Latest news with #VolodomyrZelenskyy
The Guardian
a day ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Ukraine awaiting details on ‘billions of dollars' worth of weapons promised by Trump
Ukraine is waiting for further details of the 'billions of dollars' worth of US military equipment promised by Donald Trump on Monday, amid confusion as to how many Patriot air defence systems will be sent to Kyiv. At a meeting at the White House with the Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte, on Monday, Trump said an unnamed country was ready to immediately provide '17 Patriots' as he said a 'very big deal' had been agreed for European allies to buy weapons from the United States and then ship them to Ukraine. Ukraine is currently believed to have only six functioning Patriot air defence batteries, which can intercept fast-moving Russian cruise and ballistic missiles. Maj Gen Vadym Skibitskyi, the deputy head of Ukraine's military intelligence agency, the HUR, said it was unclear what the US president meant. 'We don't know exactly,' he said, adding that Ukraine was grateful for the assistance and had reacted 'positively' to the White House's announcement. The general also confirmed that Trump and the Ukrainian president, Volodomyr Zelenskyy, had discussed the possibility of the US providing long-range Tomahawk missiles in a call earlier in July but no agreement had been reached. Skibitskyi said Trump in his comments on Patriots could have been referring to interceptor missiles, launching stations or entire batteries comprising multiple launchers and radar and control systems, which cost more than a billion dollars each. 'Seventeen is a huge number if we are talking about batteries. If it's launchers, that's possible,' he added. Each Patriot system comes with six launchers. Germany has agreed to provide two Patriot systems, with the Netherlands donating a third, Skibitskyi said. 'That would be 18 launchers for three batteries, which is close to 17. The US administration and the Pentagon will give us further details,' he added. The possibility of the US providing long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, as discussed by Trump and Zelenskyy this month, is likely to enrage Vladimir Putin. The precision cruise missiles are capable of striking Moscow and have a range of 1,600km. Previous Ukrainian requests were rejected by the Biden administration. During a call on 4 July, Trump asked Zelenskyy if he could hit the Russian capital and St Petersburg. According to Skibitskyi, Zelenskyy replied: 'Yes, absolutely. We can if you give us the weapons'. The Trump administration has so far not agreed to send Tomahawks. If it did provide the weapons, Ukraine would struggle to deploy them, Skibitskyi said. 'They are not easy to use. The main launchers are combat ships or strategic bombers. We don't have any strategic bomber aircraft,' he recognised. But he said it was crucial Ukraine had the ability to conduct 'kinetic' strikes deep inside Russia against high-value military targets. Discussions were ongoing with Washington over lifting restrictions imposed by the last administration on the use of Atacams, US provided missiles with a 300km range – about 190 miles. The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that the Trump administration was likely to allow Atacams to be used inside Russia at their full range, and was considering sending additional missiles. Currently, they can only be fired into Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, and not used on Russian territory. Skibitskyi said the Kremlin had already moved its strategic military bases more than 500km from its border with Ukraine. Kyiv was only able to hit them using unmanned kamikaze drones which can carry 5okg of explosives. Atacams, by contrast, have a 500kg payload and can cause greater destruction. 'It's very important for us to get approval from the US to use long-range missiles,' he said. 'We want to destroy and to disrupt, in accordance with Nato procedure.' Zelenskyy said he had a 'really good conversation' with Trump following Monday's announcement of a big weapons package. He said he discussed with the US president how to achieve 'a lasting and just peace' and to stop Russian bombardment of Ukrainian cities, which have been hit in recent weeks by hundreds of drones and missiles. Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands on Tuesday said they wanted to participate in Trump's plan for Europe to buy US weapons for Ukraine. Politicians in Kyiv have broadly welcomed the improvement in relations with the US, following Zelenskyy's disastrous White House meeting with Trump in February. But there was also frustration that US tariffs and secondary sanctions on Russia have been postponed again, with Trump setting a deadline of 50 days. In an interview with the BBC, Trump said he was 'disappointed, but not done' with Putin. Russian officials have dismissed Trump's threat as 'hot air', pointing out he has changed his mind several times on sanctions and other issues. 'Trump issued a theatrical ultimatum to the Kremlin. The world shuddered, expecting the consequences … Russia didn't care,' the former president Dmitry Medvedev wrote on X. Trump's envoy to Ukraine, Gen Keith Kellogg, is in Kyiv on a week-long visit. On Monday he met Zelenskyy and commander in chief Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, as well as Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine's military intelligence chief and Skibitskyi. Kellogg was briefed on Russian plans for a summer offensive and on the latest from the frontline in the east, where Russian troops are advancing. Skibitskyi said the US president had 'more experienced' people around him than in his first presidential term and did not behave like a 'classical' politician. 'He's more of a businessman. It isn't easy to understand Mr Trump,' Skibitskyi added.
