Ukraine update: Kyiv calls on West to step up military aid | Current World | DW

Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya listens to Volodymyr Zelenskyy's speech

The essentials in brief:

  • Kiev Foreign Ministry calls for “significant” military reinforcements
  • After sham referendums, Zelenskyy is sticking to occupied territories
  • Canada is considering new Russia sanctions
  • EU assumes sabotage in pipeline leaks
  • Taliban reportedly sign trade deal with Russia

After the sham referendums in four Russian-held areas of Ukraine on annexation by Russia, the government in Kyiv has called on the West to “significantly” increase its military support. Ukraine is calling on the EU, NATO and G7 to step up pressure on Russia by imposing “tough new sanctions” and “significantly” increasing military aid to Ukraine, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said.

Specifically, the ministry called for fighter jets, tanks, armored vehicles, long-range artillery, and anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense equipment. Kyiv also appealed to “all states and international organizations” to condemn the Kremlin’s “illegal actions” in occupied territories of Ukraine and to intensify Russia’s isolation.

“Cynic Attempt at Recruitment”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had previously described the sham referendums in the occupied territories as a “cynical attempt” to mobilize the men there for the Russian army. In a video message to the Security Council in New York, he went on to say that Russia’s recognition of the “pseudo referendums” means “there is nothing to discuss with the incumbent Russian President (Vladimir Putin)”.

Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya listens to Volodymyr Zelenskyy's speech

The Russian Ambassador to the UN Security Council follows the Ukrainian President’s video message

UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo reiterated during the session that the United Nations remains fully supportive of “the sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine.” China also called for respecting the “territorial integrity of all countries”. Beijing’s stance on this is “consistent and clear,” said China’s ambassador to the UN, Zhang Jun.

Occupiers speak of “overwhelming approval”

After the sham referendum, the Russian occupiers spoke of “overwhelming support from the local population for annexation to Russia”. In Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, more than 99 percent of voters would have approved. According to Russian information, it was more than 98 percent in Luhansk, more than 93 percent in Zaporizhia in the south and more than 87 percent in Cherson, also in the south. The four regions together make up about 15 percent of Ukraine’s territory. Meanwhile, the leaders of the separatists in Luhansk and Kherson have asked Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin for the annexation of their regions by Russia.

Women empty ballot boxes

With such images, Russia is trying to give legitimacy to the voting in the occupied Ukrainian territories

Heavy criticism and new sanctions

The mock referendums held over the past five days are not recognized around the world because they were held in violation of Ukrainian and international laws and without minimum democratic standards.

Among others, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell described the votes as “illegal” and their results as “falsified”. “This is another violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity amid systematic human rights abuses,” Borrell wrote on Twitter. “We commend the courage of Ukrainians who continue to oppose and resist the Russian invasion.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Canada’s Prime Minister Trudeau: “New sanctions against accomplices in trying to undermine state sovereignty”

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced new sanctions against Russia. “We intend to impose new sanctions on individuals and entities complicit in this latest attempt to undermine the principles of state sovereignty and complicit in the ongoing senseless bloodshed across Ukraine,” Trudeau said in Ottawa. “

Scholz warns against the use of atomic bombs

Chancellor Olaf Scholz has warned Russian President Vladimir Putin against using nuclear bombs. “Like US President Joe Biden, I want to say very clearly to Russia: Leave it alone!” said the Chancellor in a video interview with the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung”. At the same time, Scholz confirmed that the result of the sham referendum would not be accepted and that Ukraine would continue to be supported with undiminished strength.

EU assumes sabotage in pipeline leaks

The European Union considers sabotage to be the likely cause of the leaks in the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines and has threatened to take countermeasures. “All available information indicates that these leaks are the result of a deliberate act,” said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on behalf of the 27 member states. Any intentional disruption to Europe’s energy infrastructure is totally unacceptable and will “be met with a robust and common response.” However, Borrell did not name any suspicion as to who could be behind a possible act of sabotage.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Foreign Affairs Commissioner Josep Borrell on a visit to Ukraine in April

EU Commission President von der Leyen and Foreign Affairs Commissioner Borrell on a visit to Ukraine in April

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also attributes the leaks in the pipelines from Russia to Germany to sabotage. She spoke to Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen about “the act of sabotage,” von der Leyen wrote on Twitter: “Any intentional disruption of active European energy infrastructure is unacceptable and will lead to the strongest possible response.” EU Council President Charles Michel also spoke of an act of sabotage.

Gas has been leaking from the pipelines at three points near the island of Bornholm since Monday. Although the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines are currently not in operation, they are filled with gas. The Danish Navy released images showing large-scale formation of bubbles on the sea surface.

Taliban sign deal with Russia

The radical Islamic Taliban in Afghanistan say they have signed a preliminary trade agreement with Russia. The government in Moscow has offered a discount on the average world market prices for raw materials, said Afghan Trade and Industry Minister Haji Nuruddin Asisi. Russia is now supposed to deliver about one million tons of gasoline, one million tons of diesel, 500,000 tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and two million tons of wheat annually.

There was no comment from the Russian side. If implemented, the deal would be the first major international economic deal the Taliban have struck since returning to power more than a year ago.

No country recognizes the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. Since April, however, the Taliban have been accredited with a diplomatic representative in Moscow. In addition, the Russian embassy in the Afghan capital Kabul is one of the few that is still open.

Oligarch luxury yacht auctioned for $37.5 million

An unknown buyer has bought Russian oligarch Dimitri Pumpyansky’s luxury yacht Axioma at a foreclosure sale in Gibraltar for $37.5 million (€39.1 million). This was announced by a court in the British overseas territory at the southern tip of Spain. The 73-meter-long “Axioma” is the first yacht owned by an oligarch to change hands due to sanctions resulting from the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, the newspaper “Gibraltar Chronicle” wrote.

The super yacht Axioma off Gibraltar

The super yacht “Axioma” off Gibraltar

The court also accepted an additional payment of 505,000 euros for the ship’s supplies and wine and alcohol supplies on board. Creditors now have 60 days to assert their claims at the court in Gibraltar, the newspaper reported.

sti/ehl/se/fab (rtr, dpa, afp, ap)

This article will be continuously updated on the day of its publication. Reports from the combat zones cannot be independently verified.


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