President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced today that Ukraine's military has requested the mobilization of an additional 450,000 to 500,000 individuals, awaiting a final decision. Speaking at a news conference in Kyiv, Zelenskiy disclosed that discussions on the sensitive matter of mobilization were imminent among top military and government officials, with parliamentary consideration to follow.
The plea for increased manpower
comes at a critical juncture as Ukraine's key allies, the United States and the
European Union, have yet to endorse two distinct support packages, despite
Zelenskiy's personal lobbying efforts in Washington. Zelenskiy expressed
confidence in ongoing financial support, asserting, "I am certain, US and
European financial support will continue. I'm confident the United States won't
betray us."
Addressing the potential impact
of a change in U.S. leadership, Zelenskiy remarked, "If elected U.S.
president, Donald Trump will definitely have a different policy." He
emphasized the global consequences, stating, "If one strong part falls
out, the mechanism starts to fall apart."
In a comprehensive two-hour
session, Zelenskiy revealed plans for Ukraine to produce one million drones in
the coming year and efforts to repatriate a "significant amount" of
Russian-held prisoners of war.
Meanwhile, leaders of the U.S.
Senate indicated that a deal for additional aid to Ukraine and enhanced U.S.
border security was unlikely to materialize soon. Senator Dick Durbin, the No.
2 Democrat, suggested that action might be postponed until January, according
to Reuters. Negotiations between Republican and Democratic representatives are
ongoing to secure funding before the year-end holiday break.
In a significant development,
the UK's Ministry of Defence reported that Russia likely launched a ballistic
missile, described as a "super weapon," at Ukraine last Thursday,
marking the first such launch in several months.
Additionally, Italy's cabinet
has passed a law decree enabling the continued supply of "means, materials,
and equipment" to Ukraine until the end of 2024. This move is aimed at
supporting Ukraine's war effort against Russia, as stated in a defense ministry
announcement.
Post a Comment