© Reuters. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks during a joint news conference with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala (not seen), as Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, Ukraine October 31, 2022. REUTERS/Viacheslav Ratynskyi
(Reuters) – The United States was finalising plans to send its sophisticated Patriot air defence system to Ukraine, U.S. officials said, while allies pledged just over 1 billion euros ($1.05 billion) to help Ukrainians survive the freezing winter.
DIPLOMACY/ECONOMY/AID
* The United States is finalising plans to send the Patriot missile defence system to Ukraine, a decision that could be announced as soon as this week, three U.S. officials told Reuters on Tuesday.
* In Paris, about 70 countries and institutions pledged just over 1 billion euros ($1.05 billion) to help maintain Ukraine’s water, food, energy, health and transport in face of Russia’s attacks, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said.
* As Washington sends Ukraine U.S.-sourced power equipment to help the country’s grid recover from Russian attacks, it is also scouring for those supplies worldwide, U.S. officials said.
* Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping will hold talks to discuss the events of 2022 in late December, the Russian business daily Vedomosti reported.
* Arms supplies from Italy to Ukraine will stop as soon as peace talks on ending the Russian invasion begin, the Italian defence minister told parliament, as lawmakers endorsed a government decision to extend military aid throughout 2023.
* Russia dismissed a peace proposal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that would involve a pullout of Russian troops, saying Kyiv needed to accept new territorial “realities”.
* Eight ships loaded with grain left ports in Ukraine’s Odesa region after a pause caused by power cuts following Russian missile strikes, Kyiv’s infrastructure ministry said.
* Britain said it had sanctioned 12 Russian military commanders implicated in missile strikes on Ukrainian cities as well as Iranian businessmen involved in the production and supply of military drones used in the attacks.
CONFLICT
* Russia and Ukraine pounded each other’s forces in heavy fighting around the small eastern city of Bakhmut.
* Ukrainians leaving Bakhmut this week described almost constant Russian shelling that forced residents to shelter in basements and sleep in the bitter cold.
* Reuters could not independently verify reports of attacks or deaths by either side.
* Russia’s close ally Belarus announced a snap military inspection including increased combat readiness in the south of the country, the latest in a burst of exercises that have prompted concern from neighbouring Ukraine.