Ukraine updates: Zelenskyy confirms use of ATACMS missiles

US President Joe Biden is considering a joint $100 billion supplemental military funding request for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, according to sources who spoke to the Reuters news agency.

The news comes as Biden prepares to depart for visits to Tel Aviv, where he will underline US support for Israel.

Meanwhile, Israel continues to ramp up preparations for an anticipated ground invasion of the Gaza Strip in response to the deadly October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas militants, Ukraine continues to fight off a Russian assault which has now been going on for over 600 days, and China continues to threaten Taiwan.

US senate leaders had said earlier on Tuesday they expected Biden to send them a request by the end of this week for billions of dollars in assistance for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan and for security at the US border. Two of the sources said the request was for a full year of funding, explaining its large size.

A congressional source familiar with the request told Reuters that Israel had asked for $10 billion in addition to the $3.8bn per year it received from the United States under a 10-year agreement that began in 2016.

Congress has already approved $113 billion in security, humanitarian and economic assistance to Ukraine since February 2022.

The destruction of the Kakhovka dam in southeastern Ukraine in June caused $14 billion (€13.2 billion) worth of damage and losses, a report by the Ukrainian government and the United Nations said.

"The stark figures speak for themselves. The destruction of the Kakhovka dam has resulted in a staggering loss and damage," said Christophoros Politis, the United Nation Development Programme's deputy resident representative in Ukraine.

The preliminary figures put the damage and losses at $13.79 billion, taking into account the environmental toll, the loss of power generation, irrigation for farming and housing as well as other factors.

The destruction of the dam "is foreseen to have severe, enduring consequences on Ukraine's environment, economy and society", a post-disaster needs assessment report said.     

The UN added that it does not know the extent of damage to Russian-occupied areas of the Kherson region, where the dam was located.

Ukraine accused Russia of blowing up the dam, which crosses the Dnipro river, flooding the surrounding area with landmine-contaminated water and leaving areas upstream without water supply. Moscow has denied responsibility.

Ukraine launched US-provided long-range ATACMS missiles against Russian forces on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, confirming prior US media reports. 

"Today, special thanks to the United States. Our agreements with President Biden are being implemented. Very accurately — ATACMS proved themselves," Zelenskyy said in his nightly address.

The United States secretly provided Ukraine with the missiles, although it was not immediately clear when Washington sent them, outlets including CNN and the Associated Press reported earlier, citing unnamed US officials.

Kyiv has repeatedly asked the US for ATACMS to help attack and disrupt supply lines, air bases and rail networks in Russian-occupied territory.

President Joe Biden approved a future delivery last month and told his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting at the White House that the US would give Ukraine the ATACMs, without specifying when or how many would be delivered.

Because of lingering US concerns about escalating tensions with Russia, for instance by striking targets on Russian soil with NATO weaponry, the ATACMS version that went to Ukraine will have a shorter range than the maximum distance the missiles can have.

While some versions of the missiles can go as far as about 180 miles (300 kilometers), the ones sent to Ukraine have a shorter range of and carry cluster munitions, which when fired, open in the air, releasing hundreds of bomblets, rather than a single warhead.

Kyiv has also put pressure on Germany to supply it with Taurus cruise missiles, similar to ATACMS, causing debate amongst German politicians.

However, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had used the risk of escalation to justify his decision not to deliver Taurus cruise missiles with a range of 500 kilometres to the war zone for the time being, despite urgent pleas from Ukraine. 

Germany's KfW development bank, acting on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, signed an agreement with the Ukrainian state-owned power company Ukrenerho for a €76 million (roughly $80 million) grant to repair war damage to the Ukrainian power grid and substations.

Measures to improve the energy efficiency of the entire grid are also planned, according to a KfW statement. For example, the reconstruction of the grid infrastructure will include the use of reinforced concrete to protect the facilities against further attacks, as well as energy-efficient technologies.

Ukraine's power grid has been severely damaged by targeted Russian airstrikes since the start of the war.

According to the KfW, by April 30 Ukraine's energy production capacity was less than half what it had been before the war. 

In addition, 41 out of 94 high-voltage transformers had been damaged or completely destroyed by attacks, according to the report. This has led to massive restrictions, instability and blackouts in the grid.

The European Parliament improved and endorsed a proposal for a €50 billion (roughly $53 billion) facility to support Ukraine's recovery, reconstruction and modernization from 2024. It would be paid over a period of four years.

