EU – The president of the European Council Charles Michel has stated the European Union’s firm commitment to stand by Ukraine as long as necessary. Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky, who attended a special meeting of the council, called on EU heads of state and government to provide additional support for his country, including fighter jets. A group of EU leaders, including Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis, met president Zelensky on the sidelines of the Special European Council. According to a statement from the Romanian president’s office, Iohannis emphasised the need to further provide support for Ukraine in all areas and to maintain pressure on Russia.
Ukraine – The Russian forces launched air raids on the essential infrastructure in several areas in Ukraine, while at least 17 missiles against hit Zaporizhzhia in the early hours of Friday. Air raid sirens sounded across the country and local officials urged people to take shelter, warning of new strikes. The attack on Zaporizhzhia was the biggest since Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year, local officials said. The essential infrastructure also came under attack in Kharkiv, in northern Ukraine, and in the Dnipropetrovsk region, in the centre. The spokesperson for the Air Forces told the Ukrainian TV that this country’s aid defence systems shot down five of the seven drones and five of the six Kaliber missiles launched into Ukraine. On Thursday night, French president Emmanuel Macron said the Ukrainian army needs weapons that are „more useful” and „faster”, such as the Caesar guns and the MAMBA surface-to-air defence systems, which France has already supplied. He also said the fighter jets requested by Ukraine from its western partners could not be sent „in the coming weeks”.
