Ukraine updates: Germany urges funding for path to EU

There are still some 1,000 civilians in the heavily contested eastern Ukrainian town of Avdiivka, authorities in Kyiv say.

The now largely destroyed industrial town in the Donetsk region had more than 30,000 inhabitants before the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine began. The latest population figure includes no children.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk told local television news that those who remained to seek safety.

Russian troops have advanced to a railway line to the north of Avdiivka in recent days. 

Ukrainian units reportedly still hold a corridor of territory about 10 kilometers (just over 6 miles) wide and supply routes from the Ukrainian-controlled area are constantly shelled.

The General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces on Monday said its troops had held off about 10 Russian attacks on Avdiivka. The head of Avdiivka's military administration, said there were round-the-clocks strikes on the town center and the only road used to bring in supplies.

Ukrainian forces have been fighting Moscow-backed separatists in the Avdiivka area since 2014. 

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has pledged to keep Germany's aid to Ukraine flowing despite Berlin also saying it will support Israel in its conflict with Hamas.

Speaking at a German-Ukrainian business forum in Berlin,  Scholz promised that Kyiv would have assistance "as long as necessary." 

The event was attended by Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal and joined virtually by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 

"We are backing Ukraine economically, financially, with humanitarian aid and also with weapons," Scholz said.

"This support will in no way be impacted by the fact that we of course since the horrible morning hours of October 7 have focused on Israel and the Middle East with the greatest sympathy and concern."

The German chancellor said Russian President Vladimir Putin had attacked Ukraine in an act of "imperialist delusion" and that he was "mistaken if he believes that he will endure longer than we will."
"You have our word. We will support Ukraine as long as necessary."

Ukraine said its joint defense venture with German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall has now been registered with the competent authorities.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal told the German-Ukrainian Business Forum in Berlin it was "a significant event that elevates cooperation between our countries to a qualitatively new level." 

The venture with the Ukrainian state-owned company Ukrainian Defense Industry JSC will service and repair weapons supplied by the West to help Kyiv against Russia. 

It will also help with the localization of some essential equipment produced by Rheinmetall.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has submitted Sweden's NATO membership bid to Turkey's parliament for ratification.

The Nordic country applied for membership of the military alliance last year following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Like every other NATO member, Turkey has a veto over any new country joining the alliance.

But after delaying a decision for over a year, Erdogan signed the accession protocol in July, but there had been no further action until he forwarded it to the Grand National Assembly for ratification. 

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson described it as a gratifying move. 

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said he was looking forward to a "speedy vote" in the Turkish parliament and to welcoming Sweden as an ally "very soon."

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz wants to solidify EU support for Ukraine by the end of the year to aid its path toward EU membership.

Speaking at the German-Ukrainian Economic Forum in Berlin the chancellor said he wants to set  up a "Ukraine facility."

It would bundle grants, loans, and private and public investment alongside the grants Ukraine already had access to as a candidate for EU accession.

"Anyone who invests in Ukraine now is investing in a future EU member state that will be part of our legal order and our internal market," Scholz said. 

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, who is also attending the forum, said Ukraine's gross domestic product could grow over 4% in 2023 and reach 5% next year.

Ukraine's economy shrank by about one-third last year due to the war with Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for a "complete de-occupation" of his country, including Crimea.

He made the remarks in a video address to lawmakers from around the world gathered in the Czech capital, Prague, for the Crimea Platform.

"As of now, we have not yet achieved full fire control over Crimea and the adjacent waters. But we will. It's a matter of time," Zelenskyy said. 

Zelenskyy launched the Crimea Platform before Russia invaded Ukraine last year as part of a diplomatic initiative to secure the return of control over the peninsula to Kyiv. 

Russia annexed Crimea on March 18, 2014, following a referendum not recognized by the international community.

Ukraine and Russia said they had thwarted attempted drone strikes overnight.

"The occupiers attacked with six 'Shahed'-type offensive [unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)] from the south (Chauda, Crimea)," Ukraine's air force said on social media.

"All six attack drones were shot down by air defense forces and means — fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft missile units, and mobile fire groups," it added.

Russia's Defense Ministry said "three unmanned Ukrainian surface boats were detected in the northern part of the Black Sea."

"The area where the uncrewed surface vehicles were detected was hit by anti-sabotage missile and bomb systems," it added.

lo,ab (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)