Russia-Ukraine war: Ukraine seeking more aid from NATO as alliance pledges more weapons

Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba appealed to the NATO alliance for more aid during the ministerial meeting in Bucharest. The recent meeting among ministers focused on sending non-lethal aid to Ukraine.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the NATO meeting in Bucharest, Kuleba said that Ukraine needed more weapons, especially air defense systems such as “Iris, Hawks, Patriots”, as well as transformers for the country’s energy needs. Andrew Simmons of Al Jazeera said the issue of providing Ukraine with the US-made Patriot missile defense system was mostly discussed during the summit.

During the meeting, officials from the United States and the European Union would focus their discussions on non-lethal aid to Ukraine, such as fuel, medical supplies, and winter equipment, along with military assistance. Washington said it would provide Ukraine with $53 million worth of power grid equipment.

US President Joe Biden said that providing Ukraine with the assistance they needed was a priority. However, Republicans in the House of Representatives, which are set to take control of the lower chamber by January, have talked about pausing funding which has already surpassed $18 billion.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg also accused Russian leader Vladimir Putin of trying to weaponize the winter months against Ukraine through the continued strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure across the country. Kyiv said that Russia’s strikes are meant to hurt civilians and amount to a war crime.

“The situation right now in the whole of Ukraine, and also the capital, is critical after the latest attacks…our infrastructure had huge damages,” Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko told Al Jazeera. “We are trying 24 hours to bring the water and heating back to apartments, to the homes of our citizens.”

Previously, Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska condemned the sexual violence committed by Russian forces on the ground in Ukraine during her remarks at an international conference aimed at preventing sexual violence during times of conflict. Zelenska told the conference that sexual violence was taking place “systematically and openly” as the war continues.

Zelenska cited the phone recordings where Russian troops were heard talking about rape with their relatives at home. Zelenska noted that victims of sexual violence during war find it difficult to testify due to the fact that “nobody feels safe.”