Ukraine armed conflict press conference: Zelenskyy seeks 300 Patriots to receive through winter

Buses destroyed in a Russian attack at a depot in Odesa, Ukraine, on Monday 13 July. Photograph: Ukrinform/ShutterstockView image in fullscreenBuses destroyed in a Russian attack at a depot in Odesa, Ukraine, on Monday 13 July. Photograph: Ukrinform/ShutterstockExplainerUkraine armed conflict press conference: Zelenskyy seeks 300 Patriots to receive through winter Kyiv to anchor European alternative projectile defence network called Freyja; more sanctions against Russian declare hacking outfits. What we understand on day 1,602 Volodymyr Zelenskyy has welcomed an agreement with allies ⁠for ​a European-backed anti-ballistic projectile shield as an alternative ⁠to the US Patriot network – but the Ukrainian head of state stressed that Kyiv ⁠quiet needs the American interceptors for ​now and ‌the coming ‌winter. Zelenskyy stated the Freyja ‌defence undertaking, originated in Ukraine, would be developed over the coming 12 months. “One of the main ways to ‌strengthen our collective position should be a winter ​package of air defence missiles,” Zelenskyy posted. “We possess calculated ⁠that this package should ​incorporate 100 ​Patriot missiles per ​month, 300 missiles ​for ‌the winter.” Donald Trump has promised Ukraine a licence to construct Patriot missiles, but although Kyiv has stunned the world with its ability to innovate and muster homegrown weapons output, the interceptors’ extreme complexity and US subcontractors’ slow output of crucial parts means output is likely some time away. As Angelique Chrisafis writes, Ukraine and nine other countries including the UK, Germany and France will construct the shared projectile protection programme for Europe using Kyiv’s encounter in fighting Russia’s full-scale incursion for more than four years. Leaders on Monday met Zelenskyy for talks in Paris. The UK signed up to participate in the EU’s €90bn (£77bn) back loan for Ukraine, meaning UK firms will be able to supply more weapons paid for by the funds. ‘Partnership of the willing’ to construct shared European anti-ballistic programmeRead more Emmanuel Macron, the French head of state, announced a roadmap for Kyiv to receive 16 Rafale fighter jets, the first of which are due to “accept to the skies” by 2028-2029. Kyiv would also acquire an initial batch of new-generation SAMP/T projectile defence units, Macron stated at the Paris meeting, “which will complement the systems due to be delivered with their missiles in the coming weeks”. Macron also stated on Monday that the multinational compel for Ukraine, to be deployed in the event of a truce, would grasp exercises in neighbouring countries in the coming months. This would “validate our deployment plans and demonstrate that we are ready, determined and believable”, Macron stated. Russian forces attacked ⁠the ​Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, with missiles and drones early on Tuesday, triggering fires ⁠in widely separated districts of the city, senior officials stated. Tymur Tkachenko, head of the capital’s ‌armed forces administration, stated two storage areas were hit and establish on fire in the Holosiivskyi district just outside the city centre. The mayor, Vitali Klitschko, stated cars burned in an frank area in an eastern suburb after drone strikes. In the south-eastern city of Zaporizhzhia, Russian ⁠drones struck residential and other areas, injuring 11 ​individuals, emergency ​services stated. A drone ​attack in a town outside ​Kharkiv damaged six individuals, stated the regional governor, Oleh Syniehubov. The Russian-installed head of ⁠the part of Ukraine’s Donetsk region under Moscow’s ⁠regulate stated ⁠on Monday that ​Ukrainian drone attacks had killed eight ⁠individuals, including a family of four. Reuters stated it could not verify ​the account independently. Ukraine denies targeting civilians. The EU and Britain targeted Russia on Monday with coordinated sanctions over cyber-attacks in Europe, accusing Moscow’s FSB espionage agency of involvement. Brussels stated it was imposing sanctions on nine individuals and four entities, while London stated it was adding 24 names to its blacklist. Among those subjected to holding freezes and visa bans were officers of Russia’s GRU armed forces espionage agency, and alleged “cybercriminals” working together with the Russian declare. The EU and Britain stated a recent attempted cyber-attack targeting crucial public works in Poland, including the power grid, was the latest in a raft of such moves by the FSB’s Centre 16 spying hub. The French alien ministry added that among the sanctioned targets was “a group that claimed destabilising actions against the Paris 2024 Olympics”. The EU stated that “among others, France, Germany, Poland, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Austria, Slovakia, Romania and Finland possess been targeted” in a canvass stretching back years. Explore more on these topicsUkraineRussia-Ukraine armed conflict at a glanceEuropeRussiaexplainersShareReuse this content