Ukraine on Thursday escalated its demands for western firepower, seeking fighter jets and a bigger supply of tanks than the one being prepared by Nato allies.
It came as Ukraine was pounded by a new round of Russian drone and missile strikes on Thursday that killed at least 11 people, according to Ukrainian officials.
Britain said the first of its Challenger 2 tanks would arrive in Ukraine by March, as countries with Leopard tanks considered their next steps after Germany gave the green light to export them.
Along with US-made Abrams models, they are the first western battle tanks going to Ukraine and form part of a "tank coalition" sought by Kyiv.
Ukraine welcomed the announcements but said 300 to 500 tanks were needed for them to be a "game changer". The number currently envisaged is closer to 100. Ukraine has used tanks of Soviet design until now.
Visiting London to rally support for Ukraine, lobbyist Olena Halushka told The National that Ukrainians were “communicating a sense of urgency” to the West amid warnings of a spring offensive by Russia.
Ms Halushka, the co-founder of the International Centre for Ukrainian Victory, said the “next goal” would be to persuade the West to hand over fighter jets, despite fears of provoking Russia.
“At each and every step we heard that this is an escalation which will drag Nato into the war,” but this has not happened, she said.
“This is not only about tanks and armoured vehicles. When we get air superiority, we would be able to provide proper air assistance for our land troops.”
Leopard donors
Germany Chancellor Olaf Scholz finally put German qualms aside to announce that 14 Leopards would be donated to Ukraine.
Perhaps more significantly, allies with German-made Leopards in their arsenals will be given the export licence to send them to Ukraine. Germany will also provide the necessary training and maintenance.
The goal is to form two Leopard battalions, which would typically have a few tank companies each ― suggesting about 100 Leopards in all.
Mr Scholz's long deliberation over the Leopards tested the patience of Nato allies. Supporters said he kept a cool head as he weighed up the risks of what Russia considers an escalation.
Poland Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki is urging allies to provide as many Leopards as possible after Poland scored a diplomatic win by persuading Germany to lift its veto.
Poland did not immediately say how many Leopards it would send, but had indicated last week that it was willing to offer one company of 14.
"I have been in touch with many prime ministers to make this coalition as broad as possible, so that modern weapons will allow us to repel another Russian offensive in Ukraine," Mr Morawiecki said on Thursday.
"Tanks are not for riding on a parade. Tanks are there to support those fighting in defence of freedom and sovereignty."
Finland: Defence Minister Mikko Savola said Finland, an applicant to join Nato, would join the tank coalition but that its contribution would be limited in scope.
"The international co-operation to send Leopards to Ukraine is advancing now and Finland will participate in that," Mr Savola said.
Norway Defence Minister Bjorn Arild Gram told broadcaster NRK that Norway "supports the donation of battle tanks to Ukraine ... Norway will take part".
He did not say how many would be sent to Ukraine. Reports in Norwegian media suggest eight could be provided out of a stock of 36.
Spain Defence Minister Margarita Roble said Spain was open to sending Leopards, although she said some were in poor repair and did not say they would definitely go to Ukraine.
"Spain is ready ... to deal with our allies in any way necessary, whether that means sending Leopards, training in the use of Leopards or help in their maintenance and upkeep," she said.
Netherlands Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the Netherlands was prepared to deliver battle tanks to Ukraine if needed. It has previously worked with Berlin to export German-made howitzers to Ukraine.
"If a contribution from the Netherlands helps, we are prepared to do so," Mr Rutte told broadcaster RTL.
Weapons and drones supplied to Ukraine - in pictures
US and UK tanks
US President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday that Ukraine would receive 31 Abrams battle tanks, although officials said delivery would take months rather than weeks.
The tanks, described by Mr Biden as the most capable in the world and previously used in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, will come with eight M88 support vehicles.
The U-turn, after Washington previously suggested the Abrams were not suitable for Ukraine, was seen as a concession to Mr Scholz to ease German discomfort about sending the Leopards.
Britain has already announced it will send a squadron of 14 Challenger 2 tanks, along with armoured recovery and repair vehicles and ammunition.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an overnight address that "the key thing now is speed and volume".
"We must form a tank fist, a fist of freedom whose hits will not let tyranny stand up again," he said.
Ukrainian officials said another round of drone and missile strikes pounded the country on Thursday morning. Some are calling for western fighter jets in a next stage of military aid.
Senior diplomat Andrij Melnyk said a Ukrainian victory was "scarcely imaginable" without a modern air force.
But Lord Richard Dannatt, a former chief of Britain's general staff, told Sky News it was "not realistic" for the West to send modern fighter jets because the training required would be too much.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Coming 2 America
Directed by: Craig Brewer
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones
3/5 stars
BAD%20BOYS%3A%20RIDE%20OR%20DIE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Adil%20El%20Arbi%20and%20Bilall%20Fallah%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EWill%20Smith%2C%20Martin%20Lawrence%2C%20Joe%20Pantoliano%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Profile
Company name: Marefa Digital
Based: Dubai Multi Commodities Centre
Number of employees: seven
Sector: e-learning
Funding stage: Pre-seed funding of Dh1.5m in 2017 and an initial seed round of Dh2m in 2019
Investors: Friends and family
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin
Director: Shawn Levy
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5
The%C2%A0specs%20
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Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Stree
Producer: Maddock Films, Jio Movies
Director: Amar Kaushik
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee
Rating: 3.5
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
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KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
What is dialysis?
Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.
It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.
There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.
In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.
In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.
It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.
Springtime in a Broken Mirror,
Mario Benedetti, Penguin Modern Classics
