Zelensky calls for jointly intercepting Russian missiles during NATO chief Rutte's visit to Kyiv
Newly appointed NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte arrived in Kyiv on Oct. 3 for a surprise visit, NATO spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah said.
Martin Fornusek
Articles
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Russia's influence on her country
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili highlights Georgia’s stalled EU accession, rising anti-Western rhetoric, and the ruling party’s troubling alignment with Russian interests, while affirming Georgian people’s support for Ukraine.
NATO 'inadequately' prepared for large-scale war with Russia, Gen. Ben Hodges says
NATO lacks adequate air defenses, military mobility, ammunition, and the mindset to be fully ready for a large-scale conventional war, retired U.S. Lieutenant General Ben Hodges said on Oct. 2.
'Ukraine will be 2nd strongest NATO member' in Europe, Latvian FM says
Ukraine will have the second-strongest military in NATO on the European continent once it joins the alliance, Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze said on Oct. 1.
Estonia's planned 'war tax' unprecedented, defense minister says
Speaking at a panel discussion at the Warsaw Security Forum attended by the Kyiv Independent, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur explained that "everybody in the society will contribute a bit more."
American pro-Kremlin fighter tortured to death by Russian soldiers, Russian investigators say
Russell Bentley, a pro-Kremlin American man who fought against Ukraine in 2014 and was killed under previously unknown circumstances in April, was tortured to death by Russian soldiers, Russia's Investigative Committee said on Sept. 20.
EU's von der Leyen unveils up to 35 billion euro loan to Ukraine as part of G7 pledge
"Relentless Russian attacks means Ukraine needs continued EU support," the chief of the EU's executive arm said during her visit to Kyiv.
US Congress nears deal on extending $6 billion in Ukraine aid before expiration, Reuters reports
U.S. Congress and the Biden administration are close to an agreement on a one-year extension of $5.8 billion in military aid for Ukraine before it expires at the end of September, Reuters reported on Sept. 19, citing two undisclosed sources.
Kyiv 2nd worst in world's air quality amid fires in region
Kyiv authorities warned about sharp and "temporary deterioration" of air quality in the city.
Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 5, injure 33 over past day
Ukrainian air defenses shot down 61 of the 70 Shahed-type drones launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported. Nine drones were "lost" in Ukraine as a result of "active measures" by Ukrainian forces.
Von der Leyen arrives in Kyiv to discuss Ukraine's energy needs with Zelensky
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv on Sept. 20 to discuss Ukraine's energy needs ahead of the coming winter.
Zelensky to meet Biden, Harris in White House on Sept. 26
"The leaders will discuss the state of the war between Russia and Ukraine, including Ukraine’s strategic planning and U.S. support for Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression," White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
EU aims to cover 25% of Ukraine's energy needs in winter, von der Leyen says ahead of Kyiv visit
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will visit Kyiv on Sept. 20 to discuss Ukraine's energy needs with President Volodymyr Zelensky, she said on Sept. 19.
Russia mining dams in Belgorod Oblast, Ukraine's military claims
Russia is placing explosives at dams in its own Belgorod Oblast, possibly preparing provocations to accuse Ukraine of causing environmental damage, a spokesperson of Ukraine's Kharkiv group of forces said on Sept. 19.
Moldova's ex-military chief charged with treason over alleged espionage for Russia
The Prosecutor's Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Cases said on Sept. 18 that Igor Gorgan stands "accused in the case concerning alleged espionage on behalf of Russia."
Polish FM reportedly suggests UN mandate and referendum in Crimea
"We could put it under a U.N. mandate with a mission to prepare a fair referendum after checking who the legal residents are and so on... And we could postpone it for 20 years," Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski suggested as one possible option, according to Interfax-Ukraine.
'This winter will be the sternest test yet' — IEA recommends 10 steps for Ukraine's energy security
The measures recommended by the IEA include "bolstering the physical and cyber security of critical energy infrastructure, expediting the delivery of equipment and spare parts for repairs, (and) accelerating the decentralization of power supply," according to a press release sent to the Kyiv Independent.
Ukraine's victory plan fully ready, Zelensky says
"The most important thing now is the determination to implement it," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on Sept. 18.
Romania urges 'robust' NATO response to airspace violations by Russia
Speaking at a meeting of the Bucharest Nine (B9) format, Romanian Defense Minister Angel Tilvar called for "enforcing the rotational air defense and integrated anti-missile model as soon as possible."
Finnish president wants Russia excluded from UN Security Council
According to Finnish President Alexander Stubb, any council member engaged in an illegal war "such as Russia is in right now in Ukraine" should be suspended.
Russia's Kursk counteroffensive halted, Kyiv claims
"(Russia) tried to attack from the flanks, but they were stopped there," spokesperson Oleksii Dmytrashkivskyi told AFP.
WSJ estimates of Ukraine's casualties 'exaggerated,' lawmaker believes
"I think that these are exaggerated data. Definitely... Namely when talking about the recorded number of killed," secretary of the parliamentary defense committee Roman Kostenko said.
Armenia uncovers alleged coup plot with Russian trace
Yerevan on Sept. 18 accused five Armenian citizens and two former residents of Nagorno-Karabakh of undergoing military training in Russia in order to stage an armed coup in Armenia.
Ukraine's parliament backs major tax hike in first reading
Ukraine's parliament approved on Sept. 17 a bill that proposes a tax increase of Hr 58 billion ($1.4 billion) in 2024 and Hr 137 billion ($3.3 billion) in 2025.
Von der Leyen names new European Commission with pro-Ukraine figures leading diplomacy, defense
For the first time in history, the European Commission will include the position of defense commissioner. Former Lithuanian Prime Minister and Member of the European Parliament Andrius Kubilius will take up the new post overseeing the EU's defense policy.
Around 1 million killed, wounded in Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine, WSJ reports
Roughly 1 million Ukrainians and Russians have been killed or wounded during Moscow's all-out war against Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Sept. 17, citing undisclosed sources and Western intelligence estimates.
'Syrians disappear in Luhansk Oblast' — Ukraine's intelligence says Moscow uses foreign fighters as cannon fodder
"Russia has established a scheme with travel companies to recruit Syrians for the war against Ukraine. First, poor people are offered jobs as security guards in Russian oil regions, and then they are lured with a higher salary" to fight the war against Ukraine, HUR said on social media.
EU preparing to raise up to 40 billion euros in loans for Ukraine without US, FT reports
The EU is preparing to gather up to 40 billion euros ($44.5 billion) in loans for Ukraine as Budapest keeps disrupting plans on a joint loan with the U.S., the Financial Times reported on Sept. 16, citing sources and a draft proposal.
US sense of urgency questioned as billions in Ukraine aid hangs in balance
News that $6 billion worth of outstanding U.S. military aid to Ukraine could expire by the end of September if Congress doesn’t take urgent action is unsettling some in Kyiv, where the painful memory of a larger package delay that led to battlefield losses remains fresh. Delivering the
Ex-US ambassador on Putin's 'red lines' and US role in Ukraine war
Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor weighs in on the upcoming presidential election and how it could drastically shape America’s support for Ukraine.
Zelensky signs law establishing Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces
President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sept. 16 signed a bill on the formation of a separate branch of Ukraine's Armed Forces dedicated to unmanned systems.
Ukraine to receive another batch of Danish F-16s this year, minister says
The Danish government promised to transfer another batch of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by the end of this year, the DR broadcaster reported on Sept. 15, citing Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen.
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