Zelenskyy presses allies to give Ukraine jets and tanks


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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged western nations to give his country just a fraction of their tanks and planes to counter Russia's invasion, asking whether they were afraid of Moscow.

Several countries have promised to send anti-armour and anti-aircraft missiles as well as small arms but Mr Zelenskyy said Kyiv needed tanks, planes and anti-ship systems.

Ukraine needed just 1 per cent of Nato's aircraft and 1 per cent of its tanks and would not ask for more, he said.

  • A woman walks past a poster depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin holding his own body, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Sofia, Bulgaria. Reuters
    A woman walks past a poster depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin holding his own body, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Sofia, Bulgaria. Reuters
  • A man walks past a residential area destroyed by a rocket strike in Kyiv. Getty Images
    A man walks past a residential area destroyed by a rocket strike in Kyiv. Getty Images
  • Ukraine refugees wait in the train station in Przemysl, near the Polish-Ukrainian border. More than 3.8 million have fled Ukraine since Russia's invasion. AFP
    Ukraine refugees wait in the train station in Przemysl, near the Polish-Ukrainian border. More than 3.8 million have fled Ukraine since Russia's invasion. AFP
  • Ukrainian civilians receive weapons training at a shooting range in Brno, Czech Republic. EPA
    Ukrainian civilians receive weapons training at a shooting range in Brno, Czech Republic. EPA
  • A Ukrainian special police officer patrols near a destroyed building during the night curfew in Kharkiv. AP Photo
    A Ukrainian special police officer patrols near a destroyed building during the night curfew in Kharkiv. AP Photo
  • A Ukrainian serviceman walks past the wreck of a Russian tank in Lukyanivka, Kyiv. Reuters
    A Ukrainian serviceman walks past the wreck of a Russian tank in Lukyanivka, Kyiv. Reuters
  • Ukrainian Air Force jets take part in a defence drill over an unidentified location. Reuters
    Ukrainian Air Force jets take part in a defence drill over an unidentified location. Reuters
  • Valentina Demura, 70, near the ruins of her home in apartment block in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol. Reuters
    Valentina Demura, 70, near the ruins of her home in apartment block in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol. Reuters
  • A message of support for Ukraine at the 94th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. Reuters
    A message of support for Ukraine at the 94th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. Reuters
  • The widow of sergeant Kostiantyn Deriuhin stands at her husband's grave after his funeral at Lychakiv cemetery in Lviv, Ukraine. Reuters
    The widow of sergeant Kostiantyn Deriuhin stands at her husband's grave after his funeral at Lychakiv cemetery in Lviv, Ukraine. Reuters
  • A walk amid the ruins after a Russian attack in Byshiv on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine. AP
    A walk amid the ruins after a Russian attack in Byshiv on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine. AP
  • A soldier of the Ukrainian territorial defence forces gives a salute during a break in digging a foxhole at Kalynivka, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine. AP
    A soldier of the Ukrainian territorial defence forces gives a salute during a break in digging a foxhole at Kalynivka, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine. AP
  • A bust adorned with a headband in the colours of the Ukraine flag at a checkpoint in Kyiv, Ukraine. AP
    A bust adorned with a headband in the colours of the Ukraine flag at a checkpoint in Kyiv, Ukraine. AP
  • The Cheremosh Folk Song and Dance Ensemble performs in the streets of the Old Town in Lviv, Ukraine. Getty
    The Cheremosh Folk Song and Dance Ensemble performs in the streets of the Old Town in Lviv, Ukraine. Getty
  • Eugene Grigorash says goodbye to his wife Victoria Grigorash and their seven-month-old son Roman as their bus leaves Lviv on its way to Poland. Getty
    Eugene Grigorash says goodbye to his wife Victoria Grigorash and their seven-month-old son Roman as their bus leaves Lviv on its way to Poland. Getty
  • People head for an air raid shelter after sirens sound across Lviv in Ukraine. Getty
    People head for an air raid shelter after sirens sound across Lviv in Ukraine. Getty
