Connect with us

World

Senior Ukrainian official calls on West to provide weapons, aircraft to face Russia

“Give us the tools and we will finish the job,” a senior Ukrainian official said, citing Winston Churchill when asked what the West could do to help fight off the Russian invasion.

For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
“If you cannot close [the Ukrainian airspace], please give us the weapons. Give us the aircraft and the systems to protect ourselves from Russian aircraft and rockets,” Advisor to Ukraine’s Defense Minister Markian Lubkivskyi said.
Speaking to Al Arabiya English from an undisclosed location in Ukraine, Lubkivskyi maintained that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was not going as Moscow and its leader, Vladimir Putin, had planned.
Nevertheless, he warned that Ukraine needed help in the air and that officials in Kyiv were still trying to convince the West that a no-fly zone was necessary.

“This is very important for us in terms of protecting our people because we are very strong on the ground. But we cannot fight against Russians in the air.”
According to European and Western officials, Putin anticipated that he would be able to take control of Kyiv and force its government to step down in exchange for one allied with him.
But the Russians are still trying to enter the capital city.
“This is their main plan, and they concentrated a significant number of forces in the northern part of Kyiv, and they’re trying to enter into our capital,” Lubkivskyi said.
While most European countries and the US have been reluctant to provide fighter jets to Ukraine for fear that they could be seen as a member of the war by Russia, the Ukrainian official said talks were still ongoing over the matter.
“I believe that in the coming days, we will get more weapons. And today, it was also announced by the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Mr. [Oleksii] Reznikov, who said that Russians will be surprised,” Lubkivskyi told Al Arabiya English without elaborating.
While he thanked the West for all the help it was providing and the sanctions against Russia, he lamented the delay in action by the West to arm Ukraine and punish Russia ahead of the attack.
“I have to say that, unfortunately, these efforts were too late. If we had sanctions against Russia and weapons to support Ukraine two weeks earlier, we might fight more efficiently. And I think that we could, in that case, protect the lives of our soldiers and our people,” Lubkivskyi said.
Calling on the West to “be brave like Ukrainians,” he warned: “If you leave us, Putin will come to your homes; it's absolutely clear to me.”

Government staying in Kyiv

Lubkivskyi insisted that the Ukrainian government, led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, would remain in Kyiv.
“And you know, I think that our society is so united and supporting each other, it's impossible for Putin to get a victory in this bloody, bloody war,” said the advisor to Ukraine’s Defense Minister [Oleksii] Reznikov.
Asked about the Ukrainian army’s success so far in repelling Russia’s attempts to seize Kyiv, Lubkivskyi pointed to motivation.
“I will remind you that this is the eighth year of the war. So, we have a lot of people with experience, a lot of soldiers who have passed through a war already. They are well-trained, and they are well-equipped,” he said, referring to the initial Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014. “The Ukrainian army today is different from the Ukrainian army in 2014… And the motivation of Ukrainians is very high because we are not attacking; we are defending ourselves.”

Diplomatic solution still possible

The Ukrainian government still believes that negotiations are the best way to reach a solution.
Lubkivskyi also vehemently rejected accusations by Russia that Ukraine was not allowing citizens to flee areas where a ceasefire was agreed.
He cited the upcoming talks to be held in Turkey between the top diplomats of Ukraine and Russia as proof of Ukraine’s will to reach a peaceful solution.
“We are ready to find a way to stop the war. And the main thing we are asking for and our main request is to stop the fire. A ceasefire is the number-one task for everybody,” Lubkivskyi said.
He added: “We are a peaceful nation. We don't want to fight, but we will defend our motherland. This is absolutely clear for everybody.”

Russia and Iran nuclear deal

Lubkivskyi raised skepticism over the efforts by the US to strike a nuclear deal with Iran after former President Donald Trump withdrew from the previous agreement in 2018.
“We should be very concerned with a potential Iran nuclear deal. Russia is the major beneficiary, and this will bring instability to the Gulf into the Middle East. So, we should be very careful with that,” he said.
With reports suggesting that a deal was imminent over the weekend, last-minute demands from Moscow have delayed a final agreement.
Russia said that it now wanted guarantees from the US that recent economic sanctions against it in response to the invasion of Ukraine would not impact its economic and military cooperation with Iran.

Read more:

Russia dangles prospect of safe corridors, Ukraine skeptical

Putin has deployed nearly 100 pct of pre-staged forces into Ukraine: US official

Lawmakers pressure Biden over European aircraft transfers to Ukraine

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

World

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi meets with CEOs of leading Norwegian companies

H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has met with a group of CEOs from leading Norwegian companies, as part of their participation in the UAE-Norway Investment Forum, held alongside his official visit to the Kingdom of Norway.

During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the UAE leadership’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with its international partners.

He highlighted that investment in innovation and knowledge is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development, noting that enhancing collaboration with Norwegian companies across key sectors will open new avenues for mutual economic growth between the two countries.

