Just spoke to a 🇺🇦 friend on the border of Kharkiv region near Vovchansk. I’ve never heard him this upset before. They are forced to only use drones because they can’t fire 🇺🇸 shells on Russian territory. Ukraine knows exactly where the C300 launchers & invading troops are located, but can’t fire. Russians, meanwhile, launch and retreat back across the border. Ukrainian forces are defending the country (and Europe) with one hand tied behind their backs.
Ukrainian mother is asking her son “Where is dad?” And they boy starts running to kiss the portrait of the fallen hero. Such is the price of the russian invasion into Ukraine.
1/n
To those with short memories:
Between 2014 and 2022, Ukraine held about 200 rounds of talks with Russia.
During this period, 20 cease-fire agreements were reached, all of which were quickly violated by Russia.
None of the 200 rounds of talks or the 20 ceasefires have prevented Putin from launching a brutal all-out invasion of Ukraine on February 24th, 2022.
Those who argue that Ukraine should negotiate with Russia now are either uninformed or misled, or they side with Russia and want Putin to take a pause before an even larger aggression.
We should not and will not fall into this trap.
I welcome today’s recommendation by the European Commission to open EU accession negotiations with Ukraine.
This is a strong and historic step that paves the way to a stronger EU with Ukraine as its member.
I thank the EU and personally @vonderleyen for supporting Ukraine on our road to the EU.
Ukraine continues on its reform path and looks forward to European Council’s decision in December.
Last month I followed President @ZelenskyyUa from Washington to Kyiv to interview him and his team at a turning point in the war. My first dispatch from the trip is out today @TIME. Among the hardest I’ve ever had to write. https://t.co/purXuqm07E A thread with some details:
“Another tells me that, most of all, Zelensky feels betrayed by his Western allies. They have left him without the means to win the war, only the means to survive it.”
Not just Zelensky. A lot of Ukrainians.
https://t.co/cUq4pSaAKg
You probably heard the news regarding Shani Louk.
I do - however - want to explain to you what happened.
This is Shani, by the way, 23 years old. A German-Israeli. She went to Nova music festival for a party.
She’s the one who was filmed on Saturday laying face down on a pickup truck. Naked. Her leg terribly broken and dislocated.
The crowd was seen spitting on her, poking her body. She was proudly paraded through Gaza.
In recent days, the IDF conducted missions in the north part of Gaza and the area surrounding the border.
Parts of Shani’s skull were found. She was partly beheaded.
After lab and DNA tests a panel of experts reached a conclusion that she was murdered and a formal message was delivered to her family.
She could have been your sister, your daughter, she could have been you.
Shani’s body is still being held by Hamas in Gaza along with 228 other hostages. The Red Cross is still not allowed to see them, no information regarding their condition was shared.
#BringThemHomeNow
Chancellor Olaf Scholz reacts for the first time to the beheading of the German-Israeli Shani Louk by Hamas. “It shows all the barbarism that is behind the Hamas attack. And that’s why Hamas must be held accountable,” said Scholz when asked by @welt TV during a trip to Nigeria.
Ten outcomes of our talks with @SwedishPM Ulf Kristersson.
1. We agreed to work on the joint production of CV-90s armoured vehicles in Ukraine.
2. Ukrainian warriors began training to operate Swedish “Archers”.
3. Ukrainian pilots are already taking part in testing “Gripen” fighter aircraft. We discussed further steps to transfer them to Ukraine.
4. We are preparing the transfer of Sweden’s new, 13th security assistance package.
5. Sweden joined the Peace Formula, more specifically its items on the restoration of nuclear safety, justice, environment protection, and humanitarian mine clearance.
6. Ukraine will be ready to open EU accession talks this year and we have Sweden’s support on our path to the EU.
7. Our teams will discuss the bilateral document on security guarantees following the G7 Declaration last month.
8. Sweden stands ready to provide advanced water pumping systems to restore water supply after Russian terror act at the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Plant.
9. Sweden will take active part in Ukraine’s recovery, including with the engagement of private capital.
10. Ukraine counts on Sweden, Swedish regions and companies taking patronage over Ukrainian regions and spheres which require recovery after Russian strikes.
I am grateful to Sweden for its firm and consistent support. Together, we protect life, freedom, and our common values.
Ukraine and Sweden have more in common than just flag colours. Centuries of common history, a common current strength, and a future in a safe and free Europe.
This is what Ukraine is fighting for, with Sweden’s strong support.
I thank the Swedish Royal Family, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and the entire government, Riksdag and political parties, as well as every Swede.
Tack Sverige!
This is what it means to live next to a terrorist state. This is what we are uniting the entire world against.
Today, a Russian missile hit the heart of Chernihiv. A square, a university, and a theater. Russia turned an ordinary Saturday into a day of pain and loss. There are casualties. My condolences to everyone who has lost a loved one. All services are working on the site. Rescuers, police, doctors.
I urge the world to stand up to Russian terror. Provide Ukraine with additional tools to safeguard life. For life to win, Russia must lose this war.
Arrived in Denmark 🇺🇦🇩🇰
We keep working to strengthen Ukraine and protect our people.
I will meet with @Statsmin Mette Frederiksen, the Royal Family, members of Folketing, and Danish business leaders.
We expand our cooperation, prepare more good news for our warriors, and advance the issue of F-16s.
I thank everyone around the world who condemned Russia’s heinous strike on Chernihiv that killed 7 people, among them 6-year-old Sofia. My condolences to everyone who has lost close ones. 144 people inured, including 15 children. Our warriors will give Russia a tangible response.
A powerful and very fruitful day.
I thank @MinPres Mark Rutte, his entire team, and the Dutch people for the decision on F-16s for Ukraine. Our warriors will receive 42 great combat aircraft.
I thank @Statsmin Mette Frederiksen and the entire country of Denmark, as well as each and every Dane who has Ukraine at their hearts, for their extremely practical assistance. 19 jets. Expanding the training mission. A powerful algorithm for cooperation with partners.
I also thank @POTUS Joseph Biden, both parties in the U.S. Congress, and the entire American people for their unwavering support and continuously positive steps for the aviation coalition and for the benefit of our common freedom.
🇺🇦🇳🇱🇩🇰🇺🇸
Today, we took another step to strengthen Ukraine's air shield. F-16s.
These jets will be used to keep Russian terrorists away from Ukrainian cities and towns.
@MinPres Mark Rutte and I reached an agreement on the number of F-16s to be transferred to Ukraine once our pilots and engineers have completed their training.
42 jets. And this is just the beginning.
Thank you, Netherlands!
Very productive, focused, and concrete talks with @Statsmin Mette Frederiksen.
Our pilots and engineers have already began their training in Denmark.
Denmark will provide Ukraine with 19 F-16s. We are working on the speed of preparations.
During the talks we also discussed the possibility of expanding training missions — the algorithm is clear.
Our F-16 coalition is proving its efficiency.
Thank you, Denmark!