International
Biden announces 225 million for Ukraine in a meeting with Zelenski during the NATO summit
The President of the United States, Joe Biden, announced on Thursday a new military assistance package of 225 million dollars for Ukraine during a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenski, as part of the NATO summit in Washington.
“Today I am proud to announce a new set of security systems for Ukraine,” Biden and Zelenski said to the media before the meeting.
The US president explained that this is the eighth package he has authorized since Congress approved in April an aid of 61 billion dollars, which came after months of debate over the blockade of the Republicans, which caused a shortage of weapons in Ukraine.
As the Pentagon later detailed in a statement, the new military aid package includes the Patriot anti-aircraft battery that Biden already announced he would send to Ukraine two days ago, during an event to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Atlantic Alliance.
The shipment also contains Stinger ground-to-air missiles and Javelin anti-tank missiles, both portable and widely used by Ukrainian troops, as well as different types of ammunition and equipment, among other weapons.
After Biden announced the new aid package, Zelenski expressed his gratitude, considering that it was “very strong news.”
“I am grateful to you, your team, your administration, of course, to Congress, both parties, both chambers and to all Americans for their vital and firm support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. Together, we are saving lives,” said Zelenski, dressed in his characteristic military olive green clothing.
The Ukrainian president took the opportunity to mention before the cameras on Monday’s attack perpetrated by Russia against the main children’s hospital in Kiev and other Ukrainian cities, which caused at least 41 civilian casualties in the deadliest air offensive in recent months.
In connection with this attack, he thanked the sending by the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania and Italy of air defense systems, including the Patriot system, thus fulfilling one of Zelenski’s main requests.
In addition to anti-aircraft systems, the planned transfer of F-16 fighters for Ukraine is underway and will conclude this summer, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced yesterday.
At this NATO summit in Washington, which commemorates the 75th anniversary of the alliance, leaders have shown their unity in the long-term defense of Ukraine.
On Wednesday, on the first day, they already pledged to send at least another 40 billion euros (about 36,922 million dollars) of military support to Kiev next year and declared their integration into the organization “irreversible”, although they avoided setting a specific date and assured that it will happen when the right conditions are met.
Zelenski assured that his country’s accession to NATO is “very close,” after members of the Atlantic Alliance considered that the incorporation of Ukraine is irreversible.
“We are very close to our goal. The next step will be the invitation (to be part of NATO) and then membership,” Zelenski said at a press conference with NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, during the Alliance Summit in Washington.
The president of Ukraine admitted that his country will hardly be able to join NATO for the duration of the war with Russia, but showed confidence that the nation will “prevail” in the face of the Russian invasion.
The leaders of the Alliance showed on Wednesday their unity in the long-term defense of Ukraine, in which they pledged at least another 40 billion euros of military support for Kiev next year and said that their integration into the organization is “irreversible”.
Stoltenberg stated that “there is no doubt that Ukraine has the right to use the weapons it has received” to attack “legitimate targets,” and asked not to forget that Russia was the one who invaded Ukraine ignoring international law.
International
Ukraine declares nationwide energy emergency amid russian attacks and extreme cold
The Ukrainian government on Wednesday declared a nationwide energy state of emergency amid continued Russian military attacks and extreme winter weather, with nighttime temperatures dropping as low as minus 18 degrees Celsius.
“The consequences of Russian attacks and worsening weather conditions are severe (…) Overall, a state of emergency will be declared for Ukraine’s energy sector,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a statement posted on social media following a meeting with senior officials.
Zelensky announced the creation of a “permanent coordination headquarters” to manage the crisis in the capital, Kyiv, and tasked former defence minister and current energy chief Denys Shmyhal with overseeing support efforts for affected individuals and communities, including addressing power outages, heating shortages and other “practical issues.”
“There are many problems that require urgent solutions,” the president said, noting that repair crews, energy companies, municipal services and the State Emergency Service are working “around the clock” to restore electricity supplies. Kyiv has been particularly affected after Russian strikes last Friday disabled key parts of the power grid, as daytime temperatures hover around minus 12 degrees Celsius and plunge to minus 18 at night.
Zelensky added that public authorities will “maximize efforts with partners to obtain the necessary equipment and additional support,” while the government will ensure “maximum deregulation of all processes” to speed up the connection of backup power equipment to the grid. He also confirmed that work is underway to significantly increase electricity imports into Ukraine.
The Ukrainian leader further instructed his Cabinet to review curfew regulations in light of the extreme cold, arguing that citizens must have the greatest possible access to assistance centers, while businesses should be given flexibility to plan their operations according to the state of the energy system.
International
France joins Denmark’s ‘Operation Arctic Resistance’ in Greenland amid U.S. tensions
French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed in the early hours of Thursday (Wednesday afternoon in El Salvador) that France will take part in “Operation Arctic Resistance,” after Denmark announced it would expand its military presence in Greenland amid rising tensions with the United States over Washington’s stated ambitions regarding the semi-autonomous territory.
“At Denmark’s request, I have decided that France will participate in the joint exercises organized by Denmark in Greenland, ‘Operation Arctic Resistance,’” Macron said in a brief message posted on social media at 5:18 p.m.
The French president added that “the first French military elements are already on their way, with others to follow,” though he did not specify the number of troops being deployed or the scale of France’s planned contribution.
The governments of Sweden, Norway and Germany have also confirmed the deployment of military contingents to Greenland. Germany’s armed forces will send a 13-member reconnaissance team to the Greenlandic capital, Nuuk, to take part in a mission scheduled to run from Thursday through Saturday, according to the German Ministry of Defence.
Denmark’s announcement came shortly before a Danish delegation met at the White House with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss Washington’s plans regarding Greenland. Copenhagen said the military activities would be carried out “in close cooperation with NATO allies.”
International
Iran closes airspace amid U.S. threats and deadly nationwide protests
Iranian authorities closed the country’s airspace in the early hours of Thursday, according to data from flight-tracking website FlightRadar24, amid growing threats of a possible U.S. attack as protests across the country continue and have reportedly left thousands dead.
According to FlightRadar24, the Iranian government suspended all flights to and from the country, except for international flights that have received special authorization. The notice was initially issued for a duration of just over two hours.
The move comes after U.S. President Donald Trump in recent days threatened to strike Iran if its security forces failed to halt the deaths linked to weeks-long protests that began in Tehran and later spread to other Iranian cities. Despite the threats, the White House said diplomacy remains Trump’s preferred option.
Speaking from the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump claimed that “the deaths in Iran have stopped” and said there would be no executions of protesters following his warnings to Tehran. He added that his administration would seek to verify those claims.
“I’ve been told the deaths in Iran are stopping. They’ve stopped, and that there are no plans for executions,” Trump told reporters, cautioning that the United States would be “very upset” if those assurances proved to be untrue.
The statements contrast with reports from rights groups. The Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) said on Wednesday that more than 3,400 people have been killed since the protests erupted. Meanwhile, Kurdish-Iranian rights group Hengaw reported this week that a 26-year-old Iranian man, Erfan Soltani, was facing execution as of Wednesday.
Ukraine declares nationwide energy emergency amid russian attacks and extreme cold
France joins Denmark’s ‘Operation Arctic Resistance’ in Greenland amid U.S. tensions
Iran closes airspace amid U.S. threats and deadly nationwide protests
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