new British military aid, first train to Kherson

►Surprise visit to British Prime Minister in Kyiv

New British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrived in kyiv on Saturday (November 19th) for his first visit since taking up the post, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

“I am here today to say that the UK will continue to support you”Rishi Sunak said in front of President Zelensky on a video released by the Ukrainian presidency. “We will stand with you until Ukraine has won the peace and security it needs and deserves”.

“It is a great lesson in humility to be with you in your country today”he also said. “The courage of the Ukrainian people is an inspiration to the world”.

The British Prime Minister announced new military aid amounting to 50 million pounds (57.4 million euros), including anti-aircraft guns, radars and anti-drone equipment. He also announced humanitarian aid of 16 million pounds (18.3 million euros).

“Since the first days of the war, Ukraine and the United Kingdom have been the strongest allies”wrote Volodymyr Zelensky on Telegram, posting a video of his meeting with Rishi Sunak in kyiv.

► A first train connects kyiv to Kherson, released for a week

On Saturday, the first train since the end of eight months of Russian occupation arrived in Kherson, allowing families separated by war to finally reunite.

Ukrainian authorities announced on Friday the reopening of the line between the capital kyiv and Kherson, a week to the day after the withdrawal of the Russian army from the city. More than 100 workers worked hard in the cold rain to clear and repair nearly 60 km of track with demining teams.

The reopening of the line to Kherson should also provide another crucial supply route for the city which desperately needs humanitarian assistance.

► The war in Ukraine condemned by “most members” of Apec members

In Bangkok, the 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum agreed on a joint statement criticizing the conflict and global economic upheaval sparked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “Most members strongly condemned the war in Ukraine and stressed that it was causing immense human suffering and exacerbating existing fragilities in the global economy”the statement said.

France wants to find a place in the Pacific

This final statement was endorsed by all members, including Russia and China, which refrained from publicly criticizing Moscow for the invasion. “There were other points of view and different assessments of the situation and the sanctions”specifies the press release, which repeats word for word the same wording as that of the G20 published earlier in the week at the end of a summit in Indonesia.

► Spain returns electric generators to Ukraine

The Spanish government announced on Saturday the dispatch of 14 new electric generators to Ukraine, where Russian attacks on energy infrastructure are leaving many Ukrainians without electricity and hot water to spend the winter.

Madrid had already announced on October 19 the dispatch of five electric generators to Ukraine.

Spain will also send 30 additional ambulances as well as police reinforcements to help the Ukrainian authorities investigate possible war crimes on its territory.