Donors help Ukraine

DOZENS of countries and international organisations were on Tuesday throwing their weight behind a fresh and urgent push to keep Ukraine powered, fed, warm and moving in the face of sustained Russian aerial bombardments that have plunged millions into the cold and dark in winter.

An international donor conference in Paris was expected to raise and help co-ordinate many tens of millions of pounds of aid - both financial and in kind - to be taken to Ukraine in coming weeks and months to help its beleaguered people survive winter's freezing temperatures and long nights.

French President Emmanuel Macron, in a speech opening the conference, described Moscow's bombardments of civilian targets as a war crime. He said the Kremlin is attacking civilian infrastructure because its troops have suffered setbacks on the battlefields.

Moscow's intention is to "plunge the Ukrainian people into despair", Mr Macron said.