LIVE – War in Ukraine: NATO must provide “predictable” and “long-term” military aid for kyiv, says Stoltenberg

Finnish President Alexander Stubb signed a security agreement with Ukraine during a trip to kyiv, where he met Volodymyr Zelensky and announced new aid including munitions and air defense.

In this ten-year agreement, Finland promises to “continue to provide long-term military, political and financial support” to Ukraine “as long as necessary”. Ukraine has signed bilateral security agreements with seven other partner countries in recent weeks, seeking to consolidate its Western alliances at a time when its army is struggling against Russian troops.

How do the inhabitants of the capital react to the lowering of the age, from 27 to 25, from which it is possible to be mobilized to the front? “Everyone must get involved, even from the age of 18. 25 years is already too late,” reacted a passerby in kyiv to the LCI microphone. An opinion not shared by everyone: “The guys are too young, from a psychological point of view they are not yet ready,” warns another Ukrainian.

“Ukraine is currently the only country in the world that defends itself against ballistic missiles almost every day,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kouleba said on X on Wednesday, upon his arrival at NATO headquarters. This is why “all Patriot missiles”, used for anti-aircraft defense, “available in the world” should be sent to Ukraine “as soon as possible”, he stressed.

According to a poll carried out by the Kyiv Independent, 54% of Ukrainians understand those who avoid mobilization. After two years of war, strong patriotic sentiment was severely tested.

According to the CSIS, North Korea provided Russia with 10,000 containers of military aid. They were allegedly delivered to three depots located near the Ukrainian front. Furthermore, three million shells were reportedly supplied to the Ukrainian front. Further proof of the good relations maintained between North Korea and Russia.

During his general audience in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis paid tribute to a young Ukrainian soldier killed at the front by showing his religious personal effects. “This boy was called Olexandre, 23 years old (…) He died in Avdiïvka, on the front, leaving a life that he had before him,” explained the pope, holding in his hand a rosary and a copy of the New Testament which belonged to the soldier.

Francis then invited the thousands of faithful to meditate for a few moments in silence. “I would like everyone to be silent for a moment, thinking of this boy and all the others who, like him, died in this madness of war,” said the 87-year-old Jesuit.

In March, Russia used “more than 400 missiles of different types, 600 ‘Shahed’ drones and more than 3,000 guided bombs” towards Ukraine, according to Volodymyr Zelensky. In a message posted on The Head of State once again calls for solidarity from allies with the sending of air defense systems, to “save lives and restore the feeling of security in our cities”.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the Atlantic Alliance must provide “predictable” and “long-term” military aid for Ukraine, as the country at war faces a shortage of resources. ammunition on the front. “We must ensure reliable, predictable and long-term military assistance for Ukraine,” he said.

Diplomatic sources reported yesterday that Jens Stoltenberg intended to propose an aid fund to Ukraine of 100 billion euros over five years, while the 32 NATO foreign ministers meet today in Brussels.

The Russian Defense Ministry said it had observed a “significant increase” in recruitment since the deadly attack on March 22 against a concert hall near Moscow, assuring that these new recruits wanted to “avenge” the victims. “In total, around 16,000 citizens have signed contracts to participate in the special military operation over the past ten days,” he said in a statement published on Telegram, using the euphemism imposed by the Kremlin.

The Islamic State jihadist group claimed responsibility for this attack, the deadliest in Russia in twenty years. But the Russian authorities, led by President Vladimir Putin, persist in establishing a link between Ukraine and the attack, even if kyiv rejects these accusations.

Find below a summary of important information from the last 24 hours related to the conflict:

• Aid of 576 million euros: the German government announced that it would contribute 576 million euros to the Czech initiative for group purchases of ammunition outside the European Union to support Ukraine and compensate for production shortfalls in the EU . With this sum, “Germany will finance the purchase of 180,000 munitions” and will provide “nearly 40% of the total amount” promised by the European states participating in this project, explained the Ministry of Defense. These munitions should be delivered “from June” to the Ukrainian front
• An aid fund for Ukraine of 100 billion euros: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will propose the creation of a fund of 100 billion euros over five years to help Ukraine in its war against Russia. The 32 countries of the Atlantic Alliance are due to talk about it today, during a meeting of their foreign ministers in Brussels.
• China’s position is criticized: a senior White House official said the United States was “quite concerned” about China’s economic and industrial support for Russia, as US President Joe Biden spoke by telephone with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
• A new leader for the Russian fleet in the Black Sea: Russia has appointed a new commander at the head of its fleet in the Black Sea, its Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday, Ukraine having had a string of successes in this area despite Moscow’s numerical advantage. Admiral Alexandre Moïsseïev was appointed, replacing Nikolaï Evmenov, in office since May 2019.
• 400 km² of conquest: Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu claimed to have reconquered 403 km² of territory in Ukraine since the beginning of the year, referring to the Ukrainian regions of Lugansk, Kherson, Donetsk and Zaporizhia, which Russia claims to annex and which she only partially controls. His troops are taking the initiative against Ukrainian soldiers lacking ammunition, but the Russian army has not made a major breakthrough either.
• A Russian strike in Dnipro: At least 18 people, including children, were injured Tuesday in a Russian strike on the town of Dnipro, in south-central Ukraine, regional governor Serguii Lyssak announced. According to the emergency services, a business, a kindergarten and a higher education establishment were “destroyed” in this attack.
• 13 injured following Ukrainian drone attack: according to a new report published by local authorities, the drone attack, claimed by Ukraine, which hit an industrial site in Tatarstan, in central Russia, left at least 13 injured.
• The age of mobilization in Ukraine lowered: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a bill providing for lowering the age of military mobilization from 27 to 25, while the armed forces lack the men to face the Russian invasion.

Hello and welcome to this live broadcast dedicated to the war in Ukraine. Find here all the information of the day concerning the conflict initiated by Russia more than two years ago.