The aid package was adopted with 512 votes in favour, 45 against and 63 abstentions.

"This is a strong sign of our support and solidarity," Michael Gahler, co-rapporteur for the Committee on Foreign Affairs, said. The adopted draft provides for controls to prevent "any embezzlement, any waste and any corruption," Gahler added.

Ukraine is to submit a reconstruction plan for the aid package, and the European Commission is to sign off on the distribution of the funds. The MEPs also proposed using confiscated assets of Russian citizens and companies for Ukraine.

According to the document, the reconstruction and modernization of the country should be geared toward EU requirements for Ukraine's possible accession. The country officially became a candidate for EU membership last June.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) forum Wednesday. 

The two leaders met Tuesday evening at an event kicking off the forum, video posted by Russia's Foreign Ministry showed, shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries. They then took part in a group photo with other leaders attending the summit.

Putin also met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in China on Tuesday. Orban has maintained ties with the Kremlin despite widespread condemnation of Russia's ongoing war of aggression on Ukraine.

In statements carried on Russian news agencies, Putin claimed that Russia was "satisfied" that Russia's "ties with many European countries are maintained and developed." He said, "One of those countries is Hungary." 

Hungary has opposed many EU initiatives resisting the Russian invasion of Ukraine and supporting Ukraine. The country still receives pipeline gas deliveries from Russia and has a limited exemption to EU sanctions on Russian crude oil deliveries.

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Russia has likely launched a coordinated offensive on several fronts in eastern Ukraine, including on the heavily defended town of Avdiivka, the UK's Ministry of Defence said.

In its daily update on the war in Ukraine, the ministry described the offensive as likely "the most significant offensive operation undertaken by Russia since at least January 2023."

"Russia's attack is likely being carried out with multiple armored battalions, which are attempting to envelope the town," the Ministry of Defence statement read. 

It added that Avdiivka has been "on the frontline since 2014."

"The town is a major obstacle in preventing Russian forces from their wider objective of taking control of Donetsk Oblast."

The ministry suggested that Ukrainian forces were so far holding back the Russian advance. It added that Russian forces have sustained heavy equipment and personnel losses.

"Slow progress and high casualties have likely triggered a change in messaging from Russia, from an offensive to 'active defense,' as successfully clearing Avdiivka looks increasingly unlikely in the short term."

Russia has significantly intensified its attacks on Avdiivka in recent days.

Ukraine's military said on Tuesday its forces successfully struck Russian airfields and equipment near the Russian-controlled cities of Luhansk and Berdyansk in the east.

The Ukrainian military's communication department said on the Telegram messaging platform that the strikes were "well-aimed," targeting Russian airfields and helicopters.

Meanwhile, Vladimir Rogov, a Russian-installed official in parts of the Zaporizhzhia region controlled by Moscow in Ukraine's southeast, said that the strikes on Berdyansk were not successful.

"According to preliminary information, our air defense system successfully intercepted enemy rockets," Rogov said on the Telegram. "Information about victims and possible damage is being clarified."

The Kremlin said on Tuesday there was "no proof" North Korea was supplying Russia with weapons, after the US released images said to be of arms shipments from North Korea.

"They report this all the time, without providing any proof," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies.

On Friday, the White House said North Korea had already delivered over 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions to Russia in recent weeks. They were meant to be used in the war in Ukraine.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was in Russia for several days last month, where he met President Vladimir Putin who spoke of "possibilities for military cooperation. The visit and consequent statements ignited Western fears over a potential arms deal.

German Foreign Minister  Annalena Baerbock has pledged continued support for Ukraine and Moldova against Russia, during a visit to Chisinau to attend the fourth Moldova Supporters Conference.

"In these days when the situation in the Middle East is keeping us so on edge, it is important for me to underline: We continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine and with Moldova," Baerbock said on Tuesday.

She vowed German support to Molodova in energy issues, economic stabilization and reform steps toward accession into the European Union. The German foreign minister also pledged a sum of €95 million (roughly $100 million) for Moldova next year.

Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, who is also attending the conference, said Russia's war on Ukraine "continues to send shock waves throughout Europe and beyond."

European and international aid to Moldova is therefore more necessary than ever to mitigate the impact of the war on the population and help revive the economy, she added.