Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and NATO Secretary Normal Mark Rutte shake fingers throughout a press convention amid Russia’s assault on Ukraine, in kyiv, October 3, 2024. | Picture credit score: Reuters
NATO’s new Secretary Normal Mark Rutte visited Ukraine on Thursday (3 October 2024) on his first official journey since taking workplace and pledged to proceed supporting Kiev in its battle with Russia.
Rutte met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in kyiv as air raid sirens sounded twice within the Ukrainian capital.
The brand new NATO chief promised, when he took workplace on Tuesday (Oct. 1, 2024), to assist bolster Western assist for Ukraine, which has been combating Russia’s full-scale invasion since February 2022 and has not too long ago been on the defensive on account of relentless Russian strain. Military push into the jap areas.
Rutte expressed confidence that he’ll be capable to work with whoever is elected president of the US, essentially the most highly effective member of the alliance, in November. That might be a key second for Ukraine’s efforts to safe continued Western assist.
Zelenskyy mentioned he mentioned parts of Ukraine’s so-called victory plan with Rutte forward of a NATO assembly at Ramstein air base in Germany subsequent week.
The 2 additionally mentioned the battlefield scenario and the precise wants of Ukrainian army items. Zelenskyy reiterated that Ukraine wants extra weapons, together with long-range weapons.
Rutte reiterated the alliance’s unwavering assist for Ukraine, saying that “Ukraine is nearer than ever to NATO.”
Requested about Ukraine’s prospects for NATO membership, Rutte mentioned latest steps taken by NATO collectively “construct a bridge to NATO membership,” together with 40 billion euros ($44 billion) ) monetary help, bilateral safety agreements between allies and the formation of a brand new NATO command to coordinate help and coaching.
Rutte arrived after a Russian glide bomb hit a five-story condominium block in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest metropolis, wounding at the least 12 individuals, together with a 3-year-old lady, native officers mentioned Thursday (3 October 2024).
The bomb exploded between the third and fourth flooring of the constructing on Wednesday (October 2, 2024) night time, inflicting fires, Kharkiv Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov mentioned. Firefighters looked for survivors within the smoke and particles.
Town of Kharkiv, positioned about 30 kilometers from the Russian border, has been a frequent goal of airstrikes throughout the battle towards Russia that’s now in its third yr.
Gliding bombs have turn into an more and more frequent weapon in warfare. They’ve terrorized civilians and battered the Ukrainian military’s frontline defenses.
They had been a key weapon in Russia’s seize of the tactically vital city of Vuhledar on Wednesday (October 2, 2024), as Russian forces trigger destruction within the jap Donetsk area and power drained Ukrainian troops to withdraw from the cities and cities destroyed.
Ukraine has no efficient countermeasures to gliding bombs, that are dropped from Russian plane inside Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the most recent Kharkiv assault highlighted the pressing want for higher assist from Ukraine’s Western allies.
Zelensky not too long ago held talks with US officers in an effort to safe higher Western army assist.
Russia has had the initiative on the battlefield since late final yr, when the Ukrainian counteroffensive died out. Ukraine is grappling with a important frontline personnel challenge and struggling to include Russia’s devastating assaults.
Though Russia’s advances on the battlefield have been incremental, its regular advance is including up because the Ukrainians are pushed again and provides floor.
Each side have maintained common cross-border airstrikes, often at night time.
Ukraine’s air power mentioned on Thursday (October 3, 2024) that 78 of the 105 Shahed drones launched by Russia in a single day had been destroyed on Thursday (October 3, 2024) when 15 areas of the nation had been attacked.
In the meantime, the Russian army intercepted 113 Ukrainian drones in a single day, based on an announcement from the Protection Ministry in Moscow. The drones had been destroyed in 4 Russian areas on the border with Ukraine: Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk and Voronezh, he mentioned.
Printed – October 3, 2024 05:36 pm IST