US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday announced $717 million in new economic and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine, including $325 million in energy support to help repair and restore power generation facilities hit by Russian strikes. The package includes $290 million in humanitarian help and $102 million for demining work. Follow our liveblog for all the latest developments in the war in Ukraine. Read our liveblog to see how all the day’s events unfolded.
Summary:
- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his British counterpart David Lammy made a rare joint trip to Ukraine on Wednesday to discuss further easing rules on firing Western weapons into Russia, whose alleged acquisition of Iranian missiles has raised new fears.
- Russia and Iran on Wednesday dismissed reports that Tehran had shipped missiles to Russia. The Kremlin also threatened to roll out “an appropriate response” if Washington allowed Kyiv to use US long-range missiles to strike deep inside Russian territory.
- A freight train has derailed in a Russian region bordering Ukraine following “the intervention of non-authorised people”, the rail operator said on Wednesday.
- The Ukrainian air force said it shot down 20 out of 25 Russia-launched drones overnight. Russian forces also used nine missiles in the attack, the air force added in a statement via the Telegram messaging app.
Last to first
Democrats and Republicans want Biden to ease Ukraine weapons restrictions
US President Joe Biden’s administration faced increasing pressure from both Republicans and his fellow Democrats on Wednesday to ease restrictions on how Ukraine can use weapons provided by the United States in its war against Russia.
Senator Ben Cardin, the Democratic chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, noted recent Russian attacks that killed civilians and destroyed infrastructure, calling for quick action.
“It’s time to allow Ukraine to be able to defend itself against these air attacks in a more effective way, and the United States needs to be the leader in that regard,” Cardin said at a committee hearing.
Despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s pleas, the White House has been reluctant to allow US-supplied weapons to be used to strike targets deep inside Russia for fear this could escalate the conflict.
Kyiv urges allies to help shoot down Russian missiles, drones
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga urged Kyiv’s allies on its western borders Wednesday to shoot down Russian drones and missiles flying over its western regions.
“There have already been numerous instances of Russian aircraft violating the airspace of neighbouring countries and NATO countries,” said Sybiga. Allies should “explore the possibility of shooting down missiles over the territory of Ukraine”.
UK to provide ‘hundreds’ of missiles to Ukraine this year: Lammy
Britain will provide hundreds of missiles this year to Ukraine, Foreign Secretary David Lammy promised at a press conference in Kyiv.
“I can announce we will now also send hundreds of additional air defence missiles, tens of thousands of additional artillery ammunition rounds and more armoured vehicles to Ukraine by the end of the year,” said Lammy.
UK to provide ‘hundreds’ of missiles to Ukraine this year: Lammy
Britain will provide hundreds of missiles this year to Ukraine, Foreign Secretary David Lammy promised Wednesday, after Western powers accused Iran of sending critical short-range rockets to Russia.
“I can announce we will now also send hundreds of additional air defence missiles, tens of thousands of additional artillery ammunition rounds and more armoured vehicles to Ukraine by the end of the year,” Lammy told a news conference with his US and Ukrainian counterparts.
Blinken promises US to work ‘with urgency’ on Ukraine defence requests
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday promised to work quickly on Ukraine’s requests to ease restrictions on weapons able to strike deep inside Russia.
“We’re working with urgency to continue to ensure that Ukraine has what it needs to effectively defend itself,” Blinken told a news conference in Kyiv, saying that the US and British leaders would discuss the requests on Friday.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha attend a joint press conference, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, September 11, 2024. © Alina Smutko
US announces $700 million in aid for Ukraine’s energy grid, health and education programmes and more
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has announced more than $700 million in aid for Ukraine at a press conference in Kyiv.
Blinken said the assistance also would provide humanitarian support and pay for demining operations.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Blinken said the aid was aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s energy grid that Russia has repeatedly pounded ahead of an expected difficult winter.
The $325 million in energy support in the package will help repair and restore Ukraine’s power generation facilities, provide emergency backup power and strengthen the physical security of energy infrastructure.
