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Ukraine’s air defences shot down 80 out of 135 drones launched in a mass attack by Vladimir Putin’s forces, Kyiv has said, as Volodymyr Zelensky insisted that Nato membership is the only way to end Russia’s war.
The air force said it lost track of 44 drones that likely fell into Ukrainian territory following active electronic warfare measures, while two drones went to Belarus, while Nato member Romania scrambled fighter jets after an unidentified object breached its airspace near the Black Sea.
It came after Mr Zelensky urged EU and Nato leaders in Brussels to formally invite Ukraine to join the military alliance as part of his five-point “victory plan”.
“We cannot be very strong without having an invitation [which] strengthens our diplomatic ways to end the war,” he told the Financial Times. “This war will finish when Putin will be isolated, and pushed by other partners to diplomacy.”
On the frontline, Ukrainian forces repelled 36 of 45 ground attacks near the strategic city of Kurakhove over the past 24 hours and nine clashes were still going on, Ukraine’s General Staff of the Armed Forces said on Friday morning.
Key Points
- Ukraine downs 80 out of 135 Russian drones, air force says
- Nato invite for Ukraine is only way to stop Russia’s war, says Volodymyr Zelensky
- Zelensky says 10,000 North Koreans could join Russia in Ukraine
- Russia claims it has captured a village in eastern Ukraine
- Nato chief says support for Ukraine will not waver
Starmer says Ukraine’s allies are ‘absolutely united in our resolve'
Sir Keir Starmer said allies are “absolutely united in our resolve” to back Ukraine for “as long as it takes”.
Speaking on a visit to Berlin, the prime minister said: “As Ukraine enters a difficult winter, it’s important to say we are with you. We’re absolutely united in our resolve and will back Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
He added that Russia was “getting weaker” as the war soaks up 40 per cent of its budget.
“The only acceptable outcome is a sovereign Ukraine and a just peace,” he said.
Andy Gregory19 October 2024 01:50 1729295400Ukrainian men dragged out of nightclubs by army recruiters
World is at a dangerous moment as conflicts spread, UN rights chief says
The UN’s human rights chief has warned that the world is at an especially dangerous moment in history, with disregard and disrespect for international law “reaching a deafening crescendo”.
Volker Türk said conflicts are spreading and intensifying and humanitarian and human rights laws are being “trampled amid broad impunity.”
He was sharply critical of Israeli authorities for allowing Palestinians in Gaza to reach “catastrophic levels of hunger” but also cited human rights violations in Ukraine, Sudan, Haiti and Myanmar – and said he could name many other conflicts.
Edith M Lederer has the full report:
The world is at a dangerous moment as conflicts spread, UN rights chief says
The U_N_ human rights chief is warning that the world is at an especially dangerous moment in history, with disregard and disrespect for international law “is reaching a deafening crescendo.”
Andy Gregory18 October 2024 23:50 1729290053Russia flaunts its many doomsday weapons to keep the West from ramping up support for Ukraine
Russia flaunts its many doomsday weapons to keep the West from ramping up support for Ukraine
This year has seen President Vladimir Putin repeatedly brandish the nuclear sword, reminding everyone that Russia has the world’s largest atomic arsenal in order to deter the West from ramping up support for Ukraine
Andy Gregory18 October 2024 23:20 1729288253Watch: Trump blames Zelensky for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Everything we know about North Korean troops joining Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
The US and its allies have raised the alarm after Volodymyr Zelensky and South Korea claimed that North Korea was sending thousands of soldiers to help Russia in its war in Ukraine.
My colleague Alisha Rahaman Sarkar reports:
Everything we know about North Korean troops joining Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Volodymyr Zelensky claims North Korea is preparing to send 10,000 soldiers to fight alongside Russian military, calling it the ‘first step to a world war’
Andy Gregory18 October 2024 22:20 1729284653Zelensky expecting White House feedback on ‘victory plan'
Volodymyr Zelensky has said that he expects a White House team to visit Ukraine soon with feedback on the “victory plan” he has presented to Western leaders.
He told Ukrainian media that he agreed with Joe Biden that Ukraine would be receiving assistance packages quickly, likely every two to three weeks in the months ahead.
Andy Gregory18 October 2024 21:50 1729282853Ukraine should lift ban on talks with Russia, Putin claims
Ukraine should lift its ban on talks with Russia, Vladimir Putin has said, as he remarked on possible Russian-Ukrainian negotiations in Saudi Arabia.
Russia is ready for dialogue with Ukraine but on the basis of what has already been agreed, the Russian president claimed.
Volodymyr Zelensky has said that calls for dialogue with Russia play into Mr Putin’s hands.
Andy Gregory18 October 2024 21:20 1729281053Putin says unclear when Ukraine war will end
Vladimir Putin has said it is unclear when Russia will prevail against Ukraine in the war, but that Moscow’s forces were prepared to keep fighting until they clinched victory.
The Russian president said that Russian troops were getting more technologically advanced in what he cast as a war between Moscow and Nato that the alliance was waging using Ukrainian troops.
Andy Gregory18 October 2024 20:50 1729279253Putin says he wants ‘lasting peace’ in Ukraine as he praises China-Brazil proposal
Vladimir Putin has claimed that Moscow needs to secure conditions for a lasting peace in Ukraine, which he said would help ensure Moscow's long-term security interests.
The Russian president praised a joint proposal by China and Brazil for ending the war in Ukraine as “balanced” and said it would provided a good basis for finding a solution.
The Chinese-Brazilian proposal, made public in May, calls for de-escalating the situation and resuming direct dialogue without requiring Russia to pull back its forces from Ukrainian territory.
Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed the initiative as serving Moscow's interests.
Andy Gregory18 October 2024 20:20 Newer1 / 8OlderDisclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