  • A pro-Ukraine rally at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. EPA
    A pro-Ukraine rally at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. EPA
  • The aftermath of an air strike on the western Ukrainian city of Lviv. AFP
    The aftermath of an air strike on the western Ukrainian city of Lviv. AFP
  • A protester weeps as she takes part in a 'mothers' march' for Ukraine, in New York. AFP
    A protester weeps as she takes part in a 'mothers' march' for Ukraine, in New York. AFP
  • Local people share a basement of a historical building which is being used as a bomb shelter during an air raid warning in Lviv. EPA
    Local people share a basement of a historical building which is being used as a bomb shelter during an air raid warning in Lviv. EPA
  • US President Joe Biden kisses a child while meeting refugees of Russia's war with Ukraine at PGE Narodowy Stadium in Warsaw, Poland. AFP
    US President Joe Biden kisses a child while meeting refugees of Russia's war with Ukraine at PGE Narodowy Stadium in Warsaw, Poland. AFP
  • A Ukrainian soldier stands guard at Independence Square in Kyiv. AFP
    A Ukrainian soldier stands guard at Independence Square in Kyiv. AFP
  • Municipal employees cover the city's monuments with sand bags to protect them from strikes in Kharkiv. AFP
    Municipal employees cover the city's monuments with sand bags to protect them from strikes in Kharkiv. AFP
  • Misha, 5, who lost his mother some weeks ago and got injured during a Russian strike, is helped by his grandfather to dress up in the basement of a hospital in Mykolaiv. AFP
    Misha, 5, who lost his mother some weeks ago and got injured during a Russian strike, is helped by his grandfather to dress up in the basement of a hospital in Mykolaiv. AFP
  • Ukrainian refugees rest in the ticket hall of Przemysl Glowny train station. Reuters
    Ukrainian refugees rest in the ticket hall of Przemysl Glowny train station. Reuters
  • A woman walks past destroyed houses in the village of Krasylivka outside Kyiv. Reuters
    A woman walks past destroyed houses in the village of Krasylivka outside Kyiv. Reuters
  • A man climbs up a ladder to examine his destroyed house in the village of Krasylivka outside Kyiv. Reuters
    A man climbs up a ladder to examine his destroyed house in the village of Krasylivka outside Kyiv. Reuters
  • Damage inside an Orthodox Church building in Yasnohorodka, on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP
    Damage inside an Orthodox Church building in Yasnohorodka, on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP
  • A Ukrainian soldier at a psychiatric hospital damaged by a Russian bombing, in Mykolaiv. AP
    A Ukrainian soldier at a psychiatric hospital damaged by a Russian bombing, in Mykolaiv. AP
  • Displaced people from Dnipro arrive in Lviv, in western Ukraine. Millions are internally displaced. Getty Images
    Displaced people from Dnipro arrive in Lviv, in western Ukraine. Millions are internally displaced. Getty Images
  • A destroyed school in Kharkiv. AFP
    A destroyed school in Kharkiv. AFP
  • A Ukrainian fighter on the front line in the north Kyiv region. Reuters
    A Ukrainian fighter on the front line in the north Kyiv region. Reuters
  • A resident walks past blazing buildings and vehicles after a Russian artillery strike in Kharkiv. AFP
    A resident walks past blazing buildings and vehicles after a Russian artillery strike in Kharkiv. AFP
  • Black smoke billows from a fuel depot near Kyiv that was used by the Ukrainian Army before it was hit by during a Russian strike. AP
    Black smoke billows from a fuel depot near Kyiv that was used by the Ukrainian Army before it was hit by during a Russian strike. AP
  • Masha, 26, checks her mobile phone at an air raid shelter inside a Kyiv metro station. Reuters
    Masha, 26, checks her mobile phone at an air raid shelter inside a Kyiv metro station. Reuters
  • A market on fire in Kharkiv after a Russian attack. AP
    A market on fire in Kharkiv after a Russian attack. AP
  • People try to recover items from a shop set on fire during a Russian attack in Kharkiv. AP
    People try to recover items from a shop set on fire during a Russian attack in Kharkiv. AP
  • Nastya Kuzyk, 20, who was injured in an attack on Chernihiv, is comforted by her mother Svitlana, 50, as she recovers in a Kyiv hospital. AP
    Nastya Kuzyk, 20, who was injured in an attack on Chernihiv, is comforted by her mother Svitlana, 50, as she recovers in a Kyiv hospital. AP

