Ukraine-Russia battle newest: Zelensky says Kyiv won’t maintain elections till ceasefire in place | EUROtoday

The EU parliament has authorised a serious mortgage price €90bn (£78bn) for Ukraine yesterday, extending a monetary lifeline to the war-hit nation.

Lawmakers voted by 458 to 140 in favor of the mortgage which is able to cowl two-thirds of Ukraine’s monetary wants for 2026 and 2027. The mortgage can be backed by the EU’s widespread funds – after plans to faucet frozen Russian central financial institution property fell by the wayside.

“Support for Ukraine rests on a small number of countries and most if it comes from Europe,” centrist lawmaker Nathalie Loiseau stated. “It is our honour – and it’s in our interest because our security is at stake,” she stated.

EU international coverage chief Kaja Kallas stated conducting elections for war-hit Ukraine shouldn’t be a good suggestion because the situations will make the democratic electoral course of extraordinarily tough.

“Majority of European countries have in their constitution a provision that elections are not held during war,” stated Kallas. “And why? Because if you have elections, there is always fighting inside between different factions, and when you have outside attacks, literally, then you just can’t hold elections because your adversary is outside, and you need to concentrate all the efforts to counter that.”

The high EU official added that Russia doesn’t have an higher hand within the persevering with battle and is riddled with its personal challenges.

“What is important is to know that Russia is not winning this war. The casualty rates are surging. Their economy is not doing well,” she said.

Volodymyr Zelensky has sought a “specific date” from the European Union to formally join the bloc.

“Ukraine will do every thing to be technically prepared for accession by 2027,” Zelensky told journalists when asked about the reported partial membership.

“We will not less than accomplish the primary steps. Second, I need a particular date. I’m completely assured that if within the settlement… there isn’t a date, then Russia will do every thing to dam the method.”

Earlier, a European Commission spokesperson told the Kyiv Independent that the EU considers Ukraine’s accession efforts part of the ongoing peace process, but possible entry dates are not yet speculated.

Zelensky said he would not sign a peace agreement with the US, Russia, and Europe if the agreement did not include a specific date for Ukraine’s EU accession.

“This… is about security guarantees, security guarantees for Ukraine,” he said.

“These are specific details, with a specific date. And my signature today, on the 20-point plan, the plan to end the war, guarantees Ukrainians that there will be a specific date for our accession,” he stated.

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky has said it would be an “utterly stupid” idea to announce an election on 24 February, the date of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as reported by the Financial Times.

“24 February is a special date. Even if there were an intention or relevant steps toward bringing certain elections forward, I believe it would be an utterly stupid idea to use such a date to talk about politics,” he wrote in a post on Wednesday.

“This is a very serious date – four years of war. It’s a large number of people who have defended our state and given their lives. And it is since 24 February that our people have been defending their country every day.

“I could never do such a thing. Therefore, 24 February cannot be used to announce any elections – any elections at all. This is not about individuals. No elections can be announced on 24 February. As for announcing elections in general, I’ll repeat: first security, then politics.

“We can move toward elections when all the relevant security guarantees are in place. The issue of elections has been raised by various partners. Ukraine itself has never raised it. But of course, we are ready for elections. It’s very simple to do: establish a ceasefire – and there will be elections. Meaning, it is a matter of security.”

Russian president Vladimir Putin is trying to break the resolve of Ukrainians and he will fail, Nato secretary general Mark Rutte said.

In his address ahead of defence minister meeting, the Nato chief said he was in Kyiv last week and saw the impact of Russia’s “relentless attacks” first-hand.

“President Putin is trying to break the people of Ukraine, hoping to weaken their resolve. But Ukraine and the Ukrainian people have shown time and again that they will not be broken,” he said.

Rutte added that Ukraine “cannot sustain this fight or secure the peace alone,” and stressed the importance of allied support through Nato.

Russian troops are forcing Ukrainians to register for Starlink terminals for the Kremlin’s forces shortly after Elon Musk cut their access to his satellite internet network, officials in Kyiv said.

Ukraine’s coordination headquarters for the treatment of prisoners of war issued the warning on Tuesday and said families of Ukrainian prisoners are being threatened by Russian forces to enroll for Starlink terminals.

“Looking for a method out of the tough state of affairs during which they discovered themselves, the occupiers turned their consideration to the households of the prisoners,” the body handling prisoners of war said.

“Cases of threats and calls for to formally register Starlink terminals have been recorded,” it added.

A senior Nato official has confirmed Ukraine’s gains in the southern Zaporizhzhia region after Russian forces lost access to Starlink.

Last week, Starlink internet terminals used by Russian troops in Ukraine were deactivated, dealing what one official said was a big setback for Moscow that had disrupted assault operations.

Russian forces have made unauthorised use of thousands of satellite-based Starlink internet connections for secure communications after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Kyiv says.

“Taking that link away has put the Russians in somewhat of a command and control predicament,” the official told reporters ahead of a meeting of Nato defence ministers.

“Whatever alternative Russia comes up with is probably not going to be quite as effective.”

Shortly after the loss of access to Starlink, Ukraine’s armed forces confirmed they have regained the village of Kosivtseve in Zaporizhzhia.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has denied that he is planning on announcing a presidential election and referendum on a peace deal with Russia on 24 February, as reported by the Financial Times.

Answering reporters’ questions in a WhatsApp chat, he said elections could only be held if there was a ceasefire, and that Europe and the US should work in track with Moscow on negotiations.

The Ukrainian capital Kyiv came under a “large” attack from Russian missiles in the early hours todaay, with various buildings hit in the assault, officials said.

“A mass assault on the capital continues to be underway,” mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram.

Klitschko said there had been hits on both residential and non-residential buildings on both sides of the Dnipro River bisecting the city.

Fragments had fallen near two residential buildings in one district, but no fire had broken out and no casualties were reported.

Emergency medical teams had been dispatched.

Tymur Tkachenko, head of the capital’s military administration, said at least one hit had been recorded in an eastern suburb.

The southeastern city of Dnipro also came under attack, regional governor Oleksandr Ganzha said on Telegram. Some private homes and cars sustained damage, but there were no indications of any casualties.

Air raid alerts remained in effect in both Kyiv and Dnipro well after midnight.

Russian strikes have killed four civilians in various localities in Ukraine’s southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region, regional governor Oleksandr Ganzha said on Wednesday.

Mr Ganzha said the attacks occurred in three small localities near the town of Synelnykove, east of the regional centre of Dnipro.

In one attack, a man was killed and his wife wounded. In another, a couple and their 45-year-old son was killed and a man wounded. A woman was hurt in a third village.