KYIV: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday urged G7 nations to provide more gas and weapons to help Ukraine Surviving the brutal winter risks further suffering for millions in the war-torn country.
With snow on the ground and Ukraine’s energy grid ravaged by Russian strikes, many are facing freezing temperatures without electricity or heating.
During a video conference with the G7 club of rich nations on Monday, Zelenskiy said Ukraine needs “about two billion cubic meters” of additional gas to get through the winter.
He also urged the G7 to send more weapons to Ukraine, including “modern tanks” as well as “rocket artillery and many long-range missiles”.
Western-supplied weapons have turned the tide of the war, and a senior US military official said on Monday that Russia is likely to switch to artillery and missiles. older, less reliable as their new stockpile runs out.
But Zelensky said “Russia still has the advantage in artillery and missiles.”
“This is a fact,” he told the G7. “These capabilities of the occupying army are what fuel the arrogance of the Kremlin.”
‘We will survive’
Meanwhile, in the strategic Ukrainian port of Ochakiv, officials are hoping the Black Sea naval base could serve to bolster Kiev’s interests in the south. Kherson land.
After failing to capture the port, Russian troops bombarded Ochakiv from the nearby Kinburn Peninsula.
In the fog at the local market, Oleg Klyutshko, 62, said: “I’m not afraid of winter… but I want the strikes to stop. We’ll survive anything else.”
Kyiv said 40% of Ukraine’s vital energy infrastructure was damaged by a wave of targeted Russian attacks.
Ukraine’s energy ministry said in a statement that Russian missiles hit all of the country’s thermal power plants, while 44 overhead high-voltage power lines were also affected.
Power company YASNO said supply constraints in Kiev were “significant” with about 40% of the supply going to critical infrastructure.
Oil and gas company DTEK says its experts are “constantly looking for equipment to restore energy infrastructure destroyed by Russia” and has agreed to contract with European suppliers ABB and Siemens. .
According to a reading released by his office, Zelensky told the G7 “the terror against our power plants forced us to use more gas than expected”.
“This is why we need extra support during this particular winter,” he said.
The G7 group includes England, Canada, France, Germany – currently holding the chairmanship of the club – Italy, Japan and the United States.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said G7 leaders had agreed on key elements of the foundation for coordinating financial assistance to Ukraine ahead of a summit in Paris on post-war reconstruction.
Zelensky also proposed a special summit, which he calls the Global Peace Formula Summit, “to determine how and when we can implement the points of the Ukraine Peace Formula.” “, which will ensure the security and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
He invited the G7 industrialized nations “as well as other nations of conscience” “to show your leadership”.
The Ukrainian leader also called on Russia to “take a concrete and meaningful step towards a diplomatic solution”.
Zelensky urged the “occupier” of Moscow to leave Ukrainian territory before Christmas.
“The one who made war for us must take it away.”
An international conference hosted by France will open in Paris on Tuesday.
The meeting of politicians, blue-chip companies and aid agencies will focus on how Ukraine’s Western allies can provide immediate assistance to keep the country’s civilian infrastructure going. exist in the context of Russia’s relentless bombing.
With snow on the ground and Ukraine’s energy grid ravaged by Russian strikes, many are facing freezing temperatures without electricity or heating.
During a video conference with the G7 club of rich nations on Monday, Zelenskiy said Ukraine needs “about two billion cubic meters” of additional gas to get through the winter.
He also urged the G7 to send more weapons to Ukraine, including “modern tanks” as well as “rocket artillery and many long-range missiles”.
Western-supplied weapons have turned the tide of the war, and a senior US military official said on Monday that Russia is likely to switch to artillery and missiles. older, less reliable as their new stockpile runs out.
But Zelensky said “Russia still has the advantage in artillery and missiles.”
“This is a fact,” he told the G7. “These capabilities of the occupying army are what fuel the arrogance of the Kremlin.”
‘We will survive’
Meanwhile, in the strategic Ukrainian port of Ochakiv, officials are hoping the Black Sea naval base could serve to bolster Kiev’s interests in the south. Kherson land.
After failing to capture the port, Russian troops bombarded Ochakiv from the nearby Kinburn Peninsula.
In the fog at the local market, Oleg Klyutshko, 62, said: “I’m not afraid of winter… but I want the strikes to stop. We’ll survive anything else.”
Kyiv said 40% of Ukraine’s vital energy infrastructure was damaged by a wave of targeted Russian attacks.
Ukraine’s energy ministry said in a statement that Russian missiles hit all of the country’s thermal power plants, while 44 overhead high-voltage power lines were also affected.
Power company YASNO said supply constraints in Kiev were “significant” with about 40% of the supply going to critical infrastructure.
Oil and gas company DTEK says its experts are “constantly looking for equipment to restore energy infrastructure destroyed by Russia” and has agreed to contract with European suppliers ABB and Siemens. .
According to a reading released by his office, Zelensky told the G7 “the terror against our power plants forced us to use more gas than expected”.
“This is why we need extra support during this particular winter,” he said.
The G7 group includes England, Canada, France, Germany – currently holding the chairmanship of the club – Italy, Japan and the United States.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said G7 leaders had agreed on key elements of the foundation for coordinating financial assistance to Ukraine ahead of a summit in Paris on post-war reconstruction.
Zelensky also proposed a special summit, which he calls the Global Peace Formula Summit, “to determine how and when we can implement the points of the Ukraine Peace Formula.” “, which will ensure the security and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
He invited the G7 industrialized nations “as well as other nations of conscience” “to show your leadership”.
The Ukrainian leader also called on Russia to “take a concrete and meaningful step towards a diplomatic solution”.
Zelensky urged the “occupier” of Moscow to leave Ukrainian territory before Christmas.
“The one who made war for us must take it away.”
An international conference hosted by France will open in Paris on Tuesday.
The meeting of politicians, blue-chip companies and aid agencies will focus on how Ukraine’s Western allies can provide immediate assistance to keep the country’s civilian infrastructure going. exist in the context of Russia’s relentless bombing.
