renamed the “Stefania Specific.”

    “Each little victory is necessary for each and every Ukrainian, for our Ukraine, for each and every certainly one of us,” Kyiv resident Svitlana Nekruten stated.

    Albert Sokolov, an evacuee from Mariupol, stated he had certainly Ukraine would emerge victorious.

    “I listened to this music in Mariupol once we had been being bombed so I used to be certain that they might win,” he stated on Sunday in Kyiv.

    Russians stated the vote used to be in the long run political, but in addition confirmed that Kalush Orchestra and Ukraine had improve.

    “Eurovision is at all times about politicized possible choices; some eventualities name for a definite selection,” Moscow resident Olga Shlyakhova stated. “After all, I believe the general public improve Ukrainians. They are able to’t suppose otherwise, as a result of they are aware of it’s a tragedy. That’s why they selected (the winners) with their hearts.”

    Anastasiya Perfiryeva, every other Moscow resident, famous the preferred vote that used to be so decisive within the victory.

    “It used to be extraordinary individuals who voted. They supported (the winners). Smartly finished. I believe that in spite of everything the staff used to be sturdy, and the improve from out of doors is at all times delightful.”

    Kalush Orchestra contains folklore mavens and mixes conventional people melodies and fresh hip hop in a robust protection of Ukrainian tradition that has taken on added that means as Russia has sought falsely to say that Ukraine’s tradition isn’t distinctive.

    At an early Sunday information convention after the competition, Psiuk in his trademark crimson bucket hat stated the win used to be in particular significant given the warfare and the preferred improve that driven Ukraine to victory.

    “We’re right here to turn that Ukrainian tradition and Ukrainian track are alive, and they have got their very own and really particular signature,” Psuik stated.

  • Grammys 2022: AR Rahman attends with son, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy talks of ‘silence of ruined towns’ in speech

    India’s tune icon AR Rahman attended the sixty fourth Annual Grammy Awards at the side of his son. The maestro and his son AR Ameen shared clicks from the development on social media handles.

    From captions like “Parenting” to “All set” Rahman’s clicks left enthusiasts in awe who gushed seeing the Indian artiste on the Grammys’ pink carpet. Whilst the tune maker was once wearing a golden-black go well with ensemble, his son saved the apparel vibrant with a broadcast blouse.

    All set percent.twitter.com/p2Dwk79aTw

    — A.R.Rahman (@arrahman) April 4, 2022

    Grammys? percent.twitter.com/wM0q42kOFG

    — A.R.Rahman (@arrahman) April 3, 2022

    Parenting ? percent.twitter.com/VNSQi4tbZd

    — A.R.Rahman (@arrahman) April 4, 2022

    Within the intervening time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy seemed in a video message on the Grammy Awards. Within the clip, he made an attraction inquiring for beef up in telling the tale of Ukraine’s invasion by way of Russia. Throughout the message, he likened the invasion to a perilous silence threatening to extinguish the desires and lives of the Ukrainian other folks, together with kids.

    “Our musicians put on frame armor as an alternative of tuxedos. They sing to the wounded in hospitals, even to people who can’t pay attention them. However the tune will smash thru anyway,” he mentioned.

    The Recording Academy, with its spouse World Citizen, previous to the rite highlighted a social media marketing campaign referred to as Stand Up For Ukraine to boost cash and beef up throughout the humanitarian disaster.

    “Fill the silence along with your tune. Fill it nowadays to inform our tale. Inform the reality concerning the conflict to your social networks, on TV, beef up us by any means you’ll be able to any, however no longer silence. After which peace will come to all our towns,” Zelenskyy added.

    This is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s pre-taped speech on the #Grammys, introducing a efficiency for Ukraine from John Legend: “Our musicians put on frame armor as an alternative of tuxedos. They sing to the wounded in hospitals.” https://t.co/rjX2S54hkr percent.twitter.com/43fcZTrjQK

    — Selection (@Selection) April 4, 2022

    We joined forces with @GlblCtzn to #StandUpForUkraine.

    Please sign up for us and donate: https://t.co/7u5wPsJCrs #GRAMMYs percent.twitter.com/n3lqHvyFHJ

    — Recording Academy / GRAMMYs (@RecordingAcad) April 4, 2022

    We’re venerated to welcome Ukrainian musicians #SiuzannaIglidan, @Mika_Newton, and poet #LyubaYakimchuk to the #GRAMMYs.

    Our hearts and our level hang a distinct position for the folks of Ukraine. percent.twitter.com/CFV1bcR4hN

    — Recording Academy / GRAMMYs (@RecordingAcad) April 4, 2022

    Zelenskyy’s message was once adopted by way of John Legend’s efficiency on “Unfastened with Ukrainian” musicians Siuzanna Iglidan and Mika Newton, and poet Lyuba Yakimchuk.

    Once a year, the Grammys honour musical artistes, compositions and albums. They have got been held yearly since 1959. This yr, the choice of classes has been bumped to 86, which is greater than final yr’s 84 classes.

