Ukraine updates: Kyiv gets $2.2 billion in IMF funding

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he would like US Presidential candidate Donald Trump to clarify how exactly he intends to end Russia's war in Ukraine.

Former President Trump has repeatedly claimed that he could bring an end to the conflict "within 24 hours" and said in last week's TV debate with President Joe Biden that he would "settle" the war by the time of his inauguration in January.

"If Trump knows how to end this war, he should tell us today," Zelenskyy said on Wednesday in an hour-long TV interview with Bloomberg.

"If there are risks to Ukrainian independence, if we lose statehood, we want to be ready for this, we want to know," he said.

Zelenskyy said he was prepared to meet Trump and listen to his proposals, saying: "We want to understand whether in November we will have the powerful support of the US, or [whether we] will be all alone."

Speaking to DW's Conflict Zone, prominent Ukrainian journalist and author Illia Ponomarenko said that he at least hasn't lost faith when it comes to Western support for Ukraine.

"Even if Donald Trump becomes president again, we still have hope," he said. "One of the things that we learned from this war is that there's always a way."

Russia's use of air-dropped bombs with increased range was found to be a major cause behind rising civilian deaths during March and May according to a new report issued by the UN human rights office (OHCHR).

The types of munitions used also caused widespread damage to civilian property and infrastructure near frontline areas, according to the report.

"The vast majority of civilian casualties (96%) were caused by the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas, such as artillery shells and rockets, bombs, missiles, loitering munitions and other explosive munitions dropped by unmanned aerial vehicles," the report said.

"The cumulative impact of these sustained attacks on energy infrastructure could potentially deprive the civilian population of services necessary for its survival, particularly when the winter season starts," it added.

The OHCHR found that the Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region alone killed 78 civilians killed and wounded 305 others from May
10-31. Between March and May, at least 436 civilians were killed and 1,760 injured in Ukraine, according to OHCHR. 

The new Prime Minister of the Netherlands Dick Schoof on Wednesday vowed to continue "financial and military support" for Ukraine.

"We should not be naive. A few hours' flight from here, there is a horrific war, where human lives do not matter for Russia," Schoof, a former spy chief, told parliament.

"Ukraine can continue to count on the Netherlands for financial, military and political support," he emphasized.

The 67-year-old Independent candidate is succeeding departing Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who is set to become the next secretary-general of NATO after 14 years in office.

"I assured [Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy] that the Netherlands' support for his country is rock solid; we will continue to support Ukraine politically, militarily, and financially against Russian aggression, whatever it takes and for as long as it takes," Schoof said on social media platform X. 

Under Rutte, the Netherlands signed a deal for €2 billion ($2.1 billion) of military assistance spread over 10 years, later adding an additional €1 billion.

The Netherlands has also been one of the driving forces behind attempts to supply Ukraine with F-16s to strengthen its air defenses against Russia.

Zelenskyy congratulated Schoof on his appointment and wished him success during his time in office.

"Relations between our countries have never been stronger. We have scheduled a meeting to further develop our partnership," Zelenskyy said.

Ukrainian authorities on Wednesday said Russian missile attacks had killed at least five civilians and injured 34 others in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro.

Mayor Boris Filatov said that the windows of two schools and three kindergartens shattered during the attack.

"Russian terrorists have struck our city again. As of now, five people have been killed, and thirty-four injured, including a child,"

Ukraine's President posted on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

Zelenskyy again called for modern air defense systems and weapons with long-range capabilities.

"The world can protect lives, and it requires the determination of leaders. Determination that can and must make protection from terror the norm again," Zelenskyy added. 

Ukraine's air force reported that five of seven Russian missiles and all five Iranian-made combat drones deployed were shot down over the Dnipropetrovsk region. 

Ukraine's Prime Minister Deny Shmyhal on Wednesday said that Kyiv had received 2 billion in funding from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The payment is the fifth to be received as part of an ongoing loan program amounting to around €15 billion and taking place over the space of four years.

The payments will be used to fund vital government expenditures including welfare spending and wages for government workers, like doctors and teachers, Shmyhal said in a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

Since Russia's invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has received more than €80 billion in aid from allies for government expenditure.

The Economist has calculated that Ukraine's debt burden is expected to rise to an estimated 94% of GDP by the end of the year. In the eurozone, any figure beyond 60% is considered unstable.

kb/ab (dpa, Reuters, AFP, AP)