“The al-Assad regime fell because there are no really powerful Russian troops in the country. They were all transferred to Ukraine, almost 800,000 Russian troops are on the territory of Ukraine,” said Zelensky, highlighting the connection between the events in the Middle East, in Ukraine and other parts of the world.
“The al-Assad regime fell because there are no really powerful Russian troops in the country. They were all transferred to Ukraine, almost 800,000 Russian troops are on the territory of Ukraine,” said Zelensky, highlighting the connection between the events in the Middle East, in Ukraine and other parts of the world.
“Ukraine’s strength determines whether the Russian army is strong. Because if Ukraine falls, [o Presidente russo, Vladimir] Putin will return to Syria to take revenge, to Africa and many other regions that interest him.”warned the Ukrainian president, in a meeting with the Prime Minister of Estonia, Kristen Michal.
The invaded country continues to reinforce its army together with its international partners and will ask France for help in preparing an additional brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Zelensky revealed.
Ukraine has also asked Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia for help in equipping another new brigade, he said. Zelensky stressed that these brigades are important as Ukraine “does not intend to surrender.”
“We will do everything we can”said Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal, noting that her country has been strengthening its military-industrial complex to be able to supply more ammunition and equipment more quickly to Ukraine.
“We commit to spending 0.25 percent of our Gross Domestic Product [para apoiar a Ucrânia]. And if we can do more, for example in cyberspace or in heating or energy, we will do it, because we know that winter and spring will be very difficult for Ukraine,” said the Estonian leader.
“As for the European Union (EU) and NATO, we have also made it very clear that Ukraine is part of Europe and must be part of NATO”highlighted Michal.
The country has relied on financial and armament aid from Western allies since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
Ukraine has EU candidate country status since mid-2022
In May 2024, the Council concluded that Ukraine’s plan met the preconditions for Ukraine to receive up to €50 billion in support under the Ukraine Facility, and in August the first EU tranche was paid.
This mechanism came into force on March 1st to, through grants and loans, support the recovery, reconstruction and modernization of Ukraine in the period from 2024 to 2027.
Kiev’s allies have also enacted sanctions against key sectors of the Russian economy to try to diminish Moscow’s ability to finance the war effort in Ukraine.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, with the argument of protecting the pro-Russian separatist minorities in the east and “denazifying” the neighboring country, independent since 1991 – after the disintegration of the former Soviet Union – and which has been move away from Moscow’s space of influence and get closer to Europe and the West.
The war in Ukraine has already claimed tens of thousands of lives on both sides, and recent months have been marked by large-scale airstrikes by Russia against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, while Kiev’s forces have targeted targets on nearby Russian territory. border and on the Crimean peninsula, illegally annexed in 2014.
Already in the third year of the war, the Ukrainian Armed Forces were faced with a lack of soldiers and weapons and ammunition, despite repeated promises of help from the Western allies, which began to materialize.
Negotiations between the two parties have been completely blocked since the spring of 2022, with Moscow continuing to demand that Ukraine accept the annexation of part of its territory, and refusing to negotiate while Ukrainian forces control the Russian region of Kursk, partially occupied in August.
