Biden promises air defence systems for Ukraine after attacks

Ukraine set to ask G7 leaders for extra assist after devastating Russian assaults on Ukrainian cities.

US President Joe Biden has promised his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the USA will present the nation with superior air techniques after Russia launched missiles towards a number of cities in Ukraine together with the capital Kyiv.

Biden made the pledge in a cellphone name with Zelenskyy forward of an emergency assembly of the Group of Seven to debate assist for Ukraine and the right way to maintain Russia “accountable” for the assaults, which killed at the very least 14 folks.

“President Biden pledged to proceed offering Ukraine with the assist wanted to defend itself, together with superior air protection techniques,” a White Home assertion on the cellphone name stated.

Biden additionally informed Zelenskyy the US and its allies and companions would proceed imposing prices on Russia, “holding Russia accountable for its battle crimes and atrocities, and offering Ukraine with safety, financial, and humanitarian help”, the White Home stated.

Russia’s defence ministry stated it had focused “navy command and communication services and power infrastructure” in Monday’s assaults, however Ukraine accused Moscow of indiscriminately hitting civilian areas.

Ukrainian authorities stated Russia fired 84 missiles towards 10 cities, with 56 of them neutralised by air defences.

The Russian assaults adopted an explosion on Saturday that broken elements of the strategically-important Kerch bridge linking Russia with annexed Crimea. Russian President Vladimir Putin has blamed the blast on Ukraine.

“Russia is in search of to overwhelm Ukrainian air defences,” Justin Crump, chief government of safety consultancy Sibylline, informed the BBC. “That’s one thing they’ve tried all through the battle, however by no means on this scale.”

The US has offered safety help to Ukraine value greater than $16.8bn since Russia invaded the nation on February 24.

Zelenskyy is because of communicate to G7 leaders on the high of Tuesday’s digital assembly, which is because of begin at 12:00 GMT. Analysts say he’s prone to ask for extra surface-to-air missiles to strengthen Ukraine’s air defences.

Tuesday’s G7 leaders’ dialogue is the primary since Kyiv started a counter-offensive in japanese and southern Ukraine in current weeks that has seen it reclaim huge tracts of its territory from Russia.

The UK’s Prime Minister Liz Truss, who took over from Boris Johnson simply over a month in the past, will urge G7 leaders to stay resolute of their assist for Ukraine, in accordance with an announcement from her workplace. Johnson was one in every of Kyiv’s most distinguished backers.

“The overwhelming worldwide assist for Ukraine’s battle stands in stark opposition to the isolation of Russia on the worldwide stage,” she is going to say.

“Their bravery within the face of essentially the most brutal acts of violence has earned the folks of Ukraine international admiration.

“No person desires peace greater than Ukraine. And for our half, we should not waver one iota in our resolve to assist them win it.”