The UAE-Norway Investment Forum, taking place in Oslo, aimed to highlight available investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations between the UAE and Norway, fostering shared interests and supporting innovation and knowledge-based economic visions.

-wam

Continue Reading

World

At the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS inaugurates 10th global office, releases four books

As part of its Asian research tour, partnership with Aletihad News Center, and
primary sponsorship of the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS
Research & Advisory inaugurated its office in Jakarta, marking its 10th location
worldwide. It also released four books in Indonesian.
The inauguration event was attended by ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, and
Jordan to Indonesia, chairpersons of the UAE and Indonesian Publishers’
Associations, the Director of TRENDS’ Jakarta office, and a group of researchers
and academics.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS
Research & Advisory, stated that TRENDS’ international offices—set to reach 15
by the end of 2024—aim to enhance the Center’s research efforts and deepen its
role in disseminating knowledge, thus serving as a global knowledge bridge.
He emphasized, “At TRENDS, we believe in the importance of cooperation
between think tanks and prioritize this endeavor. We believe the TRENDS office in
Jakarta will enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas between think tanks in
Asia and the Middle East, opening new horizons for collaboration in various
fields.”

Four books in Indonesian
As part of the Jakarta office’s inaugural activities, four books were released in
Indonesian, including the 11th and 12th books of the Muslim Brotherhood
Encyclopedia and Global Trends in AI and Automation and the Future of
Competition between Man and Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision.

Hostility to Arab states
The 11th book of the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia, The Concept of the State
According to the Muslim Brotherhood, highlights its hostile stance toward Arab
states since its inception. The group views them as an obstacle to its ascent to
power. It opposed the modern principles upon which these states were built,
considering them incompatible with the group’s unique interpretation of Islam,
which it claimed to embody exclusively.

Exclusion of nonconformists
The 12th book, The Muslim Brotherhood: Rejection of Tolerance and Exclusion of
Nonconformists, examines the Muslim Brotherhood’s stance towards
nonconformists, individuals, and entities. The book reveals the group’s binary view
of the world, categorizing others as allies or adversaries. It ties these relationships
to the Brotherhood’s internal power struggles and self-serving interests.

Global Trends in AI
The third book, Global Trends in AI, explores significant developments in AI and
its impact on various aspects of life, including the economy, society, and
governance. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of technological advancements
in AI, its applications across sectors, the ethical and social challenges it presents,
and its future trajectory.

Automation

The fourth book, Automation and the Future of Competition between Man and
Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision, addresses the growing challenges
faced by the human workforce in the face of widespread automation and AI
applications. The book concludes that while automation presents a significant
challenge to the labor market, it simultaneously creates new opportunities. It
emphasizes the importance of preparing for this shift through skills development,
continuous education, and adopting economic and social policies that support the
workforce.

Prominent pavilion and active presence
The TRENDS’ pavilion at the Indonesia International Book Fair has attracted
numerous visitors, including academic researchers and officials, such as the
ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Turkey. Additionally,
chairpersons of Arab and Indonesian publishers’ associations, authors, publishers,
and students visited the pavilion. All were impressed with and praised TRENDS’ diverse, valuable publications. They also commended TRENDS’ active
international presence and ability to address global developments with rigorous
analytical research.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali honored the esteemed guests, including
ambassadors of the UAE and Bahrain to Indonesia, Wedha Startesti Yudha,
Chairperson of the Indonesia International Book Fair Committee, Arys Hilman
Nugraha, Chairman of the Indonesian Publishers Association, and others,
presenting them with TRENDS’ publications and commemorative shields.
Additionally, he awarded TRENDS’ Research Medal to Ni Made Ayu Martini
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Marketing, Tourism and Creative Economy
It is worth noting that during its current Asian research tour, TRENDS announced
the launch of the TRENDS Research Medal, awarded to individuals who make
significant contributions to the development of scientific research and promote collaboration with TRENDS in strengthening a culture of research across various fields.

Continue Reading

World

US determined to prevent full-scale war in Middle East, Joe Biden tells UNGA79

US President Joe Biden highlighted the US Administration’s determination to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire Middle East region, noting that a diplomatic solution “remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely”.

In remarks he made today before the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), the US President said, “Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” adding that a diplomatic solution is still possible.

He also touched on “the rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank”, and the need to “set the conditions for a better future”, which he said featured “a two-state solution, where the world — where Israel enjoys security and peace and full recognition and normalised relations with all its neighbours, where Palestinians live in security, dignity, and self-determination in a state of their own”.

President Biden underscored the ceasefire and hostage deal put forth by Qatar and Egypt, which the UN Security Council endorsed. He said, “Now is the time for the parties to finalise its terms, bring the hostages home,” adding that this would help ease the suffering in Gaza, and end the war.

-WAM

Continue Reading

Trending