Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that the deadly Russian attack on a residential building in Dnipro “requires new decisions on the supply” of military equipment by Western countries.
“What happened in Dnipro, the fact that Russia was preparing a new attempt to seize the initiative in the war, the fact that the nature of the hostilities on the front [de combate] calls for new decisions on defense provision; all this only underlines the importance of coordinating our efforts,” stressed the Ukrainian head of state.
The death toll in a residential building hit by a missile in Dnipro, Ukraine, rose from 36 to 40, including three children, with 46 people missing and 75 injured, the State Emergency Service said on Monday.
The attack this Saturday, attributed to Russian forces, who deny their responsibility, is one of the most serious with civilians since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, on February 24 of last year.
Zelensky appealed on Monday to the efforts of all members of the coalition to “defend Ukraine and freedom” and “accelerate decision-making.”
The ruler praised the “good example” of the United Kingdom, which approved a new defense aid pact, such as “tanks, other armored vehicles and artillery.”
“Exactly what we need,” Zelensky emphasized, thanking Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Ukraine will have several moments of diplomacy this week, the Ukrainian president added, such as the Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where the country “will be heard on the platform of global importance”, or the regular meeting of the ‘Ramstein format’. [denominação sobre os encontros da Defesa ucraniana com outros países].
“Every day of our diplomatic marathon brings Ukraine very specific defensive results. And I thank everyone who helps our state,” Zelensky concluded in the usual late-night video message to the nation.
The military offensive launched on February 24, 2022 by Russia in Ukraine has so far caused the flight of more than 14 million people -6.5 million internally displaced persons and more than 7.9 million to European countries-, according to the The latest data from the UN, which classifies this refugee crisis as the worst in Europe since the Second World War (1939-1945).
Right now, 17.7 million Ukrainians need humanitarian aid and 9.3 million need food aid and shelter.
The Russian invasion – justified by Russian President Vladimir Putin as the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russia’s security – was condemned by the wider international community, which has responded by sending weapons to Ukraine and imposing Russia from the political point of view and economic sanctions.
The UN presented as confirmed since the beginning of the war 7,031 dead civilians and 11,327 wounded, stressing that these figures are far below the real ones.
Source: TSF