Some $290 million will fund food, water, shelter, health care and education programs for Ukrainians in need in the country and refugees outside the country. The remaining $102 million will be used for mine-removal activities.
Air raid alarm sounds in Ukrainian capital as Blinken and Lammy visit
An air raid alarm sounded in Kyiv on Wednesday afternoon as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Minister David Lammy were visiting the Ukrainian capital along with other Western officials.
The Air Force announced a ballistic missile threat on the Telegram messaging platform, saying that a missile was moving in the direction of the Poltava region.
Zelensky says Ukraine’s victory ‘depends’ on United States
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday that Ukraine’s plan to defeat Russia depended on Washington’s support, speaking as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Kyiv.
“As for the plan for victory… it depends mostly on the support of the United States. And other partners,” Volodymyr Zelensky said in a press conference.
His remarks come just under two months before US elections that could be challenging for Ukraine if Donald Trump is back in the White House.
Trump aides have suggested that if he wins, he would leverage aid to force Kyiv into territorial concessions to Russia to end the war.
Zelensky has said he will outline a plan to end the war by November.
UK’s Lammy sets out further financial support for Ukraine during Kyiv visit
British foreign minister David Lammy said on Wednesday Britain would provide a further 600 million pounds ($781 million) of support for Ukraine as he visited Kyiv with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The British government said it would provide 242 million pounds of funding, including for humanitarian needs, and 484 million pounds in loan guarantees for World Bank lending to Ukraine before the end of the year.
Britain has already committed 3 billion pounds a year of military support to Ukraine for as long as needed.
Lammy said in a statement the latest funding would provide “vital support to Ukrainians as they continue to endure relentless Russian attacks.”
Zelensky says ‘victory plan’ could push Russia to end war diplomatically
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday his “victory plan” that he wants to present to US President Joe Biden this month would strengthen Kyiv and have a “psychological” impact that could push Russia to end its war diplomatically.
Speaking at Kyiv’s annual Crimean Platform event, the Ukrainian leader said it was important that Ukraine presented the plan to its allies before a second international summit on peace in Ukraine that he wants to hold later this year.
“If partners support it (the plan), it will make it easier for Ukraine to force Russia to end the war,” he said.
US and UK top diplomats vow victory for Ukraine as they discuss long-range arms
The US and British top diplomats vowed Wednesday to work together for Ukraine’s victory as they discussed further easing rules on firing Western weapons into Russia, whose alleged acquisition of Iranian missiles has raised new fears.
In a rare joint trip, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken took the nine-hour train from Poland to Kyiv alongside Foreign Secretary David Lammy, whose two-month-old Labour government has vowed to keep up Britain’s role as a key defender of Ukraine.
At three-way talks with their Ukrainian counterpart, Blinken said the visit sent a “strong message that we are committed to Ukraine’s success, committed to Ukraine’s victory”.
UK summons Iranian chargé d’affaires over transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia
Britain’s foreign ministry on Wednesday summoned the Iranian chargé d’affaires over the transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia.
“Today, in coordination with European partners and upon instruction from the Foreign Secretary, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Iranian Embassy in London was summoned to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
“The UK Government was clear in that any transfer of Ballistic Missiles to Russia would be seen as a dangerous escalation and would face a significant response.”
Three killed, five injured in Russian attacks on east Ukrainian town
Three women were killed and five other people were injured on Wednesday during Russian attacks on
the eastern Ukrainian town of Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region, prosecutors said.
Russian troops shelled a residential part of the town, around 14 km (nine miles) from the active combat zone, and killed two elderly women, the Prosecutor’s General Office said on the Telegram messaging app.
Later Russian forces hit another residential area, probably with a self-propelled multiple rocket launcher, killing a middle-aged woman and injuring five other civilians, it said.
The Donetsk region, which Russian troops partially occupy, regularly comes under Russian shelling and airstrikes.
Moscow denies targeting civilians or civilian infrastructure in its invasion of Ukraine, although thousands of people have been killed in its attacks.
Russia shoots down Ukrainian drones over Arctic north
Russia shot down three drones over its northern Murmansk region on Wednesday, more than 1,600 kilometres (1,000 miles) from Ukraine, the regional governor said.