    (With inputs from AP)

  • In the meantime, struggle trade as standard at palms stopover the city in Poland

    THE FIRST glimmer of hope for Ukraine will have emerged from Istanbul, however nobody’s taking any probabilities in Rzeszow. This small the city in southeastern Poland, with a inhabitants of simply 2 lakh and a town about 10 km extensive, is still the hub of an enormous navy switch operation that has enabled Ukraine to position up an abruptly resolute defence in opposition to Russia.

    On the middle of Rzeszow is Town Corridor, which has Ukraine’s blue-and-yellow flag within the entrance in conjunction with the white-and-red of Poland. And, it’s thru Rzeszow’s civil airport, slightly 100 km from the border, that guns shipped from the West are transported to Ukraine, which then make their strategy to the frontlines — from Kyiv to Mariupol.

    Marek Swierczynski, a most sensible navy analyst in Poland, advised The Indian Categorical that Rzeszow “has turn into the primary spot” for the switch of guns that experience stalled Russia’s advances around the entrance. As soon as navy apparatus lands at Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport, it’s loaded onto vans and different native cars, and brought to Ukraine thru E40, the longest east-west freeway in Europe.

    Swierczynski says this could also be the explanation why there may be all the time the specter of a Russian assault on Rzeszow or the convoys from there. “The operation from Rzeszow is probably unhealthy even if there has now not been any assault but,” Swierczynski, who writes for “Polityka Perception”, stated.

    Slightly ten days in the past, Russian Overseas Minister Sergei Lavrov had warned: “We obviously stated that any shipment transferring into Ukrainian territory, which we might consider is sporting guns, can be truthful recreation.”

    Rzeszow could also be the place US President Joe Biden landed on his talk over with to Poland ultimate week and met with American troops from the 82nd Airborne Department, which is a part of NATO’s jap flank.

    Consistent with an army analyst in Lviv, round 90 consistent with cent of Ukraine’s guns are nonetheless of Soviet or Russian beginning. “Artillery is ready 100 consistent with cent Russian or Soviet, as are 90 consistent with cent of tanks. With regards to different navy cars, as a result of Ukraine has began development its personal, 70 consistent with cent are Russian. With regards to anti-tank weapons, it’s break up part between Ukrainian and Western-made. However all sniper weapons with Ukraine are of Western beginning,” the analyst stated.

    Maximum of what Western countries are sending to Ukraine, the analyst stated, are anti-tank and anti-aircraft guns, like Guy-portable air-defence (MANPAD) programs. On account of the Soviet previous, maximum subtle guns inside of Ukraine are not able to “communicate” to Western weaponry. Therefore, the West can simplest ship “unbiased” guns that don’t want to be built-in with different programs.

    However since Poland used to be a part of the Jap Bloc, its ancient hyperlinks with the Soviet Union are of immense lend a hand to Ukraine these days. “Best international locations like Poland, which used to have Soviet calibre guns, can lend a hand ship munitions to Ukraine,” Swierczynski, the analyst in Poland, stated.

    He stated the precise choice of guns despatched via each and every nation isn’t recognized, however the USA has despatched the most important proportion, in “double-digit hundreds”, having spent greater than US$ 1 billion already. The United Kingdom, too, has despatched anti-tank programs in “double-digit hundreds”, he stated. Poland has Piorun MANPADS and ammunition to provide.

    Swierczynski emphasized that not one of the guns are despatched via NATO as an organisation, however via a few of its member states.

    Michael Bociurkiw, a world affairs analyst and Senior Fellow at Atlantic Council who has been in Lviv for the previous few weeks, advised The Indian Categorical: “The Western allies are offering NATO weaponry. The entirety from flak jackets to helmets, to surface-to-air missiles. Issues to lend a hand Ukraine shield itself. However what Ukraine is truly inquiring for is extra of it. But additionally extra complex guns to shoot down high-flying and speedy Russian missiles and plane.”

    He stated “switchblade drones, also referred to as Kamikaze drones”, also are being despatched via the USA now.

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Bociurkiw stated, is calling for a “lot extra, and that they’re operating out of a few guns”. He stated the “price at which they’re capturing deadly weaponry, you need to re-supply on an excessively powerful foundation”. Even the Territorial Defence forces, made up solely of volunteers, “are desperately wanting easy such things as flak jackets and helmets”.

    “Some huge cash is being raised within the West, however the bottleneck is getting it to the frontline,” he stated.

    Consistent with professionals, the EU and NATO have positioned navy and non-military workforce in Poland to proportion their logistical enjoy for an operation of this scale. And, aside from street routes, there are stories that one of the vital apparatus is being despatched thru trains, which officers don’t seem to be prepared to touch upon.

    By the way, the longest extensive gauge observe that hyperlinks Poland to Ukraine is Vast Gauge Metallurgy Line, which used to be constructed right through the communist length of the Seventies — and passes thru a the city about 60 km north of Rzeszow.