German Foreign Minister Makes Unannounced Visit To Kyiv on Eve of US Presidential Elections

Kyiv: Germany's top diplomat arrived Monday in Ukrainian capital Kyiv on an unanunced visit, in what appeared to be a show of European support for Ukraine on eve of a US presidential election that could bring far-reaching changes in Washington's policy toward Russia's all-out invasion of its neighbour.

Germany is Ukraine's second biggest weapons supplier after US, and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock vowed that Berlin's backing would remain steadfast.

“Toger with many partners around world, Germany stands firmly by Ukraine's side,” she said, German news ncy dpa reported. “We will support Ukrainians for as long as y need us so that y can continue on ir path to a just peace.” war is at a critical moment for Ukraine, with Russian army making creeping gains on battlefield and ar hard winter ahead after Russia relentlessly battered Ukrainian power grid.

With his army under severe Russian pressure in eastern Donetsk region, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday that Western military aid deliveries have accelerated, including for artillery.

grinding attritional warfare being fought in Ukraine requires large amounts of ammunition, and Ukrainian officials have long grumbled that Western pledges of support take too long to arrive.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine is also trying to strengn its air defense systems. Russia is currently deploying about 10 times more Iranian-made Shahed drones than it was this time last year, he said.

Ahead of US election, Zelenskyy attempted to lock Ukraine's Western supporters into a long-term “victory plan,” including a formal invitation for Ukraine to join NATO and permission to use Western long-range missiles to strike military targets in Russia, but response was disappointing for Kyiv officials.

Russia is using its superior numbers to heap pressure on Ukrainian positions along front line. Ukraine's top commander, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, said Saturday his troops are struggling to hold back “one of most powerful (Russian) offensives” of war.

Russia is w adding to its offensive push what Western intelligence sources say is a force of about 10,000 rth Korean combat troops sent by Pyongyang under a pact with Moscow.

That has deepened Zelenskyy's frustration with Western help. On Saturday, he urged allies to stop “watching” and take steps before rth Korean troops reach battlefield.

Zelenskyy said Kyiv kws at which Russian camps rth Korean troops are being trained but Ukraine can't strike m without permission from allies to use Western-made long-range weapons to hit targets deep inside Russia.

Baerbock arrived in Kyiv hours after debris from drones intercepted by air defenses fell in two districts of city, starting small fires, officials said. people or property were harmed, according to head of Kyiv city administration, Serhii Popko.

A Russian glide bomb attack on Sunday night injured 15 people in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city in rast, regional police said.

Russia fired some 80 Shahed drones at Ukrainian cities overnight, Ukraine's air force said. 

(Except headline, this story is t edited by Republic and is published from a syndicated feed)