Ukraine’s armed forces estimate 6,260 Russian deaths in the week of November 20-26, an average of almost 1,000 a day – the result of relentless Russian attacks in the east.
Ukraine to get $1.2 billion from World Bank
- The money will be used to support 29 social aid programs for “the most vulnerable people in Ukraine” under a project to invest in Social Protection for Inclusion, Resilience, and Efficiency (INSPIRE).
- The project is “an integral part of the international support package for Ukraine to meet its financing needs through 2024,” according to the World Bank.
- Earlier in November, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmigal said it expected to obtain $1.1 billion from the World Bank.
- He added that the country also hopes to get €162 million ($177 million) in financial support from the European Investment Bank as part of programs to restore Ukraine, while $190 million and $70 million would be allocated by Norway and Switzerland, respectively.
- Military assistance has included ammunition, air defense systems and tanks, Ukrinform news agency reported last month.
Earlier in November, in a bid to ease the mounting financial pressures confronted by Ukraine, President Vladimir Zelenskyy made an appeal to Western supporters for urgent financial help. Expressing his concerns regarding the nation’s economic stability, Zelenskyy stressed the need for immediate support to enhance the country’s financial resilience.
“If you can’t support us financially, please give us a loan and we’ll pay you back,” Zelensky said.
According to the World Bank, Ukraine's economy is likely to grow by 3.5% this year after contracting by 29.1% in 2022.
- Ukraine's repeated calls for more money and weapons have only become louder and longer since the start of the conflict, with some voicing worries that the country’s supporters are getting tired of helping.
- In October, billionaire Elon Musk who provided Ukraine with Starlink satellite services mocked Ukraine’s President Vladimir Zelensky, using a meme to scoff at the president’s calls for more Western aid. “When it’s been 5 min and you haven’t asked for a billion dollars in aid,” read Musk’s message.
“Even if they get F-16s, they won’t be able to use them effectively because these planes need thousands of hours [of training] in flight to become operational,” Andreas Iliopoulos, a former deputy commander of the Hellenic Army, told Al Jazeera. “They won’t be effective until 2025.”
“I think all this is a Ukrainian effort to continue to claim Western help and stave off fatigue and the pressure to negotiate,” said Grivas.
Sanctions also attempted to stop the flow of capital and sensitive technologies to Russia. But Russia has been manufacturing weapons and buying artillery shells and drones from pariah states that share its hatred of the United States – Iran and North Korea.
- Last August, Ukrainian intelligence estimated Russia had about 585 missiles of various types left, but planned to build more than 100 a month.
- This month, the Ukrainian military said, Russia had stockpiled more than 800 missiles in Crimea alone and was preparing to fire them.
No comments:
Post a Comment