Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on people around the world to come “to your squares, your streets” to stand with Ukraine and against the war on Thursday. He said in a late video address shot near the presidential offices in Kyiv that the war “breaks my heart, the hearts of all Ukrainians and every free person on the planet”.
He called for people to visibly show their support for Ukraine starting from Thursday, exactly one month after Russia launched its invasion. He said: “Come from your offices, your homes, your schools and universities.
"Come in the name of peace. Come with Ukrainian symbols to support Ukraine, to support freedom, to support life. Come to your squares, your streets. Make yourselves visible and heard. Say that people matter. Freedom matters. Peace matters. Ukraine matters.”
On the eve of a summit in Brussels of Nato leaders, including US President Joe Biden, Mr Zelensky also called on the alliance to provide “effective and unrestricted” support to Ukraine, including any weapons the country needs to fend off the Russian invasion. He said: “We ask that the alliance declare that it will fully assist Ukraine to win this war, clear our territory of the invaders and restore peace in Ukraine.”
Mr Zelensky will speak to the Nato summit by video, the president’s office said. He appealed to Western countries to stay united in the face what he says are Russia’s efforts to “lobby its interests” with “some partners” to bring them over to its side.
“We will see who is a friend, who is a partner and who has sold out and betrayed us,” he said in an emotional speech. “Together we should not allow Russia to break anyone in Nato, the EU or G7, to break them and drag them to the side of war.”
UK to send 6,000 more missiles to Ukraine
Boris Johnson will urge western allies to help “keep the flame of freedom alive” in Ukraine as he pledged the UK will supply thousands more missiles to the military in Kyiv. The Prime Minister is joining fellow Nato leaders in Brussels for an emergency summit to discuss the latest situation a month on from the start of the Russian invasion.
He will use the visit to set out details of a new support package for Ukrainian forces, including 6,000 more missiles comprising anti-tank and high-explosive weaponry. The Prime Minister said it was time for western powers to step up the supply of military hardware to Kyiv as well as increasing sanctions against Moscow.
“We cannot and will not stand by while Russia grinds Ukraine’s towns and cities into dust,” he said in a statement ahead of the summit. "The United Kingdom will work with our allies to step up military and economic support to Ukraine, strengthening their defences as they turn the tide in this fight.
"One month into this crisis, the international community faces a choice. We can keep the flame of freedom alive in Ukraine, or risk it being snuffed out across Europe and the world."
As well as sending more missiles, the UK is providing £25 million from the Foreign Office’s conflict security and stabilisation fund to help pay the salaries of Ukrainian soldiers and pilots. Britain has already sent more than 4,000 anti-tank weapons to Ukraine, including next-generation light anti-tank weapons systems (Nlaws) and Javelin missiles.
It is also supplying and training Ukrainian troops in the use of Starstreak high-velocity anti-air missiles as well as providing body armour, helmets and combat boots. The Government will provide an additional £4.1 million to the BBC World Service to counter disinformation in Russia and Ukraine as well as new support for the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Nato leaders to approve major increase in forces
A meeting of Nato leaders in Brussels is expected to sign off on the formation of four new battlegroups in eastern Europe. Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said the battlegroups – each numbering between 1,000 and 1,500 troops – would be deployed in Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria.
The alliance already has 40,000 troops in Europe under its direct command, nearly 10 times the number it had a few months ago. Mr Stoltenberg told a news conference on Wednesday that the forces will remain in place “as long as necessary”.
He said: “This is a significant reinforcement of our presence in the east with air, sea and land forces. We are there to protect and defend allies, ready to respond massively to any potential threat or attack against any Nato allied country.”
He said he expected leaders would agree additional support for Ukraine, including cybersecurity assistance and equipment to help protect against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.
US says Russian forces have committed war crimes
The US says it has formally assessed that Russian forces had committed war crimes in Ukraine. The announcement came as US President Joe Biden arrived in Brussels for a summit of Nato leaders.
US secretary of state Antony Blinken cited the besieged city of Mariupol where an estimated 100,000 people remain trapped with chronic shortages of food and clean drinking water. Mr Blinken said: "Today, I can announce that, based on information currently available, the US government assesses that members of Russia’s forces have committed war crimes in Ukraine.
"As with any alleged crime, a court of law with jurisdiction over the crime is ultimately responsible for determining criminal guilt in specific cases. We are committed to pursuing accountability using every tool available, including criminal prosecutions."
Russian soldiers could be encircled by Ukrainian forces, says MoD
Demoralised Russian troops could be surrounded by Ukrainian forces near Kyiv, according to the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD). In its latest Defence Intelligence Report the MoD also says it is likely that Ukrainian forces have retaken the important strategic town of Makariv and the village of Moschun - both near Ukraine's capital.
The MoD's intelligence update said: "Ukraine is increasing pressure on Russian forces north-east of Kyiv. Russian forces along this axis are already facing considerable supply and morale issues.
"Ukrainian forces are carrying out successful counter attacks against Russian positions in towns on the outskirts of the capital, and have probably retaken Makariv and Moschun. There is a realistic possibility that Ukrainian forces are now able to encircle Russian units in Bucha and Irpin.
"It is likely that successful counter attacks by Ukraine will disrupt the ability of Russian forces to reorganise and resume their own offensive towards Kyiv."
Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko also told reporters on Wednesday that Makariv is back under the control of Ukrainian soldiers and almost all of Irpin has also been regained. Irpin lies on the eastern border of Kyiv and Makariv is located around 30 miles to the capital's west.
Mr Klitschko, a former world heavyweight boxing champion, said: "We would rather die than kneel in front of the Russians or surrender to the invaders. We are ready to fight for each building, each street, every part of our city."
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