Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian president’s office, says “strengthening Ukrainian military industry is an investment into European and global security, not just Ukraine’s”.
Strengthening Ukrainian military industry is an investment into European and global security, not just Ukraine’s. Our state is a reliable partner in ensuring stability.
Robert Fico, Slovakia’s populist prime minister, has said he considers the war between Ukraine and Russia a frozen conflict that cannot be solved by sending arms to Ukraine, the Associated Press reports.
The Slovak leader also said he would prefer the sides sit at a negotiation table.
The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said he discussed “efforts to maintain European unity” and the “importance” of continued assistance with the Netherlands’ outgoing prime minister.
During our call, @MinPres Mark Rutte and I discussed efforts to maintain European unity.
We also discussed the importance of continuing military and financial assistance to Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.
The Finnish prime minister, Petteri Orpo, said today that the high flow of migrants via Russia must end, Reuters reported.
“We want to send a clear message to Russia: this must stop,” Orpo said. “This is a question of hybrid attacks, and of national security.”
The prime minister of Latvia, Evika Siliņa, and prime minister of Finland, Petteri Orpo, hold a joint press conference at the prime minister’s official residence. Photograph: Lehtikuval/Reuters
Meanwhile, outgoing Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte spoke with Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, underscoring that “the Netherlands stands with the people of Ukraine”.
📞: Just had one of my regular calls with @ZelenskyyUA on the current situation in Ukraine and the coming winter. The Netherlands stands with the people of Ukraine and supports Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.
Dutch minister hopes Ukraine aid will continue but ‘worried’ about PVV stance
Kajsa Ollongren, who is serving as defence minister in the Netherlands’ outgoing government, said she hopes military support to Ukraine will continue, Reuters reports.
The far right Party for Freedom (PVV) under the leadership of Geert Wilders won the most votes in a general election earlier this week.
Ollongren said today that “in the Netherlands there is broad support for our help to Ukraine”.
She added:
I hope and expect this will not change in the new parliament. But the PVV is now the largest party and they have never been enthusiastic about support to Ukraine. They have even been pro-Russia at times. So that has me worried.
Kajsa Ollongren, outgoing minister of defence, speaks to the press at the Binnenhof, prior to the weekly cabinet meeting. Photograph: Hollandse Hoogte/Shutterstock
Plans to expand the Grain from Ukraine program further across Africa one year after its launch will be unveiled on Saturday by Volodymyr Zelensky, backed by the appointment of a new range of goodwill ambassadors including Charlotte Leslie a former Conservative MP with deep contacts in the Middle East.
The scheme designed to export Ukrainian grain at subsidised prices is currently confined to Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia, but Ukraine with greater financial backing would like to expand the scheme to countries such as Afghanistan, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Yemen and Somalia.
So far, only Qatar among the Middle East countries has backed the scheme financially and Leslie may be able to access countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to expand the funding base. Much of the £200m funding so far has come from G7 countries.
Russia has imposed a blockade on the export of Ukrainian grain that the Ukrainian navy is trying to circumvent.
She told the Guardian:
It is a complete no-brainer that if Ukraine is sitting on a large amount of surplus grain, and there is a huge continent that badly needs it, that the two need to be connected. The fact that Ukraine has kept food flowing from the Black Sea ports out to those in desperate need is testament to the courage and ingenuity of Ukraine in the darkest of times.
It is vital that those who believe in fundamental freedoms such as democracy and the rule of law do all we can to support Ukraine through these difficult times and show the world that authoritarianism, repression and terror will ultimately fail.
Ukrainian truckers say hope fading for end to Polish protests
Ukraine’s truckers union said hopes of a rapid end to Polish trucker protests at the border were fading, Reuters reported.
Polish truckers have been blocking roads to four border crossings with Ukraine.
“Frankly speaking, the more we talk to them the less hope we have,” said Leonid Kostiuchenko, president of the Ukrainian Association of International Carriers.
“I spoke to the leader of the protesters and his attitude is that we will block for such a long time that you will … celebrate new year in a queue. I don’t understand this humour.”
Hundreds of trucks line up on the side of the road to the Polish-Ukrainian border crossing in Medyka. Polish farmers joined the hauliers’ protest at the border crossing with Ukraine. Polish truckers have been protesting against the EU’s liberalisation of transport rules for Ukrainian trucks at three checkpoints since 6 November, causing huge lines on both sides of the border. Photograph: Attila Husejnow/Sopa Images/ShutterstockMichal Kolodziejczak, leader of the Agrounion and MP seen speaking during the border blockade at the Medyka crossing. Polish farmers joined the hauliers’ protest at the border crossing with Ukraine. Photograph: Attila Husejnow/Sopa Images/Shutterstock
