NATO chief says Russia is in 'blatant violation' of international law

President Volodymyr Zelensky with Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez

President Volodymyr Zelensky with Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez Source: AAP / Luis Soto / SOPA Images/Luis Soto / SOPA Images/Sipa USA

Get the SBS Audio app

Other ways to listen

A Russian airstrike on an industrial facility in Kharkiv has resulted in one death and 12 injuries, following a previous attack that killed 14 people at a construction supplies store. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is calling for increased pressure on Russia as Spain pledges significant military aid.


Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with

TRANSCRIPT

At least one person is dead and 12 others injured following a Russian airstrike on an industrial facility in Kharkiv.

The strike comes after an aerial attack on a large construction supplies store killed at least 14 people in Kharkiv on Saturday.

And in the Mykolaiv region, two people have been killed and five wounded in a Russian attack.

NATO chief Stoltenberg has condemned the attacks.

”The Russian invasion of Ukraine is the blatant violation of international law. According to international law Ukraine has the right to defend itself. Self defence is enshrined in the U.N. charter, self defence is enshrined in the international law. So Ukraine has the right to defend themselves against Russian aggression. We have the right as NATO allies to help Ukraine uphold the right of self defence. And that is exactly what NATO allies have done by providing military support to Ukraine. That does not make NATO and NATO allies party to the conflict. We provide Ukraine with support but we don’t send the NATO troops, NATO capabilities to take part in the conflict, neither on land or in air space over Ukraine.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Western leaders to pressure Russia into peace using "all means" necessary.

Speaking in Spain, Mr Zelensky says there needs to be "tangible coercion of Russia" , which was seeking to destroy Ukraine and move on.

Mr Zelensky has long said he will not negotiate with Russia directly until Moscow's forces leave all Ukrainian territory, including Crimea.

His call comes as Russia makes gains against Ukraine, with Kyiv suffering from a shortage of Western-supplied weapons

While in Spain, Mr Zelenskyy met with Spanish King Felipe VI in Madrid.

After welcoming Mr Zelenskyy at the Madrid Royal Palace, King Felipe told the Ukrainian President that Spain would work to help bring peace to people in Ukraine.

"Together Mr President we will work ceaselessly so that the peace that your country needs and deserves is achieved quickly so that all the Ukrainian people can live safely and protected without fear or threats. It is our aspiration and our conviction."

Earlier Mr Zelenskyy and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez signed a bilateral security agreement that allocates 1 billion euros (A$1.6 billion) of military aid to Ukraine in 2024, and 5 billion euros (A$8.1 billion) by 2027.

More Leopard tanks and artillery ammunition also feature in the package.

Spain also pledged additional air defence missiles which could help Ukraine fight around 3,000 bombs that Mr Zelenskyy says Russia launches every month at Ukraine, now in the third year of the war.

He thanked the Spanish people for supporting Ukraine and gifted King Felipe VI with the Golden Heart Award for Spanish volunteer, Emma Igual, who was killed by Russian shelling near the town of Chasiv Yar last year.

"I am grateful to Spain that your hearts did not waver, you helped. You strengthen our Ukrainian force that is holding the front against Russian aggression and through your actions you are saving hundreds of lives of children, women and men in Ukraine."

This comes as defence officials in NATO member Poland unveil a plan to strengthen anti-drone surveillance and on-ground military defence through a system of fortifications and barriers along about 700 kilometres of its eastern border with Russia and Russian ally Belarus.

Cezary Tomczyk is Poland's Deputy Defence Minister.

"It is undoubtedly the largest project of this type in Poland after 1945 (the end of the Second World War). We want to use the best experiences from Ukraine. We analyse these experiences, not only in terms of border security itself, but also in terms of the equipment used in Ukraine. ... We want to build continuity of the line with Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland, so that this line is clear, compatible, so that we use the same systems and can also facilitate the acquisition of technology."

The government says Poland, which supports neighbouring Ukraine in its defence against Russia’s aggression, is being targeted by hostile actions from Russia and Belarus.

They include cyberattacks, attempted arson and migrants being pushed illegally across the border, which officials describe as intended to destabilise the European Union, of which Poland is a member.


Share