Latest news with #AndriiSybiha


Daily Maverick
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Help pressurise Putin to agree to a ceasefire, Ukraine urges African countries
Under almost constant deadly bombardment by Russia, Ukraine has appealed to African countries to pressure Russia to agree to an unconditional ceasefire in the 40-month-old war. Ukraine does not ask much from Africa. Mainly just more principled votes at the UN condemning Russia's invasion. But now, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has issued the ceasefire appeal through African journalists visiting Ukraine in a brief respite between concerted missile and drone attacks on the capital, Kyiv, and other cities. He noted that Ukraine had accepted the US proposal for an unconditional, full ceasefire. 'Now we need to pressure Russia to say unconditional yes and to accept a ceasefire… That is why it is also important to support our peace efforts from your countries, from your capitals,' he told the journalists. Just before we arrived in Kyiv on a study tour, hundreds of projectiles had hit the city on 17 June. A few days later we visited the epicentre of that attack, an apartment building in the Solomianskyi district, which had taken a direct missile hit, collapsing 32 apartments from the ninth floor to the ground floor, killing 23 civilians and injuring 27 more. Workers were clearing rubble. They were joined by two boys, aged about 11 and wearing hard hats, who had volunteered to help their neighbours. An elderly woman sat on a bench in the grounds, quietly weeping. Tsiupko Mykola, the deputy head of the local emergency services, said 13 surrounding buildings had also been damaged, including a kindergarten. So far none of the dead seemed to be children, 'but there are several unidentified bodies still', so they didn't know for sure. Could the Russians have mistakenly hit this civilian target? He rolled his eyes. 'You can see with your own eyes it is a residential building that took a direct hit,' he said, adding that there were no military targets in the vicinity. Five more civilians died elsewhere in Kyiv that night. Two days after we left Ukraine, Russia launched 352 drones, 11 ballistic and five cruise missiles, killing at least six civilians in Kyiv and one in Bila Tserkva. Then, on Sunday, 29 June, Ukraine suffered its largest Russian attack in a single night, when a barrage of 537 drones and missiles again hit Kyiv and several other cities, including some as distant from the front as Lviv in the far west of the country, which is rarely targeted. The Center for Strategic and International Studies, a US think tank, said Russia had significantly ramped up its use of drones over the last nine months, 'increasing from approximately 200 launched per week to more than 1,000 per week by March 2025 as part of a sustained pressure campaign'. The United Nations human rights office reported on Sunday that civilian casualties in Ukraine had increased by 37% from December 2024 to May 2025, compared to the same period the previous year, with 968 civilians killed and 4,807 injured. The majority of these casualties occurred in Ukrainian-controlled areas. 'The war in Ukraine — now in its fourth year — is becoming increasingly deadly for civilians,' said Danielle Bell, the head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine. Unacceptable Russian demands Ukraine's special envoy for the Middle East and Africa, Maksym Subkh, said it had been more than three months since Ukraine had offered an unconditional ceasefire, but Russia had not accepted the offer. In the last two rounds of direct negotiations in Istanbul in May and June, the Russians had put preconditions for negotiations that were completely unacceptable, said Subkh. Apart from claiming the Ukrainian land they had occupied — and even some land still under Ukrainian control — Russia had insisted that Ukraine should not join Nato; it should not maintain strong and modern armed forces; it should destroy the weapons it had received from its Western partners to counter Russia's aggression; and it must adopt Russian as an official language. Subkh said these demands showed that Russia was treating Ukraine as a colony, adding that Ukraine was experiencing the hardship and brutality African people had experienced during their colonisation. Meanwhile, Russia was continuing its constant shelling of Ukraine and 'the death toll is rising dramatically'. He said the conditions that either side had should be discussed after the ceasefire, during negotiations. He stressed that Ukraine remained determined to join the European Union and Nato, as it saw no other way of getting the security guarantees it needed for its protection. EU membership The EU ambassador to Ukraine, Katarina Mathernová, told us that the EU had had to step up its military support because at the start of the war Nato had 'armed Ukraine for defence, not victory', as the US feared a nuclear backlash. And the EU — or at least almost all of it — remained committed to admitting Ukraine as a member. However, while Ukraine was rapidly fulfilling the many conditions required to join the EU, the EU was not in a position to accept it because one member state, Hungary, was blocking Ukraine's accession. Mathernová said polls indicated that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's party might lose elections later this year, and so the objection to Ukraine joining the EU could fall away. Foreign Minister Sybiha said that in the two rounds of direct peace talks in Istanbul this year, Russia had shown it was not serious by sending low-level delegations. Now it was time 'to engage all instruments of diplomacy … time for full diplomatic mobilisation'. Apart from putting pressure on Russia to agree to an unconditional ceasefire, it was