“All three drones in the Murmansk region were shot down,” Governor Andrey Chibis said in a post on Telegram, after earlier reporting the region was “under attack from enemy drones”.
Russia’s aviation agency closed two of the region’s airports “to ensure the safety of civil aircraft”, it said in a statement.
Murmansk airport, one of those closed, is around 1,850 kilometres from Ukraine.
Kyiv has built up an advanced drone industry since Russia launched its military offensive in February 2022 and regularly attacks Russian targets with self-detonating craft.
Russian strategic bomber planes overfly Barents and Norwegian seas, RIA says
Russian Tu-160 strategic bomber planes flew over the Barents and Norwegian seas as part of a major naval exercise, the state-run RIA news agency quoted the defence ministry as saying on Wednesday.
It said the flights were part of the “Ocean-2024” drills that Russia launched a day earlier.
The exercises, the biggest since the Soviet era, will involve more than 90,000 servicemen, over 400 vessels and 125 aircraft and will run until September 16 across a vast area including parts of the Pacific and Arctic Oceans and the Mediterranean, Baltic and Caspian seas.
Iran’s foreign minister says Tehran did not deliver missiles to Russia
Iran’s foreign minister said on Wednesday that Tehran had not delivered any ballistic missiles to Russia and sanctions imposed on Iran by the United States and three European powers would not solve any problems between them.
“Once again, US and E3 act on faulty intelligence and flawed logic. Iran has NOT delivered ballistic missiles to Russia. Period… Sanctions are not a solution, but part of problem,” Minister Abbas Araqchi said in a post on X.
The E3 comprises of Britain, Germany and France.
The Kremlin on Wednesday dismissed reports that Iran had shipped missiles to Russia, saying claims about various arms transfers were baseless.
Once again, US and E3 act on faulty intelligence and flawed logic
– Iran has NOT delivered ballistic missiles to Russia. Period
– Sanction addicts should ask themselves: how is Iran able to make & supposedly sell sophisticated arms?
Sanctions r NOT a solution, but part of problem— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) September 11, 2024
Russia’s defence minister inspects forces fighting in Ukraine
Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov inspected the Western grouping of forces which is fighting in Ukraine, the ministry said on Wednesday.
Kremlin, asked on reports Iran shipped weapons to Russia, calls such claims ‘baseless’
The Kremlin on Wednesday dismissed reports that Iran had shipped missiles to Russia, saying claims about various arms transfers were baseless.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday that Russia had received ballistic missiles from Iran and would likely use them in Ukraine within weeks, warning that cooperation between Moscow and Tehran threatened wider European security.
Tehran called the US claim “ugly propaganda”.
Kremlin pledges ‘appropriate’ response if US allows Ukraine missile strikes on Russia
The Kremlin on Wednesday said it would respond “appropriately” if the US lifts its restrictions on Ukraine using American-supplied missiles to strike targets inside Russia, after US President Joe Biden said he was “working that out”.
Asked what the Kremlin’s answer to the move would be, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: “It will be appropriate”, adding that Russia’s offensive on Ukraine was itself a “response” to the West’s support for Kyiv.
Kremlin says Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil facilities have a minimal impact
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday that Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure had a minimal impact thanks to the work of Russia’s air defence units and other defensive measures.
Peskov said measures were being taken to ensure such strikes did not affect energy supplies to the Russian people and economy.
Russian oligarchs and financial firm lose court challenge against EU sanctions
Two Russian oligarchs and the country’s National Settlement Depository company on Wednesday lost legal challenges against European Union sanctions imposed on them after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Sanctions had been imposed upon Gennady Timchenko, a Russian tycoon and long-time ally of President Vladimir Putin, and upon billionaire Mikhail Fridman.
Timchenko and Fridman had appealed against an EU demand to declare their funds or economic resources as part of EU sanctions adopted after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
However, their arguments were dismissed by the Luxembourg-based General Court, which is Europe’s second-highest court.
“The need for action to counteract legal and financial arrangements facilitating the circumvention of restrictive measures justifies such obligations,” it said in a ruling.
