Ukraine-Russia conflict newest: UK pledges new £450m army assist after Zelensky sanctions Putin’s shadow fleet | EUROtoday

The defence secretary John Healey is about to chair a gathering of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in Brussels alongside along with his German counterpart Boris Pistorius, the place he’ll announce new army package deal for the war-hit nation.

The group consists of Nato and different nations supporting Ukraine.

The army funding will present repairs and upkeep to autos and tools in addition to radar methods, anti-tank mines and a whole lot of 1000’s of drones.

“The work of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group is vital to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position and pile pressure on (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to help force him to end this terrible war,” he’s anticipated to say on the assembly.

“We cannot jeopardise peace by forgetting the war, which is why today’s major package will surge support to Ukraine’s frontline fight.”

This comes only a day after the defence minister chaired a gathering of the defence ministers of the so-called “coalition of the willing”, a British and French-led peacekeeping initiative within the occasion of a peace deal within the Russia-Ukraine battle.

The Ukrainian president described the transfer as “absolutely justified” as Ukraine seems to be to stave off Russian advances, as Moscow delays ceasefire negotiations in an obvious effort to grab extra land.

After Ukraine’s foothold in Russia’s Kursk area collapsed in dramatic style – regardless of Ukrainian troops remaining in small pockets of the realm – Kyiv could also be looking to rebuild the leverage it had hoped to maintain for any future ceasefire negotiations.

A US ballerina jailed for 12 months in Russia after donating $51 to a charity supporting Ukraine has been freed.

On Thursday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed she had been launched and was on a airplane dwelling to the US in a submit on X.

Two Chinese residents have been caught amongst Russia’s ranks in Ukraine’s war-torn Donetsk area, Mr Zelensky introduced on Tuesday, earlier than claiming that there are greater than 150 Chinese fighters at present amongst Russia’s ranks.

The allegations have prompted a livid response from Beijing, which on Thursday warned Kyiv and its allies to not make “irresponsible remarks” after beforehand decrying what it described as Mr Zelensky’s “baseless” claims that there have been extra fighters.

Bridget Brink, the US ambassador to Ukraine, is stepping down from her submit after practically three years in Kyiv amid uncertainty over the Trump administration’s makes an attempt to dealer a peace deal to finish the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Her resignation had been anticipated for a while, particularly contemplating her variations with the Trump administration on rapprochement with Russia and ending the conflict.

The State Department introduced yesterday that Ms Brink will probably be leaving her submit within the close to future, though it was not instantly clear precisely when she would depart.

Ms Brink assumed the submit below former president Joe Biden’s administration and has been a staunch advocate for US army help to Ukraine.

“Ambassador Brink is stepping down,” the division mentioned.

“She’s been the ambassador in Kyiv for three years — that’s a long time in a war zone. And frankly, the war has gone on for far too long.”“The real issue is whether the Russians and Ukrainians are ready to do what’s necessary to end this war,” it mentioned.

The Duke of Sussex has met conflict victims in Ukraine in an unannounced go to to the nation as a part of his work with wounded veterans, a spokesperson mentioned.

Prince Harry visited the Superhumans Centre, an orthopaedic clinic in Lviv that treats and rehabilitates wounded army personnel and civilians.

He noticed among the refined companies offered freed from cost, together with prosthetics, reconstructive surgical procedure and psychological assist.

Volodymyr Zelensky has mentioned Ukraine’s new sanctions package deal will goal Russia’s “shadow fleet”, which has helped finance Vladimir Putin’s conflict.

The shadow fleet is made up of growing old tankers purchased used, usually by nontransparent entities with addresses in non-sanctioning nations such because the United Arab Emirates or the Marshall Islands, and flagged in locations like Gabon or the Cook Islands.

Some of the vessels are owned by the Russian state Sovcomflot transport firm.

Their position is to assist Russia’s oil exporters elude the $60 per barrel worth cap imposed by Ukraine’s allies.

“They (the sanctions) goal, particularly, the shadow tanker fleet that Moscow makes use of to finance the conflict; conflict propagandists – those that try to undermine our defence and assist Russia; and in addition sure officers – these are names well-known to all Ukrainians – who used to have affect,” the Ukrainian president said.

He said that the Ukraine is working with its European allies on the new sanctions.

“We are working to synchronise our sanctions packages with the selections of companions – at the beginning within the European Union, in addition to in different sturdy jurisdictions around the globe,” Mr Zelensky mentioned.

Ukraine will receive fresh military support worth £450m, Britain said this morning as European allies attempt to strengthen the war-hit nation’s position ahead of any peace deal with Russia.

Britain will provide £350m of the amount from its £4.5bn military support package for Ukraine this year, with Norway contributing further funding, the Ministry of Defence said.

The funding was announced just hours before British defence minister John Healey is due to chair a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in Brussels along with his German counterpart Boris Pistorius. The group includes Nato and other nations supporting Ukraine.

The funding will provide repairs and maintenance to vehicles and equipment as well as radar systems, anti-tank mines and hundreds of thousands of drones.

Prince Harry has met war victims in an unannounced visit to Ukraine as part of his work with wounded veterans, a spokesperson said.

Harry visited the Superhumans Centre, an orthopaedic clinic in Lviv that treats and rehabilitates wounded military personnel and civilians, to see top-notch services provided in a country in the midst of war.

The centre provides prosthetics, reconstructive surgery and psychological help free of charge.

The Duke of Sussex, who served 10 years in the British Army, has made helping injured soldiers one of his most prominent causes.