Ukraine must get long-term support, warns Nato chief

Western countries indispensable beryllium prepared to supply semipermanent enactment to Ukraine arsenic Russia shows nary signs of relenting, Nato's caput wide has said.

Jens Stoltenberg told the BBC that subject enactment would guarantee the endurance of Ukraine arsenic a sovereign state and unit Russia to beryllium down and negociate an extremity to the war.

Russia's person accuses the West of utilizing Ukraine to destruct his country.

Russian missiles and drones person deed Ukraine connected New Year's Eve and Day.

Russia's partial mobilisation programme, ordered successful September, showed Moscow had nary tendency to extremity the war at present, Mr Stoltenberg told Radio 4's World astatine One programme.

"The Ukrainian forces had the momentum for respective months, but we besides cognize that Russia has mobilised galore much forces, galore of them are present training," helium said.

"All that indicates that they are prepared to proceed the warfare and besides effort to perchance motorboat a caller offensive."

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a New Year's speech, successful which helium tried to rally radical down his troops warring successful Ukraine, saying that the country's aboriginal was astatine stake.

His Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky accused Mr Putin of hiding down his troops alternatively than starring them.

Twelve retired of 20 Russian cruise missiles were changeable down connected Saturday, the caput of Ukraine's equipped forces said. A further 45 Iranian-made kamikaze drones were changeable down astir Kyiv conscionable hours into the New Year connected Sunday, the Ukrainian Air Force said.

At slightest 1 idiosyncratic died and dozens were injured successful the attacks.

The onslaught fuelled choler and hatred among Ukrainians already bushed of Russia's unrelenting aerial campaign.

As explosions rocked the capital, immoderate residents sang the nationalist anthem, portion officials accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilians portion they gathered to celebrated the New Year.

Andriy Nebitov, the caput of the Kyiv police, posted an representation to societal media of a downed drone with the words "Happy New Year" scribbled crossed it successful Russian.

"That is everything you request to cognize astir the panic authorities and its army," helium wrote connected Facebook, adding that the remains had crashed successful a children's playground.

Though nary fto up successful hostilities looks to beryllium successful sight, Mr Stoltenberg said Nato indispensable guarantee Ukraine stays successful a beardown presumption successful the lawsuit of dialog talks betwixt the 2 sides.

"We request to supply enactment to Ukraine now, including subject support, due to the fact that that's the lone mode to person Russia that they person to beryllium down and negociate successful bully religion and respect Ukraine arsenic a sovereign autarkic federation successful Europe," Mr Stoltenberg said.

"What we bash cognize is that what Ukraine tin execute astir that array is wholly babelike connected the spot connected the battlefield."

Prior to Mr Stoltenberg's interview, France - a Nato subordinate - reiterated its backing for Ukraine.

"We volition beryllium beside you without fail. We volition assistance you until triumph is achieved," French President Emmanuel Macron said successful his ain New Year's address.