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Russian anti-Putin paramilitaries in Ukraine claimed responsibility for a cross-border attack on Sunday. Russia’s Freedom Legion said it carried out a cross-border raid a few kilometers from Russia’s Belgorod region.
The group, considered terrorist in Russia, said it had destroyed a stronghold of a platoon of Russian troops near the village of Trebreno, without specifying whether it had destroyed infrastructure or killed soldiers, and said it had left mines behind.
Their claims simply cannot be independently verified. The organization claims to have been formed in the spring of 2022 to fight Putin’s forces within the ranks of Ukraine’s armed forces.
Earlier, Russia launched an overnight air assault on Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. One civilian has been reported dead in the attack.
Ukrainian air defense systems reportedly destroyed the Iskander ballistic missile and 20 attack drones, with the Air Force reporting that the Iskander missile “did not succeed in its target. “
Russia has fired dozens of drones across Ukraine as its winter campaign of hitting civilian infrastructure looks to be underway.
Anti-Putin paramilitaries ‘destroy’ Russian squad
Hungary blocks £43 billion EU investment for Ukraine hours after Kyiv accession deal
Putin holds first primary press conference since full-scale invasion of Ukraine
Watch Vladimir Putin’s news conference live here with translation
Putin admits Russian advances are “modest”
Putin says Ukraine’s counteroffensive has been a failure
03:04 , Maira Buttocks
Russia announced on Sunday that it would increase its cut in oil exports in December, potentially to 50,000 barrels per day or more, earlier than promised, as the world’s biggest exporters try to prop up the global price of oil.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, Putin’s most sensible oil and fuel official, was quoted by Russia’s three main news agencies as saying Russia would deepen cuts beyond 300,000 barrels consistent with the day already agreed for this year.
“Already in December we will add additional volumes,” Novak was quoted as saying by Interfax news agency. “By how much, we’ll see based on the results of December – there may be an additional 50,000 bpd, maybe more.”
02:05 , Maira at her best
President Vladimir Putin gave an address at the 21st congress of the United Russia political party. It is the largest party in the Russian Federation holding 325 out of 450 seats in the State Duma.
He said: “Together we have succeeded and we still have a lot to do together in the interest of Russia.
“Today, everyone bears an enormous responsibility. We have, without exaggeration, historic challenges facing us. Their magnitude requires joint efforts and cohesion of all patriotic forces.
“For United Russia and our supporters, who constitute the whole of our multi-ethnic society, all regions, all social strata and strata, this means, above all, being in a position to work hard, in a position to advance and achieve more: to protect, together with the rest of the people of Russia, the sovereignty, freedom and security of the country, Everything we hold dear: our history, our culture, our values and our traditions.
“It also involves strengthening the economy, the social sphere, the scientific and technological potential in the interests of people and for the well-being of millions of Russian families. And, of course, it means working towards consolidation of society.”
01:02 , Maira at full throttle
Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office said the civilian killed Sunday in the Sumy region was a 69-year-old woman.
In a message on the Telegram messaging app, they said:
“According to the investigation, on December 17, 2023, at around 12:50 p. m. , the enemy, according to initial data from a self-propelled artillery installation, fired on the civilian infrastructure of Krasnopill city in the Sumy region.
“A projectile fired by its occupants hit a house and the 69-year-old owner was killed. Homes and cars were also damaged.
They added that an investigation into violations of the laws of war had been opened:
“Under the procedural direction of the Sumy Regional Prosecutor’s Office, an initial investigation has been opened into the fact of violation of the customs and customs of war, combined with intentional homicide (Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). “
00:03 , Maira at full throttle
Sunday, December 17, 2023 11:10 PM , Matt Mathers
Russia’s Freedom Legion, a Ukrainian paramilitary organization in Ukraine and opposed to President Vladimir Putin, claimed responsibility Sunday for a cross-border attack just a few miles from Russia’s Belgorod region.
The group, considered terrorist in Russia, said it had destroyed a stronghold of a platoon of Russian troops near the village of Trebreno, without specifying whether it had destroyed infrastructure or killed soldiers, and claimed it had left mines.
Reuters could not verify the claims of the group, which says it was formed in spring 2022 to fight Putin’s forces from within the ranks of the armed forces of Ukraine, which has in the past denied involvement in attacks in Belgorod by Freedom of Russia Legion and another Russian anti-Putin group.
