I pledged Western powers Ukraine is providing more powerful air defense systems in the wake of a barrage of retaliatory Russian missile strikes, notably the attack that caused a temporary blackout on Wednesday at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant.
This comes at a time when French President Emmanuel Macron announced, in a televised interview, Wednesday, that Russian President Vladimir Putin “should return to the negotiating table,” noting that France will provide Kyiv with anti-aircraft defense systems.
Pakhmut Donbass, Ukraine (Archyde.com)
“Today, first of all, Putin must stop this war, respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and return to the negotiating table,” Macron said on France 2 television, stressing that he did not want a “global war.”
To protect it from march attacks
French President Emmanuel said France would deliver radar and air defense systems to Ukraine in the coming weeks to help it in particular to protect itself from drone attacks.
Macron did not give details of the type of anti-aircraft missiles or how many would be delivered. And Paris previously supplied Ukraine with shoulder-fired “Mistral” anti-aircraft missiles.
More than 50 Western countries met on Wednesday to promise more weapons, especially air defences, following Russia launched its deadliest missile attacks since the start of the war.
Russian attacks, which have used more than 100 missiles, have killed at least 26 people across Ukraine since Monday, when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered what he called retaliatory attacks on Ukraine for blowing up a Russian bridge.
Providing Ukraine with a complete air defense system
US General Mark Milley, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that Ukraine wants its Western partners to provide it with a complete air defense system to defend once morest Russian warplanes and missiles.
Milley spoke to reporters following a meeting of the Ukraine Contact Group, where regarding 50 countries meet regularly to assess Ukraine’s needs and mobilize equipment.
Canada said Wednesday that it will provide new military aid to Ukraine worth 47 million Canadian dollars (34 million US dollars) to support it in the face of the Russian invasion, and the aid will include artillery shells, satellite communication systems, winter clothing, drones equipped with high-definition cameras and other aid.
