The leading European NATO states want to discuss further support for the country attacked by Russia with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to information from the German Press Agency from alliance circles, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is inviting people to the meeting next Wednesday (December 18th) in Brussels. It should also be about possible security guarantees in the event of a ceasefire.
In addition to Zelenskyj, Ukraine summit Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) as well as the heads of state and government of France, Great Britain, Italy and Poland are expected in Brussels. Top EU representatives such as Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will also be there.
One topic should therefore be how a possible future ceasefire in Ukraine could be monitored. One option is to station an international peacekeeping force in Ukraine.
The background to the considerations on security guarantees is the scenario that Donald Trump, as US President, could try to pressure Ukraine and Russia to negotiate. To do this, he could, for example, threaten to stop military aid to Ukraine if it refuses. In turn, he could threaten Russian President Vladimir Putin with increasing military aid to Kiev if the Kremlin chief refuses to negotiate.
Heavy rocket strikes against energy supplies
The need for a way out of the war was demonstrated by another, more serious airstrike with which Russia hit Ukraine on Friday morning, particularly targeting energy supplies. The Ukrainian state energy supplier Ukrenerho and the private company DTEK reported new damage to their power plants. According to Kiev's count, it was the twelfth such attack this year.
Zelensky said more than 90 Russian missiles had been fired at targets in his country. “Managed to shoot down 81 rockets,” he wrote on Telegram. The F-16 fighter jets supplied from the West alone intercepted 11 Russian cruise missiles. Before the rocket attack in the morning, Russia also deployed almost 200 combat drones overnight. “This is one of the biggest attacks on our energy system,” wrote the head of state. According to the Ukrainian military, four hypersonic Kinzhal missiles were launched from Russian MiG-31 fighter jets.
As a precautionary measure, power cuts were introduced in several regions to prevent possible network overloads. Because of the air strike, the Ukrainian nuclear power plants had to reduce their output again. This time, five of nine operating reactors were affected, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna announced on Network X. Strong fluctuations in the voltage in the network, hits on lines or substations mean that the reactors have to be throttled. The IAEA has long warned that the attacks indirectly increase the risk of incidents.
Zelenskyj asks for anti-aircraft defense
Zelensky renewed his calls for Western allies to supply more anti-aircraft systems. More effective sanctions against Russia would also be necessary. “Oil gives Putin enough money to believe in his own impunity,” emphasized the president. There must be a massive response to massive Russian attacks. “This is the only way to stop terror,” emphasized Zelensky.
Moscow, in turn, called the air strike a response to an attack by Ukraine with alleged Western weapons. Among other things, it was about a Ukrainian attack on a Russian military airport in Taganrog on Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Russian state news agency Tass.
The Defense Ministry in Moscow wrote on Telegram that Russian forces had responded by carrying out a massive strike against Russia's fuel and energy infrastructure. This supplies the enemy's military and industry.
Kremlin: Planning for the end of the war too early
Regarding the European discussion about ways out of the war, the Kremlin spokesman said it was premature to think about an international force to secure a ceasefire. “This can all be discussed in negotiations,” said Peskov. For the time being, however – as he presented it – only Moscow is willing to talk, not Ukraine.
Ukraine is currently not strong enough to negotiate with Moscow, said the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak. «Today we're not there yet. “We lack weapons, we lack status,” he said on Ukrainian television on Thursday. “We are talking about an invitation to NATO and clear guarantees that would ensure that Putin is not reused in two or three years.”