crucial that African countries should support Ukraine by backing resolutions at the UN General Assembly seeking an end to the war. Sybiha was clearly referring to Ukraine's past disappointments that so many African countries — including South Africa — had abstained from UN General Assembly resolutions condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine and demanding that it withdraw its forces. This was often because these countries had historical relations with the Soviet Union, although Subkh pointed out that Ukraine had also been part of the Soviet Union and many African leaders had been educated or received training in Ukraine. Military support Sybiha also sent a message to African leaders who had committed themselves to Russia, referring apparently mainly to those African countries which receive military support from the private military company Wagner, or its successor, the Africa Corps. 'Look at facts, first of all, and sooner or later you will get the bill,' said Sybiha. 'So that is why it is always important to diversify your relations with different parties. To diversify your security, to diversify your energy security, your food security.' Subkh stressed that Ukraine had had good relations with Africa for a long time, and noted that it had intensified relations since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Last year, it opened eight new embassies in Africa. Mathernová said that after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia had switched the focus of its disinformation campaign away from Western countries and 'massively invested' in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The West underestimated the importance of this shift, 'because the imperialist nature of this war, the imperialist desire of Putin, was so obvious in our case. 'And looking at it from different parts of the world, it's not so obvious. 'And I must say that they are so, so, so much better, the Russians, at the game of disinformation, false narratives, coming up with using existing grievances and just multiplying and making them a lot bigger.' Mathernová said Russia had switched its disinformation campaign to Africa, Asia and Latin America because it knew it would be successful internationally, as 'it's the West against the rest, right?' Moscow's disinformation includes characterising the Ukraine government as neo-Nazi and accusing it of being a puppet of the West. 'People are exhausted' In three visits to Ukraine — in November 2023, May 2024 and now June 2025 — I found that the Ukrainian people remained remarkably resilient in the face of unprovoked aggression, death and destruction. But the growing strain of the war, amid the rising toll of death and destruction, had also become apparent. Mathernová said the Ukrainian leadership was doing remarkably well. 'But people are exhausted, tired. They don't see a clear end.' She noted that President Volodymyr Zelensky's popularity had ebbed and flowed, from 98% when the war started, down to about 50% and then to above 70% after US President Donald Trump called him a dictator in the White House earlier this year. Nonetheless, she said, 'Ukrainians are knowingly by now facing a situation where there is no good and bad option. It's bad and worse options, right? 'I mean, that's the reality.' She believes the war will end 'with a temporary loss of some territories, but a sovereign and independent Ukraine.' For that to happen, an unconditional ceasefire is necessary very soon to stop the steady destruction of Ukraine and its people. Yet we do not hear the South African government using its friendship with Russia to demand that it stop bombarding Ukraine so that peace negotiations may begin. DM Peter Fabricius was visiting the Czech Republic, Poland and Ukraine on a journalists' study tour sponsored by those three governments.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Germany, Ukraine boost defence cooperation with high-level Kiev talks
Germany and Ukraine are aiming to boost cooperation in the defence sector, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Monday at a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha in Kiev. "Our defence cooperation is a real trump card," Wadephul said on his first visit to the Ukrainian capital since taking office last month. "It is a logical continuation of our material supplies and we can benefit from it on both sides," he added. "With your wealth of ideas and experience, we will also become better." Wadephul was accompanied in Kiev by high-ranking representatives of German defence companies. Talks between business representatives from both countries and with Ukrainian decision-makers were to take place on the fringes of the visit, according to the German Foreign Office. Wadephul said he would take the defence executives to a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky planned for the afternoon. "I believe it is in both sides' interests that we work more closely together here," he said. The aim is to establish new joint ventures in the defence industry "so that Ukraine can produce faster and more for its own defence," the foreign minister said. After initially supplying mainly weapons, German companies are now increasingly needed in the country, he explained. "There is a willingness to do this, but some obstacles still need to be overcome, bureaucratic obstacles and other problems for the cooperation." Sybiha warned that the Russian armed forces of today are different from those that initially invaded Ukraine in 2022. "They are gaining experience, they are also using new technologies on the battlefield," he said. This is a danger not only for Ukraine, but also for "trans-Atlantic security," Sybiha stated, warning that new air defence systems are needed to protect the cities that are particularly at risk.