UK sanctions 10 vessels from Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’
Britain has sanctioned 10 ships in Russia’s “shadow fleet” of vessels which it says use illicit practices to avoid Western embargoes on Russian oil.
“Today’s sanctions further undermine Russia’s ability to trade in oil via its shadow fleet,” British Foreign Minister David Lammy said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Alongside our partners, we will continue to send a stark message to Russia that the international community stands with Ukraine and we will not tolerate this illicit fleet.”
‘Dark fleet’ suspected of transporting Russian liquefied natural gas from the Arctic
Top US, UK diplomats arrive in Kyiv on joint trip
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy arrived together in Kyiv on Wednesday on a joint trip to assess Ukraine’s requests for more military help.
The top diplomats of the two allies arrived by train from Poland in the Ukrainian capital, according to an AFP reporter travelling with them, ahead of a day of meetings with senior officials in Kyiv.
Russia recaptures roughly 10 settlements in its Kursk region, commander says
Russia has recaptured about 10 settlements from Ukrainian forces who seized control of part of its western Kursk region last month, TASS news agency quoted a senior Russian commander, Major General Apti Alaudinov, as saying.
Russia attacks energy infrastructure in several regions, Ukraine says
Russian forces have attacked energy infrastructure in four regions in the past 24 hours, Ukraine’s energy ministry said on Wednesday.
The ministry said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app that the attacks had temporarily disrupted high-voltage lines in Poltava region and power substations in Kharkiv region.
Russian lawmaker warns the West over supplies of long-range missiles to Ukraine
Russia will consider the United States and its allies to be parties to the Ukraine war and Moscow will use more powerful weapons if the West allows Ukraine to use long-range weapons for strikes deep into Russia, a senior lawmaker said on Wednesday.
“Washington and other European states are becoming parties to the war in Ukraine,” Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of Russia’s Duma, the lower house of parliament, said on Telegram.
US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that his administration was “working that out now” when asked if the US would lift those restrictions.
Russian freight train derails in Ukraine border region
A freight train has derailed in a Russian region bordering Ukraine following “the intervention of non-authorised people”, the rail operator said on Wednesday.
The derailment, which occurred late on Tuesday in the region of Belgorod, did not result in any injuries or fatalities, the local office of Russia’s national rail operator said.
“Eleven empty carriages and a locomotive of a freight train derailed” at 2017 GMT on the track between the village of Volokonovka and the town of Novyi Oskol, it said in a statement.
The accident took place “following the intervention of non-authorised people”, it said, without providing any other details.
Bloggers say Russia pushes back Ukrainian troops in some areas of Kursk
Russian forces have begun a significant counter offensive against Ukrainian troops who smashed their way into western Russia last month, and have taken some territory back, pro-Moscow war bloggers said.
Yuri Podolyaka, an Ukrainian-born, pro-Russian military blogger, and two other influential bloggers – Rybar and the Two Majors – said that Russian forces had begun a significant counter-offensive in Kursk.
“In the Kursk region, the Russian Army launched counter-offensive actions on the western flank of the enemy’s wedge, reducing the Ukrainian zone of control near the state border,” the Two Majors blog said.
Podolyaka said that Russian forces had taken several villages on the west of the sliver of Russia that Ukraine carved out, pushing Ukrainian forces to the east of the Malaya Loknya River south of Snagost.
Reuters was unable to verify the battlefield reports. Russian defence ministry reports about the fighting gave little information and there was no immediate comment from Ukraine.
Iran threatens ‘action’ over new Western sanctions
Iran vowed to respond to fresh sanctions imposed by Britain, Germany and France over what they said was Tehran’s supply of short-range missiles to Russia for use in Ukraine.
“This action of the three European countries is the continuation of the hostile policy of the West and economic terrorism against the people of Iran, which will face the appropriate and proportionate action of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said in a statement late Tuesday.
Ukraine says it shot down 20 Russia-launched drones overnight
Ukraine’s air force said on Wednesday it shot down 20 out of 25 Russia-launched drones overnight in six regions.