The Guardian
a day ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Ukraine awaiting details on ‘billions of dollars' worth of weapons promised by Trump
Ukraine is waiting for further details of the 'billions of dollars' worth of US military equipment promised by Donald Trump on Monday, amid confusion as to how many Patriot air defence systems will be sent to Kyiv. At a meeting at the White House with the Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte, on Monday, Trump said an unnamed country was ready to immediately provide '17 Patriots' as he said a 'very big deal' had been agreed for European allies to buy weapons from the United States and then ship them to Ukraine. Ukraine is currently believed to have only six functioning Patriot air defence batteries, which can intercept fast-moving Russian cruise and ballistic missiles. Maj Gen Vadym Skibitskyi, the deputy head of Ukraine's military intelligence agency, the HUR, said it was unclear what the US president meant. 'We don't know exactly,' he said, adding that Ukraine was grateful for the assistance and had reacted 'positively' to the White House's announcement. The general also confirmed that Trump and the Ukrainian president, Volodomyr Zelenskyy, had discussed the possibility of the US providing long-range Tomahawk missiles in a call earlier in July but no agreement had been reached. Skibitskyi said Trump in his comments on Patriots could have been referring to interceptor missiles, launching stations or entire batteries comprising multiple launchers and radar and control systems, which cost more than a billion dollars each. 'Seventeen is a huge number if we are talking about batteries. If it's launchers, that's possible,' he added. Each Patriot system comes with six launchers. Germany has agreed to provide two Patriot systems, with the Netherlands donating a third, Skibitskyi said. 'That would be 18 launchers for three batteries, which is close to 17. The US administration and the Pentagon will give us further details,' he added. The possibility of the US providing long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, as discussed by Trump and Zelenskyy this month, is likely to enrage Vladimir Putin. The precision cruise missiles are capable of striking Moscow and have a range of 1,600km. Previous Ukrainian requests were rejected by the Biden administration. During a call on 4 July, Trump asked Zelenskyy if he could hit the Russian capital and St Petersburg. According to Skibitskyi, Zelenskyy replied: 'Yes, absolutely. We can if you give us the weapons'. The Trump administration has so far not agreed to send Tomahawks. If it did provide the weapons, Ukraine would struggle to deploy them, Skibitskyi said. 'They are not easy to use. The main launchers are combat ships or strategic bombers. We don't have any strategic bomber aircraft,' he recognised. But he said it was crucial Ukraine had the ability to conduct 'kinetic' strikes deep inside Russia against high-value military targets. Discussions were ongoing with Washington over lifting restrictions imposed by the last administration on the use of Atacams, US provided missiles with a 300km range – about 190 miles. The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that the Trump administration was likely to allow Atacams to be used inside Russia at their full range, and was considering sending additional missiles. Currently, they can only be fired into Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, and not used on Russian territory. Skibitskyi said the Kremlin had already moved its strategic military bases more than 500km from its border with Ukraine. Kyiv was only able to hit them using unmanned kamikaze drones which can carry 5okg of explosives. Atacams, by contrast, have a 500kg payload and can cause greater destruction. 'It's very important for us to get approval from the US to use long-range missiles,' he said. 'We want to destroy and to disrupt, in accordance with Nato procedure.' Zelenskyy said he had a 'really good conversation' with Trump following Monday's announcement of a big weapons package. He said he discussed with the US president how to achieve 'a lasting and just peace' and to stop Russian bombardment of Ukrainian cities, which have been hit in recent weeks by hundreds of drones and missiles. Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands on Tuesday said they wanted to participate in Trump's plan for Europe to buy US weapons for Ukraine. Politicians in Kyiv have broadly welcomed the improvement in relations with the US, following Zelenskyy's disastrous White House meeting with Trump in February. But there was also frustration that US tariffs and secondary sanctions on Russia have been postponed again, with Trump setting a deadline of 50 days. In an interview with the BBC, Trump said he was 'disappointed, but not done' with Putin. Russian officials have dismissed Trump's threat as 'hot air', pointing out he has changed his mind several times on sanctions and other issues. 'Trump issued a theatrical ultimatum to the Kremlin. The world shuddered, expecting the consequences … Russia didn't care,' the former president Dmitry Medvedev wrote on X. Trump's envoy to Ukraine, Gen Keith Kellogg, is in Kyiv on a week-long visit. On Monday he met Zelenskyy and commander in chief Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, as well as Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine's military intelligence chief and Skibitskyi. Kellogg was briefed on Russian plans for a summer offensive and on the latest from the frontline in the east, where Russian troops are advancing. Skibitskyi said the US president had 'more experienced' people around him than in his first presidential term and did not behave like a 'classical' politician. 'He's more of a businessman. It isn't easy to understand Mr Trump,' Skibitskyi added.