The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Germany to help Ukraine make more weapons to strengthen hand in peace talks
US-led international peace efforts have failed to make progress on halting the fighting. Our institutions are working on the synchronization of European and Ukrainian sanctions. We are also fully aligning the European sanctions package targeting the regime in Iran, which includes numerous individuals, companies, and entities not only involved in military production… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 29, 2025 Russian President Vladimir Putin has effectively rejected a ceasefire and has not budged from his war goals. 'When Putin speaks of peace today, it is pure mockery,' Mr Wadephul told a news conference with Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha. 'His apparent readiness to negotiate is only a facade so far.' Russia's invasion shows no sign of letting up. Its grinding war of attrition along the roughly 1,000-kilometre (620-mile) front line and long-range strikes on civilian areas of Ukraine have killed thousands of troops and civilians. Ukraine is outgunned and short-handed on the front line and international aid has been vital for Ukraine's resistance against its neighbour's bigger army and economy. Germany has been Ukraine's second-largest military backer after the United States, whose continuing support is in doubt. 'We want to build new joint ventures so that Ukraine itself can produce faster and more for its own defence, because your needs are enormous,' Mr Wadephul said while standing next to Mr Sybiha. German foreign minister Johann Wadephul, left, and Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha talk during their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine (Efrem Lukatsky/AP) 'Our arms cooperation is a real trump card — it is a logical continuation of our delivery of material,' Mr Wadephul said. 'And we can even benefit mutually from it — with your wealth of ideas and your experience, we will become better.' Mr Wadephul was also due to meet with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. The top German diplomat's trip to Kyiv came less than 48 hours after Russia launched its biggest combined aerial attack against Ukraine over the weekend, Ukrainian officials said, in an escalating bombing campaign that has further dashed hopes for a breakthrough in peace efforts. Ukraine's air force said on Monday it detected 107 Russian Shahed and decoy drones in the country's air space overnight. Strikes in Ukraine's north-eastern Kharkiv region left two civilians dead and eight injured, including a six-year-old child, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said on Monday. The aerial onslaughts are calculated by Russia to squeeze Ukraine into submission, according to the Institute for the Study of War. 'Russia is continuing to use increasingly large numbers of drones in its overnight strike packages in order to overwhelm Ukrainian air defences and enable subsequent cruise and ballistic missile strikes,' the Washington-based think tank said late on Sunday. German foreign minister Johann Wadephul, left, and Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha stand at the entrance of St Michael Monastery in Kyiv (Efrem Lukatsky/AP) 'The increases in Russia's strike packages in recent weeks are largely due to Russia's efforts to scale up its defence industrial production, particularly of Shahed and decoy drones and ballistic missiles,' the institute added. Mr Sybiha thanked Germany for its contribution to Ukraine's air defence and urged Berlin to send more anti-missile systems. The Russians 'are attacking civilian targets in order to create panic, to influence the mood of our population', he said. 'The key is the air defence system.' Berlin has balked at granting Mr Zelensky's request to provide Ukraine with powerful German and Swedish-made Taurus long-range missiles, which could potentially hit targets inside Russia. That is due to fears such a move could enrage the Kremlin and draw Nato into Europe's biggest conflict since the Second World War. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged in May to help Ukraine develop its own long-range missile systems that would be free of any Western-imposed limitations on their use and targets.


Time of India
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Russian missile attack kills nine in Ukraine
KYIV : A Russian missile attack on Ukraine's southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region on Tuesday killed at least nine people, damaged civilian infrastructure and wounded dozens of train passengers, officials said. The two-wave strike killed seven in the regional capital of Dnipro, said governor Serhiy Lysak, where the blast wave also shattered train carriage windows and showered passengers with broken glass. Nearly 70 people including 10 children were injured, he said, adding the numbers could still rise. Two people were also killed in the town of Samar, around 10 km from Dnipro, the state emergencies service said. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called on Kyiv's Western partners to respond to the attack. NATO leaders are currently in The Hague for an alliance summit, where President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hopes to secure more military support.

Straits Times
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Russian missile attack kills nine, damages passenger train in southeast Ukraine
Rescuers carry an injured man at the site of a residential building damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine June 24, 2025. Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Dnipropetrovsk region/Handout via REUTERS Rescuers carry a man into an ambulance vehicle after he was injured during a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine June 24, 2025. Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Dnipropetrovsk region/Handout via REUTERS Rescuers carry an injured woman at the site of a building damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine June 24, 2025. Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Dnipropetrovsk region/Handout via REUTERS A Russian missile attack on Ukraine's southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region on Tuesday killed at least nine people, damaged civilian infrastructure and wounded dozens of train passengers, officials said. The two-wave strike killed seven in the regional capital of Dnipro, said governor Serhiy Lysak, where the blast wave also shattered train carriage windows and showered passengers with broken glass. Nearly 70 people including 10 children were injured, he said, adding the numbers could still rise. Two people were also killed in the town of Samar, around 10 kilometres (6 miles) from Dnipro, the state emergencies service said. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called on Kyiv's Western partners to respond to the attack. NATO leaders are currently in The Hague for an alliance summit, where President Volodymyr Zelenskiy hopes to secure more military support against Russia's full-scale invasion launched in 2022. "It is a matter of credibility for allies to step up pressure on Moscow," Sybiha wrote on X. He added that schools, kindergartens and a hospital were also damaged in Dnipro. Officials did not provide details of damage in Samar. Russia has stepped up air strikes on Ukraine in recent weeks, particularly its capital Kyiv, where 28 people were killed on June 17 in the deadliest such attack this year. Another 10 people were killed in air attacks on Kyiv and the surrounding region on Monday. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.