+++ News in the Ukraine War +++: EU approves Ukraine purchase of Patriot anti-aircraft missiles

The European Union has responded to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's weeks-long requests for better air defense and his references to empty ammunition depots. Brussels now wants to allow Ukraine to use new financial aid to purchase US Patriot anti-aircraft missiles. Kyiv also received further commitments from Germany and Great Britain for its air defense in order to be able to fend off Russian ballistic missiles.

As EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced, member states agreed to a corresponding exemption. Actually, preference should be given to purchasing European military equipment with EU arms aid. According to the information, a further 3.2 billion euros should now be paid out to Ukraine as quickly as possible. The money will enable the country to better protect its airspace from Russia's indiscriminate attacks, she wrote in a statement released jointly with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

NATO is involved in the project through the so-called Purl Initiative. This stipulates that military equipment manufactured in the USA for Ukraine will be financed by the European allies and Canada. The fresh money is specifically provided through the current EU support loan for Ukraine. This provides for payments of up to 90 billion euros by the end of 2027. According to information from the Commission, the formal decision to pay out the 3.2 billion euros will be made in the coming days. (dpa)

The large-scale Russian war of aggression against Ukraine began with the invasion on February 24, 2022. The annexation of Crimea took place in March 2014, and shortly afterwards the conflict broke out in the eastern Ukrainian regions.

Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) had previously promised Ukraine further extensive arms deliveries to defend itself against Russian attacks. Russian intimidation attempts and hybrid attacks would not work on Ukraine, Germany or other partners, Pistorius said at a video conference of the Ukraine Contact Group (UDCG).

Pistorius said he had decided to deliver urgently needed PAC-2 interceptor missiles from Bundeswehr stocks to Ukraine. Germany will also further increase its deliveries of air-to-air missiles from Bundeswehr stocks. Ukraine will also order several thousand Iris-T guided missiles from Germany, which will be financed from the EU-Ukraine defense loan. (dpa)

Britain wants to contribute £100 million to the Purl initiative to enable the delivery of ammunition for Ukraine's anti-aircraft systems before winter, if possible. This was announced by British Defense Minister Wes Streeting, as Ukrainian media reported from the contact group meeting. (dpa)

Ukrainian President Zelenskyj thanked Germany and Great Britain for their support. “These are exactly the decisions that bring peace closer: when you limit the aggressor’s ability to kill,” Zelenskyj wrote on

In recent weeks, Zelensky has repeatedly asked for ammunition for the Patriot anti-aircraft systems, the best means of defense against ballistic missiles. Given the empty ammunition bunkers in Ukraine, Russia took advantage of this to launch massive attacks against Kyiv and other civilian targets in the neighboring country. In addition, swarms of drones caused further civilian casualties in the neighboring country.

According to Mayor Vitali Klitschko, at least five people died in repeated attacks on Kyiv during the night and throughout the day. In a Russian drone attack, the building of the television station “My – Ukrayina” (“We are Ukraine”) in Kyiv was damaged and five people were injured. Further victims were also reported in other regions. (dpa)

Federal Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is calling on Ukraine to place more orders with German arms companies. "We are now Ukraine's strongest supporter in terms of financial and military support. And it naturally has to be the case that the German defense industry benefits from it," Wadephul told Bild. He also said that to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his last visit. The minimum is that Ukraine also involves the German defense industry in all procurement measures. “At this point in time we are not entirely satisfied with the orders there are in Germany,” says Wadephul. “And that’s why we’ve now asked the Ukrainian government to check this and make sure it gets better.” (rtr)

In a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump advocates an early end to the war in Ukraine. This is what the Kremlin announces. An end to the war would allow for a full restoration of relations between the US and Russia, says Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov. The two presidents also agree to continue the exchange of prisoners. (rtr)

Amid renewed US efforts to end the Ukrainian war, Moscow is confident of victory: “We are convinced that victory is very close,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, according to the Russian state news agency Tass. Moscow is confident in its military potential and its soldiers. The fighting was very successful, he claimed. There is hardly any movement on the front, but at the same time both sides have intensified their air and sea war. The signs point to escalation. (dpa)

Numerous people have been injured in a series of Russian attacks in Ukraine. At least five people were killed in the capital Kyiv as a result of numerous attacks that began overnight. Authorities said the number of injured was at least 35. Several residential buildings were hit and damaged in the attacks.

In addition, ten people on a local train were injured in an attack by combat drones in the Sumy region in the east of the country. During the attack, the locomotive and a passenger carriage were hit and set on fire, the authorities said on Telegram. A Ukrainian railway employee was killed in a drone attack on the route between Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia in the morning.

The state electricity supplier DTEK reported the complete failure of a thermal power plant after a Russian attack. Electricity generation at the plant was stopped after significant damage. DTEK did not provide any information about the location of the power plant. Authorities in Mykolaiv and Kherson reported a complete blackout in communities.

Russia has been waging a war of aggression against Ukraine for over four and a half years. The Ukrainian armed forces are supported by the West in their defense against constant Russian attacks. (dpa)

According to Ukrainian information, a Russian drone attack on a border crossing between Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova left people dead and injured. Fires also broke out during the attack on Wednesday night, the Ukrainian border guard said on Facebook. Russia has also attacked the capital Kyiv again, the Ukrainian rescue service explains on Telegram. There were fires there too, but no one was injured. According to Ukrainian reports, five people were killed and 35 injured in Russian air strikes on Kyiv on Tuesday. (rtr)

Hungary is expelling ten Russian diplomats, marking a departure from the pro-Russian policies of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The Foreign Ministry in Budapest said they were accused of activities that were incompatible with their diplomatic status. Russia announced a painful retaliation, as the Interfax news agency reports. (rtr)