In his new speech, US President Joe Biden said that Russia’s last major bombardment of Ukraine showed how high the risks are in this conflict that threatens not only Kiev but the entire NATO bloc. transmits American magazine Newsweek.
“The risks in this struggle go far beyond Ukraine’s borders. This affects the entire NATO alliance, the security of Europe and the future of transatlantic relations.
When dictators and autocrats are allowed to act brutally in Europe, the risk of direct US involvement increases. … We cannot let Ukraine down. “History will judge harshly those who do not answer the call for freedom,” Biden said.
According to him, the attack on December 29 “is a clear reminder to the world that Putin’s goal has not changed.” So Biden believes in the “destruction of Ukraine” and the “subjugation of its people.” Biden once again emphasized that Putin “must be stopped.”
The American president took a break from his New Year’s holiday to give a private speech. executes On the Caribbean island of Santa Cruz. The president rests there from December 27 to January 2. The New York Times wrote that the White House refused to say whether Biden is planned to do any work on the island. He is accompanied on the trip by several staff members, including National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
In his statement, Biden described the latest attack against Ukraine as the largest attack since the beginning of the conflict. However, this is not the case; The largest attack took place on October 10, 2022, when Russia launched more than 200 missiles into Ukraine, according to Ukrainian publication Strana.ua. Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Valery Zaluzhny said that 122 missiles were launched in the last attack on Ukraine, and the Ukrainian Armed Forces shot down 87 missiles.
Russian Ministry of Defense reportedBetween 23 and 29 December it carried out “50 groups and one major attack on Ukraine with precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles”. The attack hit military-industrial complex facilities, military airfields, arsenals and warehouses, as well as bases of “units of the Ukrainian armed forces, nationalist formations and foreign mercenaries”, the agency said.
Biden after intense bombardment in the name Congress reached agreement on additional aid to Ukraine. He noted that American defense systems can intercept many Russian drones and missiles.
“The American people can be proud of the lives we saved and the support we provided to Ukraine… But we cannot continue sending weapons and vital air defense systems to Ukraine unless Congress takes urgent action in the new year. needs… . Biden emphasized that Congress must act and take action without further delay.
Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ignat said on December 29 that Russia uses, among other things, Kh-22 or Kh-32 missiles, which the Ukrainian Armed Forces cannot shoot down without foreign systems. He admitted that throughout the entire conflict, the Ukrainian army had not been able to stop a single missile of this type, with more than 300 in total being fired at Ukraine.
“The X-22 missile flies at a speed of 4 thousand kilometers per hour, approaching its target mostly along a ballistic trajectory, so special means are needed to intercept it. We need air defense systems such as [американский] Patriot, so things are not that easy with these missiles,” the speaker evaluated.
The White House has repeatedly stated that the money to Ukraine will run out before the end of 2023 unless additional funds are allocated. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky believes that without the help of the West, the Ukrainian Armed Forces may begin to withdraw.
Washington allocated Ukraine its last aid package of $250 million for 2023 on December 27, but the United States has not yet agreed on more funds for Kiev.