“That is what our partners have, that is what is just gathering dust there. This is all for not only the freedom of Ukraine, but for the freedom of Europe,” he said in a late night video address after his defence and foreign ministers met US President Joe Biden in Warsaw on Saturday.

“As I was briefed, the talks touched on, in particular, these vital interests that I have mentioned earlier. It concerned what we really need, while this 'ping-pong' about who and how should hand over jets and other defensive weapons to us, continues,” he said, appearing visibly irritated.

“We've already been waiting 31 days. Who is in charge of the euro-Atlantic community? Is it really still Moscow, because of intimidation?” he said.

He said Ukraine could not defend itself against missiles without proper weapons and could not liberate the besieged city of Mariupol without tanks and combat jets.

“Ukraine can't shoot down Russian missiles with shotguns, machine guns, of which there are too many in the supplies. It's impossible to unblock Mariupol without a sufficient number of tanks, other armoured vehicles — and especially without jets,” he said.

“I've talked to the defenders of Mariupol today. I'm in constant contact with them. Their determination, heroism and firmness are astonishing. I'm thankful to every male and female defender. If only those who have been thinking for 31 days on how to hand over dozens of jets and tanks had 1 per cent of their courage.”

Mr Zelenskyy has repeatedly insisted that Russia will seek to expand further into Europe if Ukraine falls. Nato rejected his request for a no-fly zone over Ukraine on the grounds this could provoke a wider war.

Mr Zelenskyy spoke to Polish President Andrzej Duda and expressed disappointment that Russian-made fighter aircraft in Eastern Europe had not yet been transferred to Ukraine.

“The price of procrastination with planes is thousands of lives of Ukrainians,” Mr Zelenskyy's office quoted him as saying.

He said Poland and the US had both stated their readiness to make a decision on the planes.

Earlier this month, Washington rejected a surprise offer by Poland to transfer MiG-29 fighter jets to a US base in Germany to be used to replenish Ukraine's air force.

Libya's Gold

UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves. 

The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.

Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.

The biog

Favourite book: Men are from Mars Women are from Venus

Favourite travel destination: Ooty, a hill station in South India

Hobbies: Cooking. Biryani, pepper crab are her signature dishes

Favourite place in UAE: Marjan Island

Cricket World Cup League 2 Fixtures

Saturday March 5, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy (all matches start at 9.30am)

Sunday March 6, Oman v Namibia, ICC Academy

Tuesday March 8, UAE v Namibia, ICC Academy

Wednesday March 9, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy

Friday March 11, Oman v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium

Saturday March 12, UAE v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium

UAE squad

Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri, Muhammad Waseem, CP Rizwan, Vriitya Aravind, Asif Khan, Basil Hameed, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Karthik Meiyappan, Akif Raja, Rahul Bhatia

Company%C2%A0profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELeap%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMarch%202021%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ziad%20Toqan%20and%20Jamil%20Khammu%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPre-seed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
TOUCH RULES

Touch is derived from rugby league. Teams consist of up to 14 players with a maximum of six on the field at any time.

Teams can make as many substitutions as they want during the 40 minute matches.

Similar to rugby league, the attacking team has six attempts - or touches - before possession changes over.

A touch is any contact between the player with the ball and a defender, and must be with minimum force.

After a touch the player performs a “roll-ball” - similar to the play-the-ball in league - stepping over or rolling the ball between the feet.

At the roll-ball, the defenders have to retreat a minimum of five metres.

A touchdown is scored when an attacking player places the ball on or over the score-line.

The specs

Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo

Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed

Power: 271 and 409 horsepower

Torque: 385 and 650Nm

Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

2020 Oscars winners: in numbers
  • Parasite – 4
  • 1917– 3
  • Ford v Ferrari – 2
  • Joker – 2
  • Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood – 2
  • American Factory – 1
  • Bombshell – 1
  • Hair Love – 1
  • Jojo Rabbit – 1
  • Judy – 1
  • Little Women – 1
  • Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl) – 1
  • Marriage Story – 1
  • Rocketman – 1
  • The Neighbors' Window – 1
  • Toy Story 4 – 1
The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES

All times UAE ( 4 GMT)

Saturday
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm)
Burnley v Huddersfield Town (7pm)
Everton v Bournemouth (7pm)
Manchester City v Crystal Palace (7pm)
Southampton v Manchester United (7pm)
Stoke City v Chelsea (7pm)
Swansea City v Watford (7pm)
Leicester City v Liverpool (8.30pm)

Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Newcastle United (7pm)

Monday
Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion (11pm)

What%20is%20cystic%20fibrosis%3F
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3ECystic%20fibrosis%20is%20a%20genetic%20disorder%20that%20affects%20the%20lungs%2C%20pancreas%20and%20other%20organs.%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIt%20causes%20the%20production%20of%20thick%2C%20sticky%20mucus%20that%20can%20clog%20the%20airways%20and%20lead%20to%20severe%20respiratory%20and%20digestive%20problems.%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EPatients%20with%20the%20condition%20are%20prone%20to%20lung%20infections%20and%20often%20suffer%20from%20chronic%20coughing%2C%20wheezing%20and%20shortness%20of%20breath.%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ELife%20expectancy%20for%20sufferers%20of%20cystic%20fibrosis%20is%20now%20around%2050%20years.%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Pad Man

Dir: R Balki

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte

Three-and-a-half stars

Teams in the EHL

White Bears, Al Ain Theebs, Dubai Mighty Camels, Abu Dhabi Storms, Abu Dhabi Scorpions and Vipers

Updated: March 27, 2022, 2:45 PM