Summary of the day
Ukraine’s partners met at Ramstein airbase in Germany.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy raised concerns about western partners’ policies and the pace of deliveries. “Now we hear that your long-range policy has not changed, but we see changes in the Atacms, Storm Shadows and Scalps –a shortage of missiles and cooperation,” he said.
The Ukrainian president also said “we need to have this long-range capability not only on the occupied territory of Ukraine, but also on the Russian territory, so that Russia is motivated to seek peace.”
The US announced $250 million in security assistance for Ukraine.
The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, met Zelenskiy. “Germany is and will remain the strongest supporter of Ukraine in Europe. We will support Ukraine for as long as it takes,” the chancellor said.
Russia’s defence ministry said the country’s forces have taken control of the village of Zhuravka in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region.
The French Socialists’ Olivier Faure said no one from his party would participate in a Michel Barnier-led government, arguing that Barnier depends on the far right.
'Strongest supporter of Ukraine in Europe': Scholz pledges to continue supporting Kyiv
The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, met with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
“Germany is and will remain the strongest supporter of Ukraine in Europe. We will support Ukraine for as long as it takes,” the chancellor said. “It was good meeting you today in Frankfurt,” he added.
Germany is and will remain the strongest supporter of Ukraine in Europe. We will support Ukraine for as long as it takes.
— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) September 6, 2024
It was good meeting you today in Frankfurt, @ZelenskyyUa! pic.twitter.com/reGEp4yesz
The US announced $250 million in security assistance for Ukraine today.
Today, we announced additional security assistance for Ukraine. This package will surge more capabilities to meet Ukraine’s evolving requirements, to include additional support for Ukraine’s air defense and artillery needs. pic.twitter.com/C6tSpBgrUJ
— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) September 6, 2024
Russia’s defence ministry said the country’s forces have taken control of the village of Zhuravka in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, Reuters reported.
Canada is sending more aid to Ukraine.
Canada announced a new military aid package for Ukraine!
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) September 6, 2024
🇺🇦🤝🇨🇦
The package includes:
◾️80,840 additional CRV-7 rocket motors
◾️1,300 CRV-7 warheads
◾️970 C6 machine guns
◾️10,500 9mm pistols
◾️29 M113s decommissioned chassis
◾️64 Coyote LAVs decommissioned chassis
◾️50… pic.twitter.com/4ILpSRUMul
Ukraine’s defence minister outlined the country’s priorities today.
The 24th UDCG meeting in the Ramstein format began.
— Rustem Umerov (@rustem_umerov) September 6, 2024
Our focus areas are:
1. Providing Ukraine with air defense systems and interceptors.
2. Ammunition and equipment for our brigades.
3. Strengthening Ukraine's long-range capabilities. In particular, by supporting and financing… pic.twitter.com/7Xbo3dvb99
Zelenskiy calls for change in western long-range weapons policies
Speaking at Ramstein airbase, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy raised concerns about western partners’ policies and the pace of deliveries.
“I’m grateful to all partners for the fact that the Nato summit in Washington was marked by decisions on air defense systems for Ukraine. However, many systems have yet to be delivered,” he said.
He added:
Long-range capability. I’m glad that the US, the UK, and France are represented here. Thanks to our joint courage, we have implemented very important operations, in particular in Crimea.
These operations allowed us to return security to the Black Sea and our food exports. Now we hear that your long-range policy has not changed, but we see changes in the Atacms, Storm Shadows and Scalps –a shortage of missiles and cooperation.
This applies even to our territory, which is occupied by Russia, including Crimea. We think it is wrong that there are such steps. We need to have this long-range capability not only on the occupied territory of Ukraine, but also on the Russian territory, so that Russia is motivated to seek peace.
Updated
The German defence minister, Boris Pistorius, has said that Germany has not changed its position on long-range strikes with donated weapons deep into Russian territory, Reuters reported.
He said Germany will support Ukraine as long as it is necessary.
The UK will supply 650 Lightweight Multirole Missile systems to Ukraine.
