Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has warned that Russia has stockpiled missiles. (Saul Loeb / Pool Photo via AP)
Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has warned that Russia has stockpiled missiles. (Saul Loeb / Pool Photo via AP)
Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has warned that Russia has stockpiled missiles. (Saul Loeb / Pool Photo via AP)
Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has warned that Russia has stockpiled missiles. (Saul Loeb / Pool Photo via AP)

Germany calls for 'protective winter shield' over Ukraine


Nicky Harley
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Germany on Wednesday called on Ukraine's supporters to create a "winter shield" over the country to protect it from Russian attacks.

Russia's attacks have intensified in recent weeks as Ukraine counter-offensive makes little headway.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned of the need to protect Ukraine.

"Russia again is aiming at civil infrastructure", she said on the sidelines of a meeting of Nato foreign ministers in Brussels.

Russia launched its largest drone attack yet on Ukraine on Saturday targeting Kyiv.

The attack at the weekend involved 75 drones – 71 of which were shot down by Ukraine - in what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described as “wilful terror”.

On Wednesday, Nato's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Russia has amassed a large missile stockpile ahead of winter.

He said Russia has been making new attempts to strike Ukraine's power grid and energy infrastructure, "trying to leave Ukraine in the dark and cold."

The European Union has delivered about 300,000 of its promised million shells to Ukraine so far, according to Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

He has called for greater alignment of Ukraine's and Nato's defence industries to ensure Kyiv has the supplies it needs to defeat Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

"We need to create a Euro-Atlantic common area of defence industries," he said, adding this would ensure both Ukraine's security and that of Nato countries themselves.

  • An explosion in the sky over Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, during a Russian drone strike on Saturday. Reuters
    An explosion in the sky over Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, during a Russian drone strike on Saturday. Reuters
  • A kindergarten damaged during the drone strikes in Kyiv. EPA
    A kindergarten damaged during the drone strikes in Kyiv. EPA
  • Ukraine said it downed 71 of 75 drones launched by Russia in an overnight attack. EPA
    Ukraine said it downed 71 of 75 drones launched by Russia in an overnight attack. EPA
  • Kyiv authorities described the attack as the most intense on the capital since the start of the invasion. EPA
    Kyiv authorities described the attack as the most intense on the capital since the start of the invasion. EPA
  • A police officer inspects a kindergarten damaged during the strikes in Kyiv. EPA
    A police officer inspects a kindergarten damaged during the strikes in Kyiv. EPA
  • The attack came as Ukrainians marked the 1932-33 Holodomor famine, a national tragedy. EPA
    The attack came as Ukrainians marked the 1932-33 Holodomor famine, a national tragedy. EPA
  • A man shakes out a blanket from a window broken during the explosions. EPA
    A man shakes out a blanket from a window broken during the explosions. EPA
  • An elderly woman sweeps glass broken from windows in her flat after the explosion of a downed Russian drone in a yard between residential buildings in Kyiv. AFP
    An elderly woman sweeps glass broken from windows in her flat after the explosion of a downed Russian drone in a yard between residential buildings in Kyiv. AFP
  • Residents remove debris after the explosion of a downed Russian drone. AFP
    Residents remove debris after the explosion of a downed Russian drone. AFP
  • The victims of the Holodomor, Ukrainian for 'death by starvation', are traditionally commemorated in Ukraine on the last Saturday of November. EPA
    The victims of the Holodomor, Ukrainian for 'death by starvation', are traditionally commemorated in Ukraine on the last Saturday of November. EPA
  • The Holodomor in the former Soviet-era Ukraine in 1932-1933, killed millions of Ukrainians. EPA
    The Holodomor in the former Soviet-era Ukraine in 1932-1933, killed millions of Ukrainians. EPA

Kyiv has for the last several months engaged in a concerted drive to entice leading global arms manufacturers to set up operations in Ukraine, part of a bid to diversify its reliance on weapons and ammunition given by its allies.

Mr Kuleba rejected claims the war is now at a stalemate, after Ukraine's summer counter-offensive failed to win back significant amounts of territory occupied by Russia.

"There is no stalemate," he said.

He also renewed his pledge that Ukraine won't "back down" in its fight against Russia.

"We have to continue, we have to keep fighting. Ukraine is not going to back down," he said.

"Our strategic goal, which is territorial integrity within internationally recognised borders as of 1991, remains unchanged.

"The issue here is not just Ukraine's security it is the security and safety of the entire Euro-Atlantic space."

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington and its allies remained steadfast in their backing for Ukraine against Russia's invasion, despite doubts over future assistance and stalemate on the ground.

"Some are questioning whether the United States and other Nato allies in truth continue to stand with Ukraine as we enter the second winter of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's brutality," he said.

"But the answer here today at Nato is clear and it's unwavering. We must and we will continue to support Ukraine."

Opposition from hardline Republicans in the US Congress has stalled a new $60-billion package of support and thrown into question the future of Washington's assistance.

"Hopefully the US Congress will also find a solution that will be in the best interests of the American people which is actually to support both Israel and Ukraine," Mr Kuleba said.

"Because you know, the best way to avoid sending your own soldiers into war is to help another country fight its own war."

Match info

Uefa Nations League Group B:

England v Spain, Saturday, 11.45pm (UAE)

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Zidane's managerial achievements

La Liga: 2016/17
Spanish Super Cup: 2017
Uefa Champions League: 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18
Uefa Super Cup: 2016, 2017
Fifa Club World Cup: 2016, 2017

The stats

Ship name: MSC Bellissima

Ship class: Meraviglia Class

Delivery date: February 27, 2019

Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT

Passenger capacity: 5,686

Crew members: 1,536

Number of cabins: 2,217

Length: 315.3 metres

Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)

Updated: November 29, 2023, 3:11 PM