Russian forces also used nine missiles, the air force added in a statement via the Telegram messaging app on the latest attacks in the more than two-year war.
Kyiv regional governor Ruslan Kravchenko reported no damage to residential and critical infrastructure or casualties in the region surrounding the capital.
Cherkasy regional governor Ihor Taburets said air defences shot down one drone over the central region with no destruction reported.
Six drones were shot down in Dnipropetrovsk region, the governor Serhiy Lysak said. Various overnight attacks in this central region injured one person and damaged four apartment buildings and infrastructure.
The air defence shot down five drones over the southern region of Kherson, where attacks in the last 24 hours injured 13 people, governor Oleksandr Prokudin said.
US, UK top diplomats head to Ukraine to discuss weapons supply
The US and British top diplomats headed together into Ukraine on Wednesday to discuss further easing rules on firing Western weapons into Russia, whose alleged acquisition of Iranian missiles has raised new fears.
In a rare joint trip, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was taking the train to Kyiv with Foreign Secretary David Lammy, whose two-month-old Labour government has vowed to keep up Britain’s role as a key defender of Ukraine.
The pair, who boarded the train early Wednesday at the Polish border town of Przemysl, are expected to meet in Kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has kept pressing the West for weapons with more firepower and fewer restrictions.
IMF agreement could give Ukraine access to $1.1 billion
The International Monetary Fund late Tuesday said it has reached an agreement with Ukraine on an aid program review that could open the door to $1.1 billion for the war-battered country.
A staff-level agreement on the fifth review of the four-year Extended Fund Facility Agreement, subject to approval by the IMF executive board, would clear the way for Ukraine to access the money, according to the IMF.
It would raise to $8.7 billion the amount of funds dispersed so far to Ukraine as part of an IMF program tallying about $15.6 billion.
Western powers sanction Iran over missiles to Russia
Western powers on Tuesday announced fresh sanctions on Iran for supplying Russia with short-range missiles for imminent use against Ukraine, calling it a dangerous escalation of the conflict that threatened European security.
Britain, France and Germany said they would cut aviation agreements with the Islamic republic and sanction its national carrier Iran Air, claiming Tehran had repeatedly defied warnings about the weapons transfers.
“This act is an escalation by both Iran and Russia, and is a direct threat to European security,” the so-called E3 powers said in a joint statement.
President Joe Biden meanwhile said the United States was considering lifting restrictions on Ukraine using long-range, US-made missiles against Russia to help it defend itself in return.
“We’re working that out right now,” Biden told reporters at the White House.
Protesters blast ‘Russia at War,’ director defends it as ‘antiwar film’
Ukrainian diplomats and activists in Canada on Tuesday urged the Toronto International Film Festival to cancel further screenings of a documentary portraying Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine, claiming the film serves as “Russian propaganda.”
“Russians At War” was filmed by Anastasia Trofimova, a Russian-Canadian director and cinematographer who spent seven months embedded with Russian troops near the front line in Ukraine.
Ukrainian Consul General Oleh Nikolenko said the documentary was an attempt to white-wash war crimes committed by the Russian military since its invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.
“This is highly crafted Russian propaganda and unfortunately the festival has not demonstrated any willingness to address our concerns,” he said in an interview, referring to TIFF’s decision to allow the screening.
Trofimova denied that her documentary was propaganda. On the contrary, she said, it was filmed without permission of the Russian government, putting her at risk of criminal prosecution in Russia.
Welcome to FRANCE 24’s liveblog on the Ukraine war.
Yesterday’s key developments:
- The United States on Tuesday unveiled fresh sanctions against more than a dozen firms and individuals in Russia and Iran in response to what it called Iran’s “escalatory” decision to send ballistic missiles to Russia.
- A wave of Ukrainian drone strikes on Russia killed a woman near Moscow, Russian officials said on Tuesday, the first time someone has been killed near the capital since the start of Moscow’s offensive.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken attend a meeting in Kyiv on September 11, 2024, amid the Russian invasion on Ukraine. © Leon Neal / POOL / AFP
Issued on: Modified:
Sources from: FRANCE24.COM
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