The Russian attacks appeared to mark a major escalation, increasing pressure on the United States and other European countries that have been reluctant to provide Ukraine with the latest military technology. In an effort to avoid direct military conflict with Russia, Western allies have been slow to provide Ukrainian forces with the most advanced weapons systems — a trend that persists even as the Kremlin has repeatedly said its fight is not just with Ukraine , but also against the United States and NATO. Hours after the strikes, Zelenskiy held emergency phone calls with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to discuss air defense and other military aid. Zelensky said he would address an emergency meeting of the Group of Seven industrialized nations on Tuesday. Russia strikes Kyiv and cities across Ukraine after Crimean bridge attack Amid the flurry of diplomacy, Russian President Vladimir Putin effectively made Zelensky’s case for air defense by threatening additional strikes. “The best response to Russian missile terrorism is to supply Ukraine with anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems — protect the skies over Ukraine!” Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov tweeted on Monday. “This will protect our cities and our people. This will protect Europe’s future.” Even before Monday’s strikes, the country’s top officials were vocal about the need to bolster air defenses. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted on Sunday after the Russian attacks in Zaporizhia that “we urgently need more modern air defense and missile defense systems to save innocent lives. I urge partners to speed up deliveries.” Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted that “instead of talking we need air defense, MLRS, longer range missiles,” referring to the multiple launch missile systems. Estonia’s intelligence chief urged Western countries to heed the calls and consider sending longer-range weapons to Ukraine. “We have an interest in giving Ukraine what it is asking for,” Mikk Marran said in an interview with Yahoo News published Sunday. Ukraine’s military said that in Monday’s attack, its air defenses shot down 43 of the 83 missiles fired at it. The German Defense Ministry said Monday that the first of four IRIS-T air defense systems promised to Ukraine would arrive in the “coming days,” and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Germany was doing “everything it can” to bolster Ukraine quickly. “Kiev residents fear death in morning traffic. An impact crater next to a playground,” he tweeted. “It is disgusting and unjustifiable that Putin is launching rockets at cities and civilians.” The scene after Russia strikes across Ukraine In a phone call with Zelensky on Monday morning, Macron promised increased support for Ukraine, including more military equipment, but there are growing questions about the extent to which the French are actually keeping their promises. A recent ranking by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy concluded that France has spent less on announced arms deliveries to Ukraine than much smaller European nations such as Estonia and the Czech Republic. Overall, France ranked only as the 11th largest global supplier of Ukrainian military aid as of August — a “humiliating” result for a country that bills itself as the EU’s leading military power, critics say. Ukraine is interested in air defense systems used by the French military, including the SAMP/T. Le Monde newspaper reported that one reason for France’s hesitation was that the country has a limited supply of the necessary batteries. French government officials have defended the extent of their support, citing “discretion” and suggesting they have not disclosed all their procurement. They have also argued that their deliveries – including 18 high-precision self-propelled CAESAR cannons – were key additions to the battlefield. France is in negotiations to divert additional CAESAR guns originally ordered by Denmark to Ukraine. But criticism that France has lagged behind smaller allies in helping Ukraine appears to have struck a nerve at the Elysee Palace in recent days. As Macron met with other EU leaders in Prague on Friday, he announced the creation of a 100 million euro ($97 million) fund that will allow Ukraine to buy its own military equipment. The fund is in addition to the roughly $230 million France had pledged in military aid, but well behind the more than $17 billion the Biden administration has sent to Ukraine since February. The Pentagon said in late September that it would deliver two advanced anti-aircraft systems, called the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, or NASAMS, within the next two months – something Ukraine had long requested. Noack reported from France, Morris from Berlin.
War in Ukraine: What you need to know
The last: Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees on Friday to annex four occupied regions of Ukraine, following organized referendums widely denounced as illegal. Follow our live updates here. The answer: The Biden administration on Friday announced a new round of sanctions on Russia in response to the annexations, targeting government officials and family members, Russian and Belarusian military officials and defense procurement networks. President Volodymyr Zelensky also said on Friday that Ukraine is applying for “fast-track accession” to NATO, in an apparent response to the annexations. In Russia: Putin declared a military mobilization on September 21 to call up up to 300,000 reservists in a dramatic bid to reverse setbacks in his war against Ukraine. The announcement led to an exodus of more than 180,000 people, mostly servicemen, and renewed protests and other acts of defiance against the war. The battle: Ukraine mounted a successful counteroffensive that forced a large Russian retreat in the northeastern Kharkiv region in early September, as troops abandoned towns and villages they had seized since the early days of the war and abandoned large amounts of military equipment. Photos: Washington Post photographers have been on the ground since the start of the war — here are some of their strongest works. How you can help: Here are ways those in the US can support the Ukrainian people, as well as what people around the world are donating. Read his full coverage Russia-Ukraine war. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for updates and exclusive video.
