PIVOTAL US VOTE
Zelenskyy says his nation desperately wants extra help to tip the steadiness of the battle and safe victory on the battlefield as Russia captures dozens of small cities and villages within the disputed east.
He additionally nonetheless desires clearance to make use of long-range weapons provided by allies, together with the US, to strike navy targets deep inside Russia.
On the bottom, questions are rising amongst Ukrainian troopers concerning the long-term technique of the offensive into Russia’s Kursk area, given Russia’s push within the east of Ukraine.
“If this can be a short-term operation, it’ll strengthen us,” Bogdan, a serviceman sitting at a restaurant in Druzhkivka, close to Kramatorsk, instructed AFP.
“If it is a long-term operation and we plan to remain in Kursk, it’ll deplete our most important sources.”
Ukraine depends on billions of {dollars} value of monetary and military aid from Washington to combat Russia’s invasion, and the US presidential election in November may show pivotal.
The German-based Kiel Institute warned on Thursday of a big fall-off in Western help to Kyiv if Republican candidate Trump wins the Nov 5 election.
The institute mentioned navy and monetary help anticipated in 2025 may halve to about 29 billion euros (US$31 billion).
“Beginning subsequent 12 months, Ukraine may face a big help deficit,” it mentioned.
Trump has promised to finish the battle “in 24 hours” if he’s elected – a prospect Kyiv fears means being compelled to make huge compromises to attain peace.
Vice President and Democratic rival Kamala Harris has mentioned she wouldn’t meet with Russian chief Vladimir Putin for peace talks if Ukraine was not additionally represented.
Zelenskyy has rejected any peace plan that might contain ceding territory to Russia, arguing Moscow should withdraw all its troops from inside Ukraine’s borders to attain lasting peace.
Zelenskyy’s go to to Downing Road was his second since Starmer’s Labour get together secured a landslide basic election triumph on Jul 4.
He obtained a standing ovation from senior UK ministers when he turned, on Jul 19, the primary overseas chief to deal with the British cupboard in individual since 1997.
Britain has been one among Kyiv’s greatest backers in its two-year-plus combat in opposition to Russia’s invasion, committing to delivering £3 billion (US$3.9 billion) of navy help yearly for so long as wanted.