637 Day of the Russia-Ukraine War: The Ongoing Crisis
The White House has raised alarms about the potential transfer of ballistic missiles from Iran to Russia. In another development, Germany has pledged a military aid package of $1.4 billion.
As the conflict extends into its 637 days, here are the key developments.
The White House has expressed concerns that Iran may supply ballistic missiles to Russia for use against Ukraine. John Kirby, a spokesperson for the US National Security Council, stated that Russia, in exchange for support, has offered extensive defense collaboration to Iran, encompassing missiles, electronics, and air defense.
Despite President Joe Biden’s request for over $61 billion in emergency funding for Ukraine’s defense facing obstacles in Congress, the US Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, has declared that the Pentagon will allocate an additional $100 million in weapons to Ukraine from existing US stockpiles. This includes another Himars mobile artillery system.
The UN Human Rights Office reported that more than 10,000 civilians have lost their lives in Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, with recent deaths occurring even beyond the frontlines. The actual toll is expected to be considerably higher. Germany has pledged additional military aid of €1.3 billion ($1.4 billion) to Ukraine, including an extra IRIS-T air defense unit, according to Germany’s Defense Minister, Boris Pistorius.
The UK Ministry of Defence’s intelligence update notes that Russia Ukraine conflict has refrained from using its premier air-launched cruise missiles for almost two months, potentially accumulating a substantial stockpile for future use.
Recent Russian strikes targeted port infrastructure in Odesa, southern Ukraine, with no reported injuries. Additionally, a humanitarian corridor to the Black Sea is being maintained by Ukraine to bypass Russia’s de facto port blockade. A Slovakian border crossing with Ukraine was briefly blocked, reportedly involving a single truck, causing concerns among Slovakian haulers’ unions.
Charles Michel, President of the European Council, during his visit to Kyiv, anticipated a challenging discussion next month regarding Ukraine’s potential EU membership. While the European Commission recommends initiating formal membership negotiations, all 27 EU member states must agree for talks to commence. Michel expressed his commitment to pushing for a decision in December, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy voiced optimism about the EU’s readiness to play its part in the process by the year’s end.
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636 Day of the Russia-Ukraine War: The Ongoing Crisis
Source : The Guardian
