Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday asked the US to approve the use of long-range weapons to strike targets inside Russia as it conducts daily attacks from launching points currently out of Kyiv's range.
Speaking at the end of this week's Nato summit in Washington, Mr Zelenskyy praised the alliance for its pledges of military support to Ukraine as it fights Russia, but said battlefield restrictions must be lifted if his country is to succeed.
“If we want to win, if we want to prevail, if we want to save our country and to defend it, we need to lift all the limitations,” Mr Zelenskyy said alongside Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
Mr Zelenskyy's cabinet chief Andriy Yermak noted at a public forum that Russia had no restrictions on its use of weapons. He said it would be “a real game-changer” if Ukraine's allies could lift all limits on the use of weapons they supply to Ukraine.
President Joe Biden appeared unswayed by the appeal, suggesting long-range strike capabilities into Russia could lead to a sharp escalation of the conflict.
"If [Mr Zelenskyy] had the capacity to strike Moscow, strike the Kremlin, would that make sense? It wouldn't," Mr Biden told a highly anticipated news conference at the end of the summit.
"The question is, what's the best use of the weaponry he has?"
The summit, which marked Nato's 75th anniversary, saw member nations issue a declaration in support of Ukraine, promising additional aid and pledging to back its “irreversible path” to Nato membership.
US and European officials also announced that Ukraine's military will within weeks start flying American-made F-16 fighter jets that have been donated by the Danish and Dutch governments.
"At this summit, we are turning a corner and putting in place the foundations for Ukraine to prevail," Mr Stoltenberg said in a closing press conference.
"Allies have agreed to launch Nato security assistance and training for Ukraine with a command in the eastern part of the alliance and around 700 personnel."
Those key outcomes of the event were partly overshadowed by concerns over Mr Biden's physical and mental health and the growing likelihood that he will be ousted in November by Donald Trump, a Nato sceptic who has said he wants to see Ukraine make a deal with Russia.
Mr Biden met Mr Zelenskyy at the summit and announced an additional package of security assistance for Ukraine, which includes a Patriot air defence system, air defence interceptors, and artillery and Himars ammunition
Nato members have set different limits on how Ukraine can use the weapons they donate.
Some have made clear Kyiv can use them to strike targets deep inside Russia, but the US only allows its weapons to be used just inside the Russian border against sites supporting military operations in Ukraine.
Mr Stoltenberg said Ukraine should be able to hit inside Russia directly.
“Since Russia opened a new front … the only way to hit military targets, military launchers or airfields that attack Ukraine is to hit military targets in Russian territory,” he said.
The US and its allies have used this week's summit to try to project unity in the face of what they see as a rising threat to Europe from Russia and China.
A strongly worded communique on Wednesday from all 32 Nato members took aim at China over its support of Russia's war against Ukraine.
"China has become a decisive enabler of Russia's war against Ukraine through its no-limits partnership and support for Russia's defence industrial base, this includes the transfer of dual use materials such as weapon components, equipment and raw materials," Mr Stoltenberg told reporters.
However, Nato member Hungary said it does not want the alliance to become an “anti-China” bloc and will not support it becoming so.
China's Foreign Ministry said the declaration was biased and “sowing discord”, and its mission to the European Union described it as being “full of Cold War mentality and belligerent rhetoric and China-related content full of provocations, lies, incitement and smears”.
Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his country would increase defence spending to the Nato target of 2 per cent of gross domestic product by 2032 after US pressure to up its contribution to the alliance.
Canada is projected to spend a little more than over 1.3 per cent of GDP on defence this year, making it an outlier in the military alliance: 23 of 32 members are set to hit or exceed the 2 per cent target in 2024.
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Rating: Four stars
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
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Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Top tips
Create and maintain a strong bond between yourself and your child, through sensitivity, responsiveness, touch, talk and play. “The bond you have with your kids is the blueprint for the relationships they will have later on in life,” says Dr Sarah Rasmi, a psychologist.
Set a good example. Practise what you preach, so if you want to raise kind children, they need to see you being kind and hear you explaining to them what kindness is. So, “narrate your behaviour”.
Praise the positive rather than focusing on the negative. Catch them when they’re being good and acknowledge it.
Show empathy towards your child’s needs as well as your own. Take care of yourself so that you can be calm, loving and respectful, rather than angry and frustrated.
Be open to communication, goal-setting and problem-solving, says Dr Thoraiya Kanafani. “It is important to recognise that there is a fine line between positive parenting and becoming parents who overanalyse their children and provide more emotional context than what is in the child’s emotional development to understand.”
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Manchester United v Barcelona, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
If you go...
Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
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Price: From Dh590,000
