Germany’s top diplomat in Kyiv as Ukraine girds for impact of US election on the war

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Germany’s apical diplomat arrived Monday successful nan Ukrainian superior Kyiv connected an unannounced visit, successful what appeared to beryllium a show of European support for Ukraine connected nan eve of a U.S. statesmanlike predetermination that could bring far-reaching changes successful Washington’s argumentation toward Russia’s all-out invasion of its neighbor.

Germany is Ukraine’s 2nd biggest weapons supplier aft nan U.S., and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock vowed that Berlin’s backing would stay steadfast.

“Together pinch galore partners astir nan world, Germany stands firmly by Ukraine’s side,” she said, German news agency dpa reported. “We will support nan Ukrainians for arsenic agelong arsenic they request america truthful that they tin proceed connected their way to a conscionable peace.”

The warfare is astatine a captious infinitesimal for Ukraine, pinch nan Russian service making creeping gains connected nan battlefield and different difficult wintertime up aft Russia relentlessly battered nan Ukrainian powerfulness grid.

Ahead of nan U.S. vote, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attempted to fastener Ukraine’s Western supporters into a semipermanent “victory plan,” including a general invitation for Ukraine to subordinate NATO and support to usage Western long-range missiles to onslaught subject targets successful Russia, but nan consequence was disappointing for Kyiv officials.

Russia is utilizing its superior numbers to heap unit connected Ukrainian positions on nan beforehand line. Ukraine’s apical commander, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, said Saturday his troops are struggling to clasp backmost “one of nan astir powerful (Russian) offensives” of nan war.

Russia is now adding to its violative push what Western intelligence sources opportunity is a unit of astir 10,000 North Korean combat troops sent by Pyongyang nether a pact pinch Moscow.

That has deepened Zelenskyy’s frustration pinch Western help. On Saturday, he urged friends to extremity “watching” and return steps earlier nan North Korean troops scope nan battlefield.

Zelenskyy said Kyiv knows astatine which Russian camps nan North Korean troops are being trained but Ukraine can’t onslaught them without support from friends to usage nan Western-made long-range weapons to deed targets heavy wrong Russia.

Baerbock arrived successful Kyiv hours aft debris from drones intercepted by aerial defenses fell successful 2 districts of nan city, starting mini fires, officials said. No group aliases spot were harmed, according to nan caput of nan Kyiv metropolis administration, Serhii Popko.

A Russian glide explosive onslaught connected Sunday nighttime injured 15 group successful Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest metropolis successful nan northeast, location constabulary said.

Russia fired immoderate 80 Shahed drones astatine Ukrainian cities overnight, Ukraine’s aerial unit said.

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Follow AP’s sum of nan warfare successful Ukraine astatine https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine