EU Parliament urges capitals to lift restrictions on Ukraine hitting targets deep inside Russia. Germany sends a new military aid package to Ukraine. This winter, Ukraine could face four to 18-hour blackouts a day, according to a UN report.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
European Parliament lawmakers called on all capitals to allow Ukraine to use long-range weapons against targets on Russian territory, according to a resolution adopted on Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The resolution passed by a vote of 425 to 131 with 63 abstentions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
MEPs ask EU countries to \u201clift current restrictions hindering Ukraine from using Western weapons systems against legitimate military targets in Russia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWithout lifting current restrictions, Ukraine cannot fully exercise its right to self-defence and remains exposed to attacks on its population and infrastructure,\u201d the text reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The EU Parliament underlines that insufficient deliveries of ammunition and restrictions on their use risk offsetting the impact of efforts made to date, and deplores the declining volume of bilateral military aid to Ukraine by EU countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MEPs reiterate their call for member states to fulfil their March 2023 commitment to deliver one million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine, and to accelerate the delivery of weapons, air defence systems and ammunition, including TAURUS missiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They also restate their position that all EU countries and NATO allies should collectively and individually commit to annual military support for Ukraine militarily of no less than 0.25% of their GDP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The resolution also calls on the EU Council to maintain and extend its sanctions policy against Russia and Belarus and non-EU countries and entities providing the Russian military complex with military and dual-use technologies and equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MEPs condemn Iran\u2019s recent transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia and urge the EU Member States to further broaden and strengthen the sanctions regime against Iran and North Korea in view of these countries\u2019 military support for Russia\u2019s war of aggression against Ukraine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The EU Parliament urged the capitals to add additional Chinese entities and individuals to the EU sanctions list for their support to Russia\u2019s defence and security sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
MEPs called for increased law enforcement measures and cooperation to prevent circumvention of sanctions. The resolution calls on the EU Council to systematically tackle the circumvention of sanctions by EU-based companies, third parties and non-EU states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhile calling on the EU and its member states to actively work towards achieving the broadest possible international support for Ukraine and identifying a peaceful solution to the war, MEPs say that any resolution must be based on full respect for Ukraine\u2019s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. They also view accountability for Russian war crimes and reparations and other payments by Moscow as essential aspects of any solution. To this end, MEPs want the EU and like-minded partners to establish a sound legal regime for the confiscation of Russian state-owned assets frozen by the EU as part of efforts to compensate Ukraine for the massive damage it has suffered,\u201d the EU Parliament said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Germany sent Ukraine a new military aid package, the web site of the German government showed on Thursday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new package includes 22 Leopard 1 A5 main battle tanks with spare parts, five Bandvagn 206 (BV206) tracked all-terrain vehicles, a Warthog all-terrain tracked carrier (command vehicle), three Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns with spare parts, two TRML-4D air surveillance radar, three Beaver bridge-laying tanks with spare parts, two Dachs armored engineer vehicles with spare parts, six Wisent 1 mine clearing tanks with spare parts, and 61,000 155mm artillery rounds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Germany has also sent 16 ground surveillance radars, two AMPS self-protection systems for helicopters, two border protection vehicles and 112 vehicles of different types, 10 MG3 machine guns with 500 spare barrels and breechblocks, and one million rounds of ammunition for fire arms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Germany is set to approve close to 400 million euros (USD 450 million) in additional military aid to Ukraine \u201cin view of the continuously deteriorating military situation\u201d in the country, according to a finance ministry letter seen by Reuters on Thursday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earlier this month, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said his country will supply Ukraine with 12 Panzerhaubitze 2000 howitzers worth 150 million euros. Germany and other European countries will also send 77 Leopard 1A5 tanks to Ukraine, he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This coming winter, Ukraine could be facing rolling power outages lasting between four and 18 hours a day, the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission (HRMMU) said in a report released Thursday, citing interviews it held with energy experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis winter will be bad enough with people likely having to cope with scheduled blackouts across the country,\u201d HRMMU Head Danielle Bell said. \u201cAny additional attacks leading to prolonged electricity blackouts could have catastrophic consequences.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The consequences of these attacks are long-term and there are no quick fixes, she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNational and international partners must work together to fully restore vital electricity infrastructure of Ukraine and ensure those responsible for its damage are held to account,\u201d Bell said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The report, based on site visits and interviews with technical experts, energy company representatives, local residents, and government officials, describes the far-reaching impact of these attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The report warned that the effects of the attacks will become even more severe in winter when temperatures drop. Experts interviewed by HRMMU predicted winter power outages of between four and 18 hours per day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By June, 73 per cent of the country\u2019s thermal power generating units had been rendered inoperative. While the attacks during the 2022-2023 winter mainly targeted electricity transmission facilities, the attacks since March to a much larger extent targeted electricity generation facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to one major energy company cited in the report, the 2024 attacks damaged three times more of its power generation units than in the winter of 2022-2023.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"