Nato warns of Ukrainian refugee surge
Europe can expect the arrival of more Ukrainian refugees as Vladimir Putin uses winter as a weapon of war, the head of Nato has warned.
The United States and its allies used a meeting in Romania to promise more arms for Kyiv and equipment to rebuild the national grid that has been ravaged by Russian missile strikes.
Jens Stoltenberg, the Nato secretary general, said: “We have to be prepared for more refugees crossing into the rest of Europe” as a result of Russia’s “deliberate attack on critical services, heating, light, water and gas” in Ukraine.
Speaking in Bucharest at the twoday summit of foreign ministers to mobilise support for Ukraine, he said: “I think we all have seen these pictures taken from satellites where you see Europe in light and then you see Ukraine dark . . . so there is a huge task to rebuild all of this.
“President Putin is trying to use winter as a weapon of war.”
In the nine months since Russia’s full-scale invasion began, about 6.5 million Ukrainians are thought to have moved internally to flee fighting and another eight million have left the country.
Aid agencies have said the onset of winter and the Kremlin’s attempt to break Ukraine’s resistance by shattering infrastructure may trigger another influx as people seek warmth and safety.
Russia has sent waves of missiles and exploding drones to destroy infrastructure in recent weeks. While Ukraine’s air defences have shot down many, those that have got through have caused damage to the national grid.
Blackouts have become more severe and millions have been left without water, or struggling to heat their homes.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Ukrainians at the start of this week to expect another barrage soon. Ukraine has seen early snows in the north and east and by midwinter temperatures may fall to as low as -20C.
James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, accused Putin of trying to “freeze the Ukrainians into submission”.
A senior European diplomat added: “It is going to be a terrible winter for Ukraine, so we are working to strengthen our support for it to be resilient.”
America has announced a US$53 million ($85m) package to buy transformers, circuit-breakers, surge arresters and other equipment to help Kyiv patch up its grid.
Dmytro Kuleba, the Ukrainian foreign minister, said: “If we have transformers and generators, we can restore our energy needs. If we have air defence systems, we can protect [ourselves] from the next Russian missile strikes. In a nutshell: Patriots and transformers are what Ukraine needs the most.”
Ministers also confirmed a 2008 summit decision that Ukraine would eventually become a member of the military alliance. But, as in 2008, there were no concrete steps or timetable that would actually bring the country closer to membership.
“We stated that Ukraine will become a member, I expect allies to reiterate that position,” Stoltenberg said.
Assistance with ammunition, medical supplies, winter equipment and drone jammers was also discussed.