Live blog: EU united 'more than ever' behind Ukraine: top officials

Friday, February 23, 2024

1517 GMT — The EU's top officials vowed ahead of the second anniversary of Russia' offensive in Ukraine to keep up the bloc's "strong and unwavering" backing for Kiev to end the war.

"More than ever, we remain united and true to our promise to support Ukraine for as long as it takes," the heads of the European Council, the European Commission and the European Parliament said in a statement.

"The European Union will continue its strong and unwavering political, military, financial, economic, diplomatic and humanitarian support to help Ukraine defend itself, protect its people, its cities and its critical infrastructure, restore its territorial integrity, bring back the thousands of deported children, and bring the war to an end," they said.

Diplomats said the statement was initially meant to come out in the name of the EU's 27 countries but Hungary - Russia's closest ally in the bloc - refused to agree.

The second anniversary on Saturday comes as Ukraine's outgunned troops are struggling to hold the front line and doubts swirl over future support from the United States.

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1750 GMT — Ukraine regrets Poland did not attend border meeting

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal said Friday it was "unfortunate" that Polish officials did not meet his delegation on the border for talks on ending a blockade by Polish farmers.

"We are ready to help in solving this situation... But, unfortunately, such a meeting with Polish government officials did not take place today," Shmygal said on social media.

1724 GMT — Russia's war in Ukraine 'ignores will of global majority': Kuleba

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba accused Russia at the UN General Assembly of ignoring the will of the world.

The meeting was held as Ukraine prepares to mark the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion while vital aid remains blocked by the US Congress and Russia is emboldened by fresh gains in recent weeks.

Despite speeches by prominent Western foreign ministers, there will be no vote on the conflict as there was last year as the UN is preoccupied by the war on Gaza.

1630 GMT — Biden on Ukraine: 'We can't walk away now'

US President Joe Biden on Friday renewed calls on Republican lawmakers in Congress to unblock additional funding for Ukraine's war against the Russian invasion as Kiev runs low on ammunition.

Speaking at the White House on the eve of the second anniversary of the start of the war, Biden said: "We can't walk away now."

1625 GMT — Dutch to make 10-year security deal with Ukraine

The Netherlands will seal a 10-year security deal with Ukraine, Dutch officials announced, to match similar agreements signed by Germany, Britain, France and Denmark.

Ukraine has been anxious to shore up its security with bilateral agreements, two years after Russia's full-scale military campaign against its neighbour.

"This agreement is a signal from the government that the Netherlands wants to support Ukraine for a longer period of time in the areas of security, defence, reconstruction and justice," the Dutch foreign ministry said.

"The Netherlands is thus helping Ukraine to defend itself against Russia," said a ministry statement.

1620 GMT — US unveils fresh sanctions as Putin hails Russian 'heroes'

The United States announced a fresh wave of sanctions against Russia on Friday a day ahead of the second anniversary of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, as President Vladimir Putin hailed Russian "heroes" fighting there.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy renewed his appeal for swift delivery of air-defence systems and fighter jets, while European Union leaders pledged continued backing for Kiev.

US President Joe Biden announced sanctions on more than 500 targets to "ensure Putin pays an even steeper price for his aggression abroad and repression at home".

And he renewed his appeal to the US Congress to fund more military aid to Ukraine.

"History is watching," he said. "The failure to support Ukraine at this critical moment will not be forgotten."

1550 GMT — 'Needless' Ukraine war a 'significant catalyst' in reshaping world geopolitics: UN

The impact of the ongoing Ukraine war extends far beyond the borders of Ukraine, UN General Assembly president warned, demanding Russia immediately suspend its military operations.

"Tomorrow, 24 February, marks the second solemn anniversary of the launch of the Russian Federation’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine, plunging its sovereign neighbour and innocent civilians into terror and suffering," Dennis Francis told General Assembly meeting on the situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

"Without doubt, this needless war has been a significant catalyst in reshaping world geopolitics and geo-economics, not only inflicting direct harm on the countries involved, but also impeding the developmental progress of numerous others, especially developing countries," he said.

1315 GMT — Council of Europe confirms 'unwavering support' for Ukraine

Europe's highest rights body reiterated its "unwavering support" for Ukraine.

"We mark an anniversary that no one of wanted to see," said Marija Pejcinovic Buric, secretary-general of the Council of Europe.

"Our thoughts today are with the Ukrainian people."

She and other leaders of the Strasbourg-based council reiterated in a joint statement their "unwavering support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity".

1200 GMT — Russian appeal against Olympic suspension dismissed by sport's highest court

Russia's appeal against its suspension by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was dismissed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Friday.