ITV News
17-06-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
At least 15 killed and at least 95 injured in latest Russian strikes on Ukraine
A Russian missile strike on Kyiv on Tuesday night killed at least 14 people and wounded at least 95 others in one of the deadliest attacks on the Ukrainian capital in recent months, local officials said. The attack hollowed out a nine story residential building and destroyed dozens of apartments, with emergency workers on the scene attempting to rescue survivors from the rubble. Writing on X, Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy called the attack "one of the most horrific attacks," Kyiv has faced and said more than 440 drones and 32 missiles were used in the assault. "Such attacks are pure terrorism. And the whole world, the United States, and Europe must finally respond as a civilized society responds to terrorists," Zelenskyy wrote. Separate strikes in the city of Odessa killed at least one and wounded more than 15 according to Oleh Kiper, the regional governor. Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko told reporters: "We have 27 locations that were attacked by the enemy. We currently have over 2,000 people working there, rescuers, police, municipal services and doctors." He added that one US citizen had been killed in the attack after suffering wounds from shrapnel. Olena Lapyshniak, 49, was shaken from the attack that nearly leveled her apartment building. She heard a whistling sound and then two explosions that blew out her windows and doors. "It's horrible, it's scary, in one moment there is no life," she said. "There's no military infrastructure here, nothing here, nothing. It's horrible when people just die at night." The attack lasted nearly nine hours and is the latest in a spate of mass drone and missile attacks on Kyiv. It occurred as world leaders convened at the Group of Seven meeting in Canada, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to attend. Canada, which assumed the presidency of the G7 this year, invited Zelenskyy to the summit, where he is expected to hold one-on-one meetings with world leaders. Zelenskyy was set to meet with US President Donald Trump in Canada on Tuesday, though the White House announced that Trump would return unexpectedly to Washington on Monday night due to tensions in the Middle East.
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Ukraine destroyed more than 40 military aircraft in a drone attack deep inside Russia, official says
Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy (AP) KYIV: A Ukrainian drone attack has destroyed more than 40 Russian planes deep in Russia's territory, a Ukrainian security official told The Associated Press on Sunday, while Russia pounded Ukraine with missiles and drones a day before the two sides meet for a new round of direct talks in Istanbul. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to disclose operational details, said the attack took over 1 1/2-year to execute and was personally supervised by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The operation saw drones transported in containers carried by trucks deep into Russian territory, he said. The drones hit airfields including the Belaya air base in Russia's Irkutsk region, more than 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) from Ukraine. It is the first time that a Ukrainian drone has been seen in the region, local Gov. Igor Kobzeva said, stressing that it did not present a threat to civilians. The attack was disclosed on the same day as Zelenskyy said Ukraine will send a delegation to Istanbul for a new round of direct peace talks with Russia on Monday. In a statement on Telegram, Zelenskyy said that Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will lead the Ukrainian delegation. "We are doing everything to protect our independence, our state and our people," Zelenskyy said. Ukrainian officials had previously called on the Kremlin to provide a promised memorandum setting out its position on ending the war before the meeting takes place. Moscow had said it would share its memorandum during the talks. Russian strike hits an army unit Russia on Sunday launched the biggest number of drones - 472 - on Ukraine since the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine's air force said. Russian forces also launched seven missiles alongside the barrage of drones, said Yuriy Ignat, head of communications for the air force. Earlier Sunday, Ukraine's army said at least 12 Ukrainian service members were killed and more than 60 were injured in a Russian missile strike on an army training unit. The strike occurred at 12:50 p.m., the statement said, emphasizing that no formations or mass gatherings of personnel were being held at the time. An investigative commission was created to uncover the circumstances around the attack that led to such a loss in personnel, the statement said. The training unit is located to the rear of the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) active front line, where Russian reconnaissance and strike drones are able to strike. Ukraine's forces suffer from manpower shortages and take extra precautions to avoid mass gatherings as the skies across the front line are saturated with Russian drones looking for targets. "If it is established that the actions or inaction of officials led to the death or injury of servicemen, those responsible will be held strictly accountable," the Ukrainian Ground Forces' statement said. Northern pressure Russia's Ministry of Defense said Sunday that it had taken control of the village of Oleksiivka in Ukraine's northern Sumy region. Ukrainian authorities in Sumy ordered mandatory evacuations in 11 more settlements Saturday as Russian forces make steady gains in the area. Speaking Saturday, Ukraine's top army chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said that Russian forces were focusing their main offensive efforts on Pokrovsk, Toretsk and Lyman in the Donetsk region, as well as the Sumy border area.
9 News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- 9 News
Zelenskyy agrees to meet Putin
Ukraine's President Volodomyr Zelenskyy says he would meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Turkey raising hopes of possible high-stakes peace talks.