Ukraine’s defence ministry said “we are grateful to our British partners for their ironclad support and strengthening Ukraine’s air defense. Thanks for making us stronger.”
The UK will supply 650 Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM) systems to Ukraine worth £162 million. The delivery will start this year.
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) September 6, 2024
We are grateful to our British partners for their ironclad support and strengthening Ukraine's air defense. Thanks for making us stronger.… pic.twitter.com/SgV1DulppU
Zelenskiy arrives for talks in Germany with call for speeding up assistance
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy has arrived at the Ramstein airbase with a renewed call for assistance.
“It is crucial that all the weapons from the already announced support packages finally reach the combat brigades,” he said.
“We also need strong long-range decisions from our partners to bring closer the just peace we are striving for,” the Ukrainian leader added.
Zelenskiy is set to meet with the US secretary of defence, Lloyd Austin, the German defence minister, Boris Pistorius, and the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz.
Work with partners to strength Ukraine continues. I have arrived at the Ramstein Air Base to participate in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 6, 2024
We need our partners' determination and the means to stop Russia's aerial terror. It is crucial that all the weapons from the…
Updated
Members of Les Républicains have arrived to meet with Michel Barnier.
Laurent Wauquiez, Bruno Retailleau et Gérard Larcher arrivent à Matignon pour rencontrer Michel Barnier pic.twitter.com/cwiquU0ozL
— BFMTV (@BFMTV) September 6, 2024
The French Greens’ Marine Tondelier said she has a message for the far right National Rally’s voters.
“You who vote for Marine Le Pen thinking that she will improve your daily life, know to what extent she is deceiving you. She preferred a right-wing Prime Minister who would serve the powerful rather than a NFP [New Popular Front] prime minister who would have served your interests,” she said.
[Message aux électeurs RN]
— Marine Tondelier (@marinetondelier) September 6, 2024
Vous qui votez Marine Le Pen en pensant qu’elle améliorera votre quotidien, sachez à quel point elle vous dupe.
Elle a préféré un Premier ministre de droite qui servira les puissants plutôt qu’une PM du NFP qui aurait servi vos intérêts ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/glAU5NlKxh
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he congratulated Emmanuel Macron on the appointment of Michel Barnier.
Had a long and substantive phone call with @EmmanuelMacron. I congratulated him on the appointment of the new Prime Minister, Michel Barnier. The President of France expressed his condolences over the Russian strikes on Lviv, Poltava, and other cities and communities.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 5, 2024
On the eve…
The French Socialists’ Olivier Faure said no one from his party would participate in a Michel Barnier-led government, arguing that Barnier depends on the far right.
.@faureolivier : "Quand Michel Barnier dit qu'il va gouverner "avec tout le monde", à qui s'adresse-t-il ? À la gauche ? Non, à l'extrême-droite, dont il a très bien compris que sa survie dépendait d'elle. Aucune personnalité du PS ne rentrera dans son gouvernement." #le69Inter pic.twitter.com/iBF2gIrTpM
— France Inter (@franceinter) September 6, 2024
Michel Barnier vows to address feelings of ‘anger’ and ‘injustice’ as France’s new PM
Michel Barnier, France’s new rightwing prime minister, has vowed to address the nation’s feelings of anger, abandonment and injustice, promising a “new era” and a break with the past.
Barnier, the EU’s former Brexit negotiator, took office hours after Emmanuel Macron appointed him to form “a unifying government in the service of the country” – an attempt to put an end to two months of political paralysis after a snap election.
Barnier, who at 73 is the oldest premier in the history of modern France, said his first task was to “respond as best we can to the challenges, the anger, the feeling of abandonment and injustice that is too prevalent in our cities, on our estates and in the countryside”.
The government’s priority would be education, as well as security and controlling immigration, he said.
Barnier’s appointment was greeted with dismay by the left which will now seek to topple him with a no-confidence motion.
Controversially, Macron appears to be counting on Le Pen’s National Rally to keep Barnier in power by voting against a no-confidence motion. The RN indicated on Thursday it would not automatically vote down Barnier and would wait and see what sort of programme he laid out in his first address to parliament.