The IOC suspended the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) in October last year for violating the territorial integrity of the membership of Ukraine by recognising illegally annexed territories.

"The CAS panel in charge of this matter dismissed the appeal and confirmed the challenged decision, finding that the IOC executive board did not breach the principles of legality, equality, predictability or proportionality," CAS said in i ts ruling.

"The CAS panel's decision is final and binding except for the parties' right to file an appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal within 30 days on limited grounds."

10:25 GMT — Russia focuses attacks on Ukraine 'hot spot' Maryinka

Ukraine's armed forces said that Russia had intensified attacks in the eastern Donetsk region, focusing on the town of Maryinka after having taken the symbolic hub of Avdiivka.

As the war nears its third year, Moscow's troops have mounted heavy attacks and taken Avdiivka - a key eastern town - while Ukrainian troops are struggling with a lack of ammunition.

Army spokesperson Dmytro Lykhoviy said late on Thursday that the area of Maryinka had become "another hot spot" following the fall of Avdiivka.

He said that "near the settlements of Novomykhailivka and Pobeda, the enemy with the support of aircraft tried to break through the defences of our troops 31 times".

0441 GMT — Russia claims fresh gains in Ukraine

Moscow has claimed fresh battlefield advances two years into its "special military operation" in Ukraine.

The Russian defence ministry announced the capture of Pobeda ('victory' in Russian), a frontline village about five kilometres (three miles) west of Donetsk city.

Last week, it said it had seized the former Ukrainian stronghold of Avdiivka.

Ukraine, grappling with hold-ups to much-needed Western military aid, has been pushed back from the front line in recent months.

With no end to the war in sight, Ukraine's army is struggling with recruitment as well as depleted resources.

0227 GMT — IMF approves $880 million for Ukraine

The International Monetary Fund said it will disburse $880 million to Ukraine in the third phase of a $15.6 billion aid package approved last year as Kiev fights the Russian invasion.

The aid, announced almost two years to the day after Russian forces poured across the border, must still be approved by the IMF executive board.

"Performance under the programme has been strong despite the challenges of the war," said Gavin Gray, the head of an IMF team that met recently with Ukrainian officials in Warsaw.

2334 GMT — US to sanction over 500 targets involved in Russia 'war machine'

The United States plans to impose sanctions on more than 500 targets involved in Russia's conflict with Ukraine, as fighting continues to rage nearly two years after Moscow's assault, the Treasury Department said.

The action to be rolled out on Friday will hit "Russia, its enablers, and its war machine," a Treasury spokesperson told the AFP news agency. The official added that the sanctions will be imposed by both the Treasury and State Department.

This will be the "largest single tranche since the start of Putin's further invasion of Ukraine," the Treasury said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

2200 GMT — Debris from North Korean missile in Ukraine could expose procurement networks

Revelations that a North Korean missile fired by Russia in Ukraine contained a large number of components linked to US-based companies underline the difficulty of enforcing sanctions against Pyongyang, but could help uncover illicit procurement networks, experts said.

Conflict Armament Research (CAR), a UK-based organisation that tracks the origins of weapons used in conflicts, examined the remnants of a North Korean ballistic missile used by Russia against Ukrainian forces in Kharkiv on January 2.

In a report released this week, it said it examined electronic components, including for the missile's navigation system, and found many were recently manufactured and bore the marks of companies based in the United States.

It said 75 percent of the components documented were "linked to companies incorporated in the United States," 16 percent to companies in Europe, and 11 percent to companies in Asia.

2207 GMT — Poland says US' delay in passing Ukraine aid package has damaged its credibility

The delay in the US Congress in passing a crucial aid package for Ukraine has already damaged US credibility, Poland's foreign minister said.

"Much damage to America's credibility has already been done, because this aid package has already been debated for months," Radoslaw Sikorski told MSNBC in an interview.

"What this package — or rather the failure to pass it — makes us realise is that even if the US president wants to help his allies, he may not be able to do so," Sikorski added.

2118 GMT — Poland vows to protect Ukraine aid deliveries

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk pledged to safeguard aid deliveries to Ukraine amid mounting tensions over protests by farmers on the frontier.

Tusk told reporters he would only chair talks between the two governments planned for next month in the Polish capital.

"The meeting of both governments will be held in Warsaw on March 28," Tusk said, adding that it was "better to continue these talks at the technical, organisational level".

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on X, formerly Twitter, that he held talks in Poland on Thursday to ensure the smooth flow of goods. "I appreciate the decisions that will allow unhindered deliveries of military and humanitarian supplies to Ukraine," he wrote.

For our live updates from Thursday, February 22, click here.