Key developments on Sept. 13: * 49 Ukrainians released from Russian captivity * Finland announces $130 million aid package for Ukraine * Russia's 'rapid' offensive in Kursk Oblast hasn't yet achieved 'serious' success, Zelensky says * Russia buys Western aircraft parts via intermediaries despite sanctions * ATACMS 'pointless' without ability to strike inside Russia, Zelensky
The total amount of military aid Finland has provided Kyiv now stands at 2.3 billion euros ($2.5 billion), the Finnish Defense Ministry said.
U.S. President Joe Biden has done "a great job" of assembling and maintaining a coalition of partners but has been "slow to make some decisions," said William B. Taylor.
The U.K. announced a new 600-million-pound ($781 million) aid package for Ukraine on Sept. 11, as U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy visited Kyiv together with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Riga will give Ukraine a new aid package that will include armored personnel carriers, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on Sept. 11.
Citing undisclosed official sources, the WSJ wrote that the Western countries call for a pragmatic strategy that could be more easily sold to voters at home amid signs of growing fatigue.
Editor's note: This story was sponsored by U-LEAD (Ukraine – Local Empowerment, Accountability and Development Program), a partnership of the Ukrainian government and the European Union and its member states Germany, Poland, Denmark, and Slovenia, to support the establishment of a transparent, accountable and responsive multi-level governance system in Ukraine. KULYKIVKA,
The strategy, which the Biden administration was to submit to several congressional committees, was mentioned in the aid bill passed in late April, which provided close to $61 billion for Kyiv.
As the allies gathered at the Ramstein Air Base for the 24th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG), President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in person to lobby for faster deliveries of air defenses and long-range weapons. Despite new aid pledges, the result has been rather lackluster. Kyiv has been
Ukraine is grateful for air defenses provided by its partners, but they are still "not enough to secure our entire territory and repel every Russian attack," President Volodymyr Zelensky said during his visit to Italy on Sept. 6.
Key developments on Sept. 6: * 'Situation was catastrophic' - Ukraine's Azov says it relieved surrounded troops in Niu-York, regained ground * Zelensky's visit to Ramstein secures air defense, weapons for Ukraine * Ombudsman appeals to UN, Red Cross over alleged execution of Ukrainian POW seen on video * Zelensky claims 6,000 Russian
Ukraine received promises of more military aid from allies, including the U.S., U.K., Germany, and Canada, following a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) on Sept. 6, which President Volodymyr Zelensky attended in person.
The United States pledged a new package of weapons, ammunition and other defense aid for Ukraine worth $250 million, the Pentagon announced on Sept. 6.
On the sidelines of the meeting, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced that Berlon would deliver an additional 12 self-propelled Panzerhaubitze 2000 howitzers altogether worth 150 million euros ($165 million) to Kyiv.
The Biden administration is leading "urgent discussions" with U.S. Congress to allow it to use around $6 billion in assistance for Ukraine before a Sept. 30 deadline, Reuters reported on Sept. 5, citing undisclosed sources.
President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at the Ramstein airbase in Germany on Sept. 6 to take part in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting.
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Sept. 5 signed a decree regarding the transfer of a Patriot air defense system to Ukraine, giving final approval to the donation.
The new 17 units will be sent to Ukraine on top of the seven other systems that have already been delivered. Ukraine can expect to receive four more IRIS-T systems of different ranges by the end of 2024, government spokesperson Wolfgang Buchner said in August.
Key developments on Sept. 3: * Russia strikes Poltava with ballistic missiles, killing at least 51, injuring 271 * Ukraine plans to 'indefinitely' hold Kursk Oblast's seized territories, Zelensky says * Russian strikes damage overhead power line at occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Energoatom says * Norway pledges $53 million for drones, air defense
The donation is made through the London-led International Fund for Ukraine (IFU) in cooperation with the U.K., Lithuania, and the Netherlands. Norway has previously contributed a total of $168 million to the IFU since 2022.
The bill is yet to be signed by Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, after which the government will issue an order for the delivery to go ahead.
New Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof arrived in Ukraine's southern city of Zaporizhzhia on Sept. 2 to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky and announce a new aid package for Ukraine worth more than 200 million euros ($221 million).
"Ukraine desperately needs our help in its fight against the Russian aggressor. Our support for Ukraine continues to keep Russia at bay," Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said.
"We have explained what kind of capabilities we need to protect the citizens against the Russian terror that Russians are causing us, so I hope we were heard," Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said.
"I would probably say this is a rotation," said Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. "This is two separate issues…at this stage, I would not connect them."
The European Union will speed up the delivery of weapons and equipment for Ukraine's energy system, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said after an informal meeting with EU counterparts in Brussels on Aug. 29.
"Good progress has been made, and announcements were made, but again, some Patriot systems were announced and not delivered yet," Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told journalists ahead of an EU ministerial meeting in Brussels.
From March to July, various military units did not receive the designated humanitarian aid worth nearly Hr 172 million ($4.2 million).
Simonyte said that by the end of 2024, Lithuania will fulfill and most likely exceed its commitment to spend 0.25% of its GDP on assistance to Ukraine and defense.
Kyiv is expected to receive mobile radars later this year, the Dutch Defense Ministry said.
Though it does not mention the specific countries behind the air defense pledges, President Volodymyr Zelensky on Aug. 18 singled out the U.S., U.K., and France during his evening address in which he called on allies to speed up deliveries of promised weapons systems.
The next Ramstein-format summit of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) will be held on Sept. 6, according to U.S. Air Force in Europe, as reported by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) on Aug. 20.
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