Kyiv under fire as Zelensky pleads for aid

Ukrainian air-defence systems shot down all ballistic missiles fired at Kyiv in the second bombardment this week as falling debris injured 50 people early on Wednesday morning.

The blasts from the missile debris caused severe damage to many residential homes and a children’s hospital, with the Ukrainian authorities confirming that 18 people were in hospital. The Ukrainian Air Force also said it downed all 10 Russian missiles fired at the port city of Odessa.

Andriy Yermak, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff, emphasised the importance of Ukraine’s western-supplied defence systems, saying: “The effectiveness of Western weapons in the hands of Ukrainian soldiers cannot be doubted.”

The attack came while Ukraine’s President was travelling to Norway from the US where he had been met with a frosty reception from Republicans sceptical over continued aid to the war-torn country.

In a speech in Congress, Zelensky pleaded for more money to stave off Russian advances in the eastern territories. US President Joe Biden gave a clear warning to hesitant Republicans that failure to fully back Ukraine now would be giving Vladimir Putin a “Christmas gift”.

In a joint press conference with Zelensky, Biden said: “Putin is banking on the United States failing to deliver for Ukraine. We must … prove him wrong.”

This sentiment was not shared across the aisle, however. Mike Johnson, the Republican speaker of the House of Representatives, would not agree to Biden’s wish to give Ukraine an extra $61.4 billion. Many Republicans are also using support for Ukraine as a wedge issue to get what they want from the Democrats on immigration policy. When asked about his opinions on support for Ukraine, Republican Senator Ron Johnson did not try to overcomplicate things: “I know everyone wants Ukraine to win. I just don’t see it in the cards”.

While Zelensky is having trouble with his most important backer – troubles which will no doubt intensify with next year’s presidential elections – the Nordic countries today gave him their unwavering support. With Russian aggression and imperialism being far more of a scare for Scandinavia than the States, the five Nordic leaders told Zelensky: “The Nordic countries will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes… Russia must end its aggression and withdraw its forces immediately and unconditionally from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders.”

While not in the same ballpark as America’s $75 billion in humanitarian, financial and military assistance to Ukraine, the Nordic countries have given $11 billion since the start of the war and Denmark alone has pledged another $1 billion.

All the while, continual Russian bombardment of Ukrainian cities, Russian advances in the east, harsh winter conditions and an ever-increasing budgetary deficit are all making Zelensky’s job harder by the day. But when asked about their continued support for Ukraine, western allies would do well to remember that the people experiencing war fatigue most acutely are the Ukrainians.

Write to us with your comments to be considered for publication at letters@reaction.life