Photo : AP Photo/Virginia Mayo
Photo : AP Photo/Virginia Mayo
By Neha Tresa George
WAR ON GROUND
On 04 December, Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty reported on the decision of NATO to protect Ukraine’s infrastructure. The members have confirmed the protection of Ukraine’s infrastructure to be the top priority. According to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte: “There was a clear agreement around the table last night that to help Ukraine, particularly with its infrastructure, has to be a priority.” The members were discussing providing adequate air defences for protection as Russia was stepping up its attack on energy facilities in Ukraine.
On 04 December, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for increasing reinforcements in eastern Ukraine. This comes after Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed that they captured the village of Romanivka, south of the embattled town of Kurakhove in the Donetsk region and Novodarivka, just above the border in Zaporizhzhia region. Responding to this, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine’s position in the war depended on its Western allies. He urged them to supply weapons at adequate time. He said: “The Donetsk directions require significant reinforcement. This particularly involves the supply of weapons from our partners.” He further said that Ukraine’s long-range capabilities must be strengthened to counter Russia’s offensive in the war. Referring to Ukraine's top commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi updates on the war, he added that the situation in Kurakhove and Pokrovsk remained difficult for Ukraine.
On 03 December, The Kyiv Independent reported that NATO countries might downplayed Ukraine’s call for its membership. A NATO diplomat said: “It will take weeks and months to get consensus.” While Ukraine submitted its application in 2022, NATO affirmed its path to the alliance in July 2024. Despite Ukrainian officials’ continuous bids to membership, the Foreign Ministerial meeting saw no progress in this regard. A US official said: “The best way to support Ukraine is to surge money, munitions, and mobilization.” Although the members were keen to provide necessary military assistance to Ukraine, there was no immediate action taken for its accession to NATO.
THE WEST VIEW
Responses from the US and the Europe
On 04 December, the UK government is set to call for increased support for Ukraine at the sidelines of the Foreign Secretary’s first NATO Foreign Ministerial Meeting in Brussels. Foreign Secretary David Lammy assured that he would urge the members to step up their military assistance and ensure Ukraine’s path to NATO membership. He will also warn the members against Russia’s growing alliance with North Korea and Iran. The UK has provided about EUR 12.8 billion of support to Ukraine till now and will also grant EUR three billion per year until it is required. Lammy added that investment in Ukraine’s security was just like investment in Euro-Atlantic and global security.
On 04 December, Politico reported on the allegations put forth by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Russia and China. According to him, Germany’s cybersecurity and infrastructure were under “severe threat” from Russia and China. He said: “As we all know, the main causes of attacks of this kind that affect our cybersecurity come from Russia. They also come from China from time to time.” Scholz also pointed out the incidents of Chinese hacks, sabotage in the Baltic Seas and the alleged shooting of a Bundeswehr helicopter by a Russian ship crew. He believed that the security authorities should take adequate measures against these attacks. Scholz said that Ukraine should consider how things should proceed in the peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. He added that Russian President Vladimir Putin did not seem to have a plan to work in the peace direction.
On 04 December, Euronews reported that the oil flow from Russia to the Czech Republic through the Druzhba pipeline was halted. This was confirmed by the Czech authorities. Czech Industry and Trade Minister Lukas Vlcek said that they were prepared for such situations with a “robust system of state services.” The company that controls the pipeline Mero informed us that it was investigating the incident. It also confirmed that the country’s oil supplies would not be affected by this incident. It added that Czech has 90 days of oil reserves with the TAL and the IKL pipelines are operating normally.
On 04 December, Euronews reported on the stance of Olaf Scholz on sending German troops to Ukraine. He refuted the claims of sending troops to Ukraine and said that it was “completely inappropriate” to predict the end of the war. These comments came despite foreign minister Annalena Baerbock’s suggestion to send peacekeeping forces to a demilitarised zone after a ceasefire was decided upon. She gave these considerations during a NATO meeting in Brussels.
On 04 December, Euronews reported that Annalena Baerbock had called for increasing surveillance in the Baltic Sea in the light of an alleged Russian shooting on a Bundeswehr helicopter. According to German media, a Russian ship crew shot signalling ammunition at a Bundeswehr helicopter which was on a reconnaissance mission. She announced this incident at the sidelines of a NATO meeting in Brussels. She said: “Putin is attacking our peace order with hybrid attacks.” She added that there would be increased monitoring of the pipelines and data cables in the Baltic Sea due to the rise in threats from Russia and its allies. Apart from this, there is an ongoing investigation against the sabotage of a cable connecting Finland, Germany, Sweden and Lithuania.
References
“Germany’s cybersecurity and infrastructure under attack by Russia, chancellor says,” Politico, 04 December 2024
“Delivery of oil to Czech Republic from Russia through Druzhba pipeline interrupted,” Euronews, 04 December 2024
“Scholz draws line at German peacekeeping troops in Ukraine,” Euronews, 04 December 2024
“Baltic Sea: Russian ship fires signalling ammunition at German army helicopter,” Euronews, 04 December 2024
“NATO Agrees To Prioritize Protecting Ukraine's Infrastructure,” RFERL, 04 December 2024
“UK to push Allies to increase support for Ukraine and defence spending at NATO,” GOV.UK, 04 December 2024
“Lithuania FM: NATO members must supply guarantees to have peace in Ukraine,” Azerbaycan, 04 December 2024
“Zelenskiy calls for reinforcement of eastern front against Russian advances,” AoI, 04 December 2024
“NATO unlikely to issue membership invite to Ukraine at upcoming meeting, Reuters reports,” The Kyiv Independent, 05 December 2024