ArcelorMittal, the world’s second largest steelmaker, announced on Friday that it has ceased operations at Ukraine’s biggest steel facility located in Kryvyi Rih. The multinational company attributed the closure to four Russian strikes over five weeks that inflicted substantial destruction and resulted in five worker fatalities. The company stated that maintaining safe and sustainable operations at the plant was no longer feasible given the damage sustained.
The closure represents a significant economic setback for Ukraine, as the steel sector historically contributed 15% of national exports. The industry has faced mounting pressure from Russian military operations and European Union-related restrictions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy characterized Russia’s recent campaign as systematically targeting civilian infrastructure essential to daily functioning, including data centers, warehouses, and commercial facilities. He emphasized that such attacks undermine residents’ ability to maintain connectivity, pursue education, and work remotely.
Zelenskyy indicated that Ukraine requires $27 billion in additional financial support this year to cover defense spending and offset rising war costs. He stated that purchasing domestically produced drones and missiles during October and November was critical to avoid operational challenges in the coming year. The Ukrainian leader indicated that both the European Union and International Monetary Fund recognize the necessity of assisting Kyiv with its budget deficit and military expenditures.
Zelenskyy also pursued diplomatic engagement during a visit to the United States, meeting with Trump on Tuesday. He requested that Trump leverage influence with China’s leadership to encourage Beijing to pressure Russia toward ending the conflict. European officials sought to mitigate concerns that electoral shifts in France and Germany might reduce support for Ukraine, with Lithuanian and Estonian foreign ministers asserting that backing for Kyiv would persist regardless of political changes in individual nations.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin denied preparations for conflict with Europe, stating that Russia possessed no genuine incentive to escalate tensions with the continent. Additionally, a bipartisan group of 14 U.S. senators urged Trump to rescind Putin’s invitation to a G20 summit scheduled for December in Florida, citing concerns about legitimizing Russian aggression against Ukraine.
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