KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — NATO international locations have delivered greater than 98% of the fight automobiles promised to Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia, the army alliance’s chief mentioned Thursday, giving Kyiv a much bigger punch because it seems poised to launch a counteroffensive.

Along with greater than 1,550 armored automobiles, 230 tanks and different tools, member nations have despatched Ukraine “vast amounts of ammunition” and in addition skilled and outfitted greater than 9 new Ukrainian brigades, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg mentioned.

More than 30,000 troops are estimated to make up the brand new brigades.

“This will put Ukraine in a strong position to continue to retake occupied territory,” Stoltenberg instructed reporters in Brussels.

His feedback got here a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned he and Chinese chief Xi Jinping had a “long and meaningful” cellphone name of their first recognized contact since Russia’s full-scale invasion greater than a yr in the past.

Though Zelenskyy mentioned he was inspired by Wednesday’s name and Western officers welcomed Xi’s transfer, the event didn’t seem to result in any fast shift in peace prospects.

Russia and Ukraine are far aside of their phrases for peace, and Beijing - whereas seeking to place itself as a worldwide diplomatic energy - has refused to criticize Moscow’s invasion. The Chinese authorities sees Russia as a diplomatic ally in opposing U.S. affect in world affairs, and Xi visited Moscow final month.

Stoltenberg mentioned the 31 NATO allies have been dedicated to shoring up Ukraine’s army, including that taking again land occupied by the Kremlin’s forces would give Kyiv a stronger negotiating place if peace talks happen.

The Kremlin gave a lukewarm response to the decision between Xi and Zelenskyy.

Asked if the decision might assist finish the combating, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov instructed reporters: “We are ready to welcome anything that could lead to the termination of the conflict in Ukraine and the achievement of all the goals set by Russia.”

Peskov mentioned the dialog between the Chinese and Ukrainian leaders was “the sovereign business of those countries and the issue of their bilateral dialogue.”

With battlefield positions in Ukraine largely static as a conflict of attrition took maintain in current months, Russian forces have saved up their bombardment of Ukrainian areas, usually hitting condominium buildings and different civilian infrastructure.

At least seven civilians have been killed and 33 have been injured between Wednesday and Thursday, Ukraine’s presidential workplace mentioned Thursday.

They included one individual killed and 23 wounded, together with a toddler, when 4 Kalibr cruise missiles hit the southern metropolis of Mykolaiv, official mentioned.

The governor of Mykolaiv province, Vitalii Kim, mentioned 22 multi-story buildings, 12 personal homes and different residential buildings have been broken within the assault.

Kalibr missiles are launched from ships or submarines, The ones that hit Mykolaiv have been fired from someplace within the Black Sea, in response to Ukraine’s Operational Command South.

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Cook reported from Brussels. Associated Press Writer Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed.

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