Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1533191
2 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 12 MARCH 2025 2 Ukraine hit Moscow with largest drone attack in three years UKRAINE launched what was described as a "massive" drone attack on Moscow overnight that killed two people, Russian officials said on Tuesday. The governor of the Moscow region, Andrei Vorobyov, said two people were killed in the attack. The casualties were in the towns of Vidnoye and Do- modedovo, located just out- side the capital. Seven apart- ments were also damaged. In a post on social media, Vorobyov posted pictures al- legedly showing one of the damaged apartments along- side burnt vehicles in a car park. He added that over a dozen — including children — had to be evacuated. Moscow's mayor Sergei So- byanin said over 70 drones were shot down as they flew towards the Russian capital. He called the attack on his city the largest in three years. The drone attack came as Ukrainian officials flew into Saudi Arabia for talks with US counterparts on ending the war as efforts to broker a ceasefire intensify. The Ukrainian attack fol- lowed another night of Rus- sian bombardments across cities in Ukraine. There were reports of one person being killed and four wounded in the frontline towns of Pokrovsk and Kostyantynivk. Meanwhile, injuries and damage to buildings caused by Russian missiles and drones were recorded in Kherson, Odesa and Kyiv. The Russian military said air defences shot down at least 91 drones over the Moscow region. At least 337 Ukrainian drones were shot down over 10 Russian regions in total, the majority over Kursk. Flights have been restricted in all four of Moscow's air- ports and two other airports in regions east of Moscow were closed. Traffic was halt- ed through the Domodedovo railway station. Meanwhile, Ukraine's air force posted on Telegram that it shot down an Iskander-M ballistic missile and at least 79 drones in various regions across Ukraine. An apartment block in the Moscow region damaged during the Ukrainian drone attack NATIONALIST Party MEP Pe- ter Agius is organising a confer- ence this Saturday to highlight financing options available for Malta to improve connectivity to Gozo, including through the provisioning of new ferries. He is bringing together stake- holders to clearly lay out how Malta can benefit from EU funds and to explain what other coun- tries are doing. On Tuesday, Agius met Euro- pean Commissioner for Sustain- able Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, to dis- cuss how EU funds can be lever- aged to improve Gozo's connec- tivity and infrastructure. "For Gozitans, connectivity conditions everything else," Agi- us told MaltaToday. "As an MEP, I vouched to bring EU benefits to all corners of Malta and Gozo. This is why I will not rest until I see EU ben- efits deployed to benefit Gozitan connectivity." He said that Gozo's connectiv- ity is not just a national issue but a European challenge. Malta must ensure that Gozo receives its fair share of EU funding to improve transport links and facilitate economic de- velopment, he insisted. "For the last five years we had the short-term half baked solu- tion of the MV Nikolaos," Agius said. "We cannott allow more short-termism for Gozo. We need a longer-term sustainable and efficient solution." Agius said that the European Commission has shown an in- terest in his proposals, and said it is now up to Malta to turn these opportunities into real projects that benefit Gozitans. Agius's meting with Tzitzikos- tas comes ahead of the national conference on Gozo's connec- tivity this Saturday. The conference, titled "Vapuri Ġodda għal Għawdex – X'tis- ta' tagħmel l-Ewropa? X'irridu nagħmlu aħna?", will bring to- gether policymakers, stakehold- ers, and experts to explore solu- tions for improving maritime links between Gozo and Malta, as well as the broader role of EU funding in strengthening the is- land's economic and social de- velopment. It is being held at the Kempin- ski Hotel in San Lawrenz, Gozo, and kicks off at 10am. During his meeting with Com- missioner Tzitzikostas, Agius underlined his commitment to placing Gozo at the top of his agenda, a pledge he made before the June 2024 European elec- tions. He reiterated that ensuring better connectivity for Gozo is crucial for economic growth, tourism, job creation and overall quality of life for Gozitans. Central to the discussions was the report Agius published in November 2024, which identi- fied EU funding opportunities for strengthening connectivity and financing new ferry services for Gozo. The report highlights key EU financial instruments, including the Connecting Europe Facili- ty (CEF) and Cohesion Funds, which could be tapped into for modern, sustainable, and relia- ble ferry transport. Tzitzikostas welcomed Agius' initiative, stressing the Europe- an Commission's commitment to supporting regional connec- tivity and ensuring that island communities like Gozo fully benefit from EU investment mechanisms. He acknowledged the importance of sustainable transport solutions and encour- aged Maltese authorities to take full advantage of available EU programs. Agius also referred to the reg- ulation on the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in mari- time transport, underlining that securing short-term exemptions is not enough; long-term solu- tions must be found to ensure an efficient ferry service operat- ed by clean, sustainable vessels. He said that Gozo deserves a future-proof transport system that is both environmentally friendly and meets the needs of the island's residents and busi- nesses. Agius also referred to the next Multiannual Financial Frame- work (MFF) and the need to en- sure that the next EU budget pri- oritises connectivity for Gozo. He called on the governent to take an active role in securing EU funding for long-term in- vestments in Gozo's transport infrastructure to guarantee reli- able and sustainable links for the island. INTERVIEW WITH PETER AGIUS PAGE 7 MEP Peter Agius discusses EU support for Gozo's connectivity with European Commissioner PN MEP Peter Agius (left) with European Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas Ukrainian forces launched what has been desrcribed as the largest drone attack on Moscow as officials head to Saudi Arabia for peace talks with their US counterparts