Civilians and emergency personnel carry a wounded person after a Russian strike on Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, January 8, 2025

Wednesday’s Coverage: Ukraine War, Day 1,050: Trump Backs Kremlin Over Kyiv and NATO

Map: Institute for the Study of War

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UPDATE 2044 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has flown from Germany to Rome to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni:

UPDATE 1642 GMT:

Addressing a summit of partners at the US airbase in Ramstein, Germany, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged them to maintain support when Donald Trump returns to the White House.

It’s clear that a new chapter starts for Europe and the entire world just 11 days from now.

We have to cooperate even more, rely on each other even more, and achieve greater results together.

He noted that a cutoff of military support to Ukraine, which Trump has threatened, “will only invite more aggression, chaos and war:

We’ve come such a long way that it would honestly be crazy to drop the ball now and not keep building on the defence coalitions we’ve created.

No matter what’s going on in the world, everyone wants to feel sure that their country will not just be erased off the map.

Praising Zelensky as a “leader who has made history”, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced a $500 million aid package. It includes additional air defense missiles, ammunition, and equipment to support Ukraine’s US-made F-16 fighter jets.

Austin said, “The stakes are still enormous – for all of our security. If Putin swallows Ukraine, his appetite will only grow… [for] land grabs.”

The Ramstein summit was attended by 57 countries, including all 32 NATO members.

Britain and Latvia announced that they and a group of European countries will supply Ukraine with 30,000 first-person view drones after placing contracts worth £45 million ($55.3 million) with manufacturers. Funding for the initiative comes from the two nations plus Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

Zelensky emphasized:

The key to resisting aggression is motivation. Motivation to risk your life to save your country. But motivation needs fuel, and the best fuel is success – successful actions, successful agreements. When our troops can shoot down Russian missiles, including ballistic ones, and keep Russian aircraft away from Ukraine, it provides the motivation we desperately need.

He noted that “Putin is not just maintaining his investment in aggression. He’s doubling down. He’s even started hiring soldiers from North Korea to keep this war going.”

“North Korea is learning modern methods of warfare. They do not value their people. They have lost 4,000 people so far,” Zelensky added.

UPDATE 1344 GMT:

Europe bought a record amount of liquefied natural gas from Russia in 2024.

Ships with 17.8 million tons of Russian LNG docked in European ports, an increase of more than 2 million tons from 2023, according to analysts Rystad Energy.

On December 29, the Financial Times reported that the EU imported 16.5 million tons of Russian LNG. Ukraine Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha noted the article and responded, “Unacceptable. Russian LNG imports to the EU must be banned as part of further sanctions, and replaced with supplies from the US and other partners.”

In June, the EU imposed its first ban on LNG transshipment. However, while EU countries like Germany no longer import Russian LNG directly, the German State energy company SEFE has a long-term contract with Russia’s Yamal facility. Supplies from Yamal are routed to France before being fed into the European pipeline system.

Vaibhav Raghunandan, a Russia analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air explained:

The reason for the rise is fairly simple. Russian LNG is offered at a discount to alternative suppliers….With no sanctions imposed on the commodity, companies are operating in their own self-interest and buying increasing quantities of gas from the cheapest supplier.

UPDATE 0645 GMT:

The UN has expressed concern over Russia’s executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war.

Nada Al-Nashif, the deputy head of human rights, told the UN Human Rights Council that 68 executions have been verified during Russia’s invasion.

“I call on the Russian authorities to halt the summary executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war,” al-Nashif said, “Summary executions constitute a war crime.” She urged Russia to “condemn such acts, and to prosecute those responsible”.

Ukrainian officials have reported confirmation of more than 120 executions by the Russians.

UPDATE 0628 GMT:

The UN says more than 12,300 civilians have been killed during Russia’s 34 1/2-month invasion.

It noted a spike in casualties because of attacks by drones, long-range missiles, and glide bombs.

Between September and November 2024, civilian fatalities rose 30% compared to the same period in 2023.

UPDATE 0620 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged calm over the threat by Donald Trump to block Ukraine’s membership of NATO.

In a rambling press conference on Tuesday, Trump said, “Russia has somebody right on their doorstep, and I could understand their feelings about that.”

Trump expressed regret that he is not meeting Vladimir before he returns to the White House on January 20.

Zelensky reacted:

Don’t draw conclusions about the policy of the US right away. We need to work and do everything possible to ensure that Ukraine receives decent security guarantees, worthy of our people, that could stop Putin. We will work on this.

Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, insisted, “I think people need to know that he’s not trying to give anything to Putin or the Russians. He’s trying to save Ukraine and preserve its sovereignty, and he’s going to make sure that it’s fair and just.”

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Russia killed at least 13 civilians and wounded 133 in a daytime attack on Zaporizhzhia city in southern Ukraine on Wednesday.

At least 59 people have been hospitalized, with 10 in critical condition.

The Russians launched glide bombs in mid-afternoon on an industrial facility. They exploded among a crowd between the facility’s administrative building and the road.

The facility, apartment buildings, and other infrastructure were damaged. A tram and a minibus carrying passengers were also hit.

Video showed people lying in the street, with some being treated by emergency services and taken away on gurneys.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky posted:

There is nothing more cruel than launching aerial bombs on a city, knowing that ordinary civilians will suffer.

Russia must be put under pressure for its terror. The protection of lives in Ukraine must be supported.