Officials from Kyiv said that over 50 people were injured overnight after Russia launched ballistic missiles at the Ukrainian capital.
Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, said on Telegram that a hospital, a school, a kindergarten, s morgue, and residential buildings had been damaged. The latest update stated that 53 people had been injured. Twenty of those, including two children were hospitalized following the strikes.
The strike on the capital came a day after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky was in Washington to meet with President Joe Biden, US lawmakers and to try to secure an additional large amount of emergency funding amid discontent among Republicans over continued aid.
Biden and Ukraine’s other allies warned that a cessation of aid could lead to a Moscow victory, but the time is running out this week for a Senate deal. Zelensky stated that the positive signs of lawmakers at the Washington meeting did not translate into a positive outcome.
“I said exactly the thing I wanted to say. I felt the support of President Biden‘s Administration, and I also felt it today from Senators – we discussed it. We also spoke with the speaker. All these signals were present. They were positive. We know there are words and there is a tangible result. “We will wait for a more positive result,” he said.
Zelensky is slammed by Russia, who says that ‘everyone has had enough of the Kyiv beggar’
The Russian ambassador to the US has criticized the visit to the US by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky this week. He said that “everyone was tired of the beggars from Kyiv.”
Anatoly Antonov, ambassador of the Russian Embassy in Telegram, said that Zelensky’s trip was empty.
“It was impossible to convince them that Ukraine was more important than security in the United States.” Antonov said that “everyone is tired of the beggars from Kyiv”.
The US announced further sanctions on Tuesday against more than 250 individuals or entities that are accused of helping Russia evade the sanctions imposed after its invasion of Ukraine. It also announced a package of new weapons and equipment for Kyiv.
Antonov said that the measures would not be effective and would not help Ukraine. He also said, “Restrictions and supply of military products will have no effect on Russia’s priorities in foreign policy.”
“The anti-Russian measures announced today, new sanctions and another shipment weapons, are nothing more than a ploy to give a good face to a bad game. “Zelensky will not be helped by anything,” he said.
He said that the Americans “risk getting even more bogged in the quagmire” of the Ukrainian conflict.
Russia bombs Odesa, children among the injured
Ukrainian media reported that the State Emergency Situations Service confirmed that Russian forces had bombed Odesa, causing destruction. Rescuers were on the scene.
According to reports, the attack caused a fire and 11 buildings in the area were damaged. 11 people, 3 of whom were children, were injured. Drones were used to carry out the attack on Odesa, and an air alert was maintained in the district for more than six hours.
Germany will continue to support Ukraine despite budget pressures
Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor, said in a Wednesday press conference that Germany would continue to support Ukraine as long as it is necessary despite budget cuts and adjustments.
Scholz explains that this includes weapons deliveries, financial assistance for Ukraine’s budget, and assistance for Ukrainian refugees in Germany.
He said that if the situation in Ukraine changed, “we would have to react.” This could include requesting a budget emergency exception for Germany. This would allow Germany’s financial support for Ukraine to be increased.
Finance Minister Christian Lindner stated that 8 billion euros ($8.6billion) is currently allocated for “direct bilateral support for Ukraine” by 2024.
EU chief urges the bloc to support Ukraine for “as long as necessary”
The European Union’s chief executives called on Wednesday that the bloc support Ukraine for as long as necessary. Her remarks, made ahead of an important European leaders’ summit, stand in stark contrast to Hungary’s criticisms of giving more assistance to Kyiv.
Hungary has warned that it will veto any plans to help Kyiv advance its EU membership bid during a summit of leaders from the EU in Brussels on Friday and Thursday.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, told the European Parliament that the war would continue for as long as necessary.
Her Commission has suggested that the summit take a decision this coming week to begin EU membership talks with Ukraine as soon as it meets the four conditions previously set out to advance Kyiv’s EU hopes. The Brussels EU executive suggested this could happen in March.
Von der Leyen stated on Wednesday that the laws Ukraine passed, including on the issue of national minorities raised by Hungary, cleared the remaining three tasks. This left only one: a new law on lobbying to rein in the oligarchs.
While EU officials in Budapest claim they can work around Hungary’s objection to a proposal for Ukraine to receive 50 billion euros ($54billion) in economic assistance through 2027; advancing Ukraine’s European ambitions requires the unanimous support of all 27 member states.
Compiled by Ana Dumbadze
Read More @ georgiatoday.ge