Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's Foreign Minister, addresses the conference from Kyiv by video link. Nick Webster / The National
Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's Foreign Minister, addresses the conference from Kyiv by video link. Nick Webster / The National
Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's Foreign Minister, addresses the conference from Kyiv by video link. Nick Webster / The National
Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's Foreign Minister, addresses the conference from Kyiv by video link. Nick Webster / The National

Ukraine ready for winter battle, Foreign Minister tells Abu Dhabi forum


Nick Webster
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  • Arabic

Russian forces in Ukraine will struggle to fight in the winter because they have been poorly equipped and ill-treated, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister told the World Policy Conference in Abu Dhabi.

Plunging temperatures and heavy snow have created new challenges in the invasion that began in February, with many towns and cities across Ukraine left without power due to Russian bombing raids.

Addressing the conference from Kyiv by video link, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, whose home has been among those without power, said more than half of Ukraine’s power generation facilities have been damaged or destroyed.

“One of the reasons Ukraine has been able to repel these Russian attacks is because we have never relied on the weather or the seasons,” he said.

We want nothing more than what belongs to us by history and by law. That is our borders
Dmytro Kuleba,
Ukrainian Foreign Minister

“The stakes are very high and nothing can stop our great soldiers or our people, who have suffered enormously.

“We know our army needs to be well-equipped in the winter, just as in the summer.

“The difference between us and the Russians is that we take better care of our soldiers, with better food and uniforms to survive in this environment.

“We have seen how poorly equipped the Russian soldiers are, and also how poorly treated they are — this is a disgrace of the Russian army.

“Many Russian soldiers will suffer enormously because of the cold weather.

“Winter is a game-changer, we know that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin has not accepted the reality that Russia is losing the war and that Russia will not win.”

Mr Kuleba said Russia was using "Second World War-era warfare" by sending poorly trained soldiers, prisoners and private mercenaries such as the Wagner Group to fight.

“They are sent in as cannon fodder — they are called 'one timers',” he said.

He said that showed "human life does not matter to Russia".

“This is the biggest difference with Ukraine. Our people are precious to our country.”

International support

Mr Kuleba said Ukraine had formally applied to join Nato and would also seek to join the EU.

He appealed for support in donations of transformers, generators and spare parts to help rebuild the country's energy infrastructure.

He said Ukrainian forces would fight for as long as it took to defeat Russia.

“If someone breaks into your apartment, you do not put a time on when they must leave — you fight until it is done. We must end this war as soon as possible,” he said.

“We want nothing more than what belongs to us by history and by law. That is our borders.

“In practice, that goes back to restoring its borders.

“This must happen unconditionally. A strategic victory involves the entire international community and it depends on how we can get Russia to play by the rules.

“The people in Russia must decide how they can help to make this change. Without the international community supporting this, it is impossible to imagine victory.

“If Russia is allowed to do this, other counties will think it is OK to invade and extend their borders.”

He criticised countries purchased Russian gas at discounted rates.

India is among the nations to have bought discounted Russian crude oil and made it clear it would prioritise its own energy needs.

China and India have become the largest buyers of Russian oil, benefiting from discounted rates.

“You can say 100 times this is not your war, but when food prices go up and people suffer from this due to the block on exports from Ukraine, it cannot be ignored,” Mr Kuleba said.

“Others try to benefit by paying for discounted Russian oil and gas. Countries have the right to do so, but they are making profits on people in Ukraine dying.

“Without this war and the sanctions, Russia would not be offering its oil at discount.”

The specs

Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel

Power: 579hp

Torque: 859Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh825,900

On sale: Now

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If you go

The flights

There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.

The trip

Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.

The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.

 

WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

The specs

Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now

Updated: December 11, 2022, 4:22 PM`