Ukraine plea for urgent air defence systems and ammunition
Russian missiles have pounded its energy structures in recent weeks
Ukraine appealed again to allies yesterday for “extraordinary and bold steps” to supply air defences to help defend against waves of Russian air strikes that have targeted their energy system in recent weeks.
Russian missile and drone attacks have pounded Ukrainian energy infrastructure since mid-March, prompting Kyiv to issue increasingly desperate calls for air defence help.
“We urgently require additional Patriot and other modern air defence systems, weapons and ammunition,” foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba told a Black Sea security conference via video link.
“I take this opportunity to once again urge all of our partners to take extraordinary and bold steps.”
“Ukrainian air defence is now protecting not only Ukrainian skies from Russian air terror, it also shields neighbouring Moldova, Romania and Poland from the immediate threat of missiles and drones entering their air space,” he added.
Western allies have been reluctant to send additional air defences to Kyiv, while Ukraine needs 26 Patriot systems to cover the country’s territory in full. Germany has pledged to deliver another system following calls from Kyiv.
Yesterday, Mr Kuleba met his Norwegian counterpart Espen Barth Eide who is visiting Ukraine’s capital to coordinate efforts to ensure prompt supplies of Patriots.
“We are discussing with others how we could be helpful in making sure that more Patriots are made available,” Mr Eide said.
The Ukrainian minister hailed the efficiency of allied support to Israel in repelling Iran’s air attack at the weekend, and urged countries to follow that example when it comes to Ukraine.
“Everything we are asking from partners, even if you cannot act the way you act in Israel, give us what we need, and we will do the rest of the job,” Mr Kuleba said.
Meanwhile at least 16 people were killed in Tokmak in southern Zaporizhzhia region after it was shelled by the Ukrainian military. The town is held by Russia.
Yevgeny Balitsky, the top official in the region appointed by Moscow, said on Telegram that 20 people were wounded in the shelling on Friday night and 12 of them are in serious condition.
The attack came as Ukraine’s army chief said the situation on the eastern front had worsened in recent days after Russian forces intensified their armoured assaults near Bakhmut.
Russia’s defence ministry said on Saturday its forces had captured Pervomaiske, a village in the Donetsk region where Moscow has focused its offensive operations for months.
Meanwhile, Switzerland said it would host a peace conference in June to help chart a path towards peace in Ukraine after more than two years of fighting.
But Vladimir Put in said Moscow hadn’ t been invited to join the talks while noting the Swiss recognition that a peace process couldn’t happen without Russia.
“They aren’t inviting us there. Moreover, they think there is nothing for us to do there, but at the same time they say that’s it’s impossible to decide anything without us,” he said.
“It would have been funny if it weren’t so sad.”
Meanwhile the US secretary of state Antony Blinken assured allies bordering the Black Sea yesterday that they could depend on his country’s support to make the region more secure, prosperous and integrated.
Addressing the attendees of the Second Black Sea Security Conference in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, via a video feed, Mr Blinken underscored the importance of investing in the region’s security to ensure peace and freedom across Europe.
Russia illegally annexed the Crimean Peninsula – on the northern coast of the Black Sea – in 2014. It has served as a key hub supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine which Putin ordered in February 2022.
“Putin believed that Ukraine’s neighbours in the region would be divided, but he was wrong,” Mr Blinken said, adding that “the United States will continue to support Ukraine both so it can defend itself today and stand on its feet”.
Russia and Ukraine negotiated for two months with Turkey on a deal to ensure the safety of shipping in the Black Sea and reached agreement on a text that was to be announced by Ankara but Kyiv suddenly pulled out, four people familiar with the matter told Reuters.
The negotiations were mediated by Turkey after nudging by the United Nations, according to the sources who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of such talks.
A deal was reached in March “to ensure the safety of merchant shipping in the Black Sea”, and though Ukraine did not want to sign it formally, Kyiv gave its assent for Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to announce it on March 30, the day before critical regional elections, the sources said.
“At the very last minute, Ukraine suddenly pulled out and the deal was scuttled,” said one of the sources.
“Give us what we need, and we will do the rest of the job” Minister Dmytro Kuleba