Earlier on Sunday, Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the Belgorod region, which has come under common attack by Ukrainian forces, said Trebreno was under fire from the Armed Forces of Ukraine and that a “firefight” was taking place on the outskirts of the village.
He said no civilians had been injured but three houses and power lines were damaged. On Saturday he posted on the Telegram messaging app that 19 villages or farms had come under attack from Ukrainian shelling or from explosive devices dropped by drones.
Sunday 17 December 2023 23:00 , Maira Butt
On Sunday, relatives and friends of Ukrainian military prisoners of war held placards during a rally calling for their quick exchange with Russian prisoners of war.
The captives were detained following the defense of Mariupol and were dubbed “Azovstal defenders”.
The protest took place in Kyiv’s Hagia Sophia Square.
Sunday, 17 December 2023 22:04 , Maira Butt
Yuras Karmanau reports:
“All political prisoners with yellow tags are subjected to more riots and humiliations every day,” Sudalenka said. “Methods of intimidation can range from disciplinary motives to total isolation of information, refusal to meet with a lawyer and refusal to receive medical care and medication. »
About a third of the 1,000 detainees at Vitba-3 are political prisoners, he said, noting that their numbers “increased especially after the start of the war in Ukraine,” when detentions against Belarusians opposing the Russian invasion intensified.
Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, whose husband is serving a 19-and-a-half-year criminal sentence, met this month with State Department officials and lawmakers, and a Belarusian-American task force against political criminals was formed.
“We are in a position to communicate about the policy change, the easing of sanctions, and our appointments once the regime releases all its political prisoners, ends its repression against the Belarusian people, and ends its complicity in Russia’s war against Ukraine,” the state said. Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.
Belarusian political prisoners face abuse, lack of care and isolation, says former detainee
Sunday, 17 December 2023 20:58 , Maira Butt
Ukraine’s President Zelensky took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to say it had been an “important week” for the country.
He shared footage of visits to Cape Verde, Argentina to attend the inauguration of their new president, to the US to meet with President Biden and to Norway and Germany to meet state leaders.
He said: “It was a critical week. Supporting Ukraine means protecting the rules-based foreign order. I am grateful to all the leaders and countries who are helping us save lives. I thank you for your criticism in our defense.
It was a critical week. Supporting Ukraine means protecting the rules-based external order. I am grateful to all the leaders and countries who help us save lives. I thank you for your criticism of our defensa. pic. twitter. com/CYRcRDpaQb
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 17, 2023
Sunday, 17 December 2023 19:51 , Maira Butt
As the second anniversary of the war in Ukraine approaches, Vladimir Putin is convinced that the cards are in his favor. However, according to Russian expert Mark Galeotti, there is a mistake in their game plan, and it may simply prove fatal.
Mark Galeotti reports:
Last week, Vladimir Putin held his marathon annual press conference and public meeting, and he left no hint of concessions in his strategy to war. After all, you might well feel that after a disastrous 2022, the following year was more successful than expected, allowing you to bet that 2024 would be the year you could achieve some sort of victory over the government’s catastrophic initial mistakes. invasion.
How to Read Putin’s Impassive Face as He Gambles on Victory in 2024
Sunday, December 17, 2023 6:57 PM , Maira Butt
Vasilisa Stepanenko reports:
When Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sparked a war in Moscow, a young Russian man who is now going through the Karabas call was plunged into despair. Shocked by photographs of what was happening to Ukrainians in Russian-occupied areas, he refused to act. to Russia, opposed to his country, and opposed to his country.
Today, he is part of the Siberian Battalion, a unit made up of Russians who joined the ranks of the Ukrainian army to fight against their homeland, hoping to one day overthrow Russian President Vladimir Putin. Its members are usually from ethnic minorities in Russia. Far East.
“I was disappointed in my own people,” said Karabas, who, like other fighters in the battalion, spoke to The Associated Press on the condition that only his army call signal be used.
Read the full story here.
Sunday December 17, 2023 18:06, Maira Butt
Delegates from Russia’s ruling party unanimously endorsed President Vladimir Putin’s bid for re-election at a convention in Moscow, state news agencies reported.
The move comes a day after supporters of the Kremlin leader officially nominated him as an independent candidate for the 2024 presidential election.
A little-known Russian presidential hopeful calling for peace in Ukraine has also officially registered as a candidate, earning a nomination from an organization of more than 500 supporters in the Russian capital.
Dmitry Medvedev, president of United Russia and former Russian president and prime minister, called on other party members to “mobilize all activists and activists” in Medvedev. Putin ahead of the vote, scheduled for March 15-17, according to data provided through the Russian state. Agencies.
In a speech at the conference, Medvedev called Putin “our candidate” and said his re-election for a fifth term as head of state “should be logical, valid and indisputable. “
Sunday, December 17, 2023 5:22 PM , Maira Butt
Karl Ritter reports:
A civilian was killed overnight near Odesa, a key port on Ukraine’s southern Black Sea coast, after debris from a destroyed drone fell on his home, the Ukrainian military said.
The escalation of drone strikes over the past month comes as both sides must prove they are not at a stalemate as the war nears its two-year mark. Russia’s Defense Ministry said later Friday that its anti-aircraft teams had destroyed 32 Ukrainian drones. on the Crimean peninsula, annexed by Moscow from Ukraine in 2014. Ukraine’s air force said on Saturday it had shot down 30 of the 31 drones smuggled through Russia off 11 Ukrainian regions the night before.
Neither side has gained much ground despite a Ukrainian counteroffensive that began in June.
Read the full article below.
Drones target Putin’s air base and Black Sea coast
Sunday, December 17, 2023 4:30 PM, Maira Butt
Russia has no interest in extending the Black Sea grain deal, the RIA news agency reported on Sunday, quoting Russia’s agriculture minister Dmitry Patrushev.
He added that this is largely a political decision, but that Russia will continue to export its grain, as will its buyers.
“Our grain export volumes, taking into account the finalization of the grain agreement, have not decreased in any case, even increased slightly,” Patrushev quoted RIA as saying.
Russia withdrew in July from the deal that allowed Ukraine to safely export grain from its Black Sea ports.
Sunday, 17 December 2023 15:45, Maira Butt
Russia and Ukraine introduced more than a dozen drones into each other’s territories on Sunday for the second day in a row, one of which targeted a Russian army airport, while a Ukrainian civilian was killed after debris from the drone slammed into his home near the Black Sea.
At least 35 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight over three regions in southwestern Russia, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a post on the messaging app Telegram.
Also on Sunday morning, the Ukrainian Air Force said it had shot down 20 Iranian-made Shahed drones introduced overnight by Russian troops into southern and western Ukraine, as well as an X-59 cruise missile introduced from the country’s occupied south.
Sunday 17 December 2023 15h00 , Maira Butt
Sunday, December 17, 2023 2:15 PM , Maira Butt
Putin claimed that there would be “problems” with Finland after NATO.
In an interview published Sunday on state television Rossiya, he said Finland’s accession to NATO in April would force Russia to “concentrate some army units” in northern Russia, near its border.
However, earlier in the interview he stated that he did not have any disputes with Nato, calling US President Biden’s claims he would attack “complete nonsense”.
Sunday, December 17, 2023 1:31 PM , Maira Butt
Poland’s new Prime Minister Donald Tusk will meet with Baltic leaders on Sunday to discuss the war in Ukraine and border security.
However, the assembly has been cancelled because the Estonian prime minister was tested for Covid.
Prime Minister Tusk had promised in the past the West’s “full mobilization” of Ukraine.
Sunday, 17 December 2023 12:45 PM , Maira Butt
As Russian forces advance toward the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka, The Associated Press received aerial images that give an indication of their staggering losses.
A Ukrainian military drone unit near Stepove, a village just north of Avdiivka, where some of the most intense battles have taken place, shot the video this month.
“It’s an apocalyptic scene: In two separate clips, the bodies of about 150 infantrymen, most dressed in Russian uniforms, lie strewn among the trees where they sought shelter. The village itself was reduced to rubble. The rows of trees separating the agricultural fields were burned and defaced.
“The fields are pocked by artillery shells and grenades dropped from drones. The drone unit said it’s possible that some of the dead were Ukrainians. The footage was provided to the AP by Ukraine‘s BUAR unit of the 110th Mechanized Brigade, involved in the fighting in the area.
The unit said footage filmed on Dec. 6 over two separate tree lines between Stepove and the nearby railway line and that many bodies had been dumped there for weeks.
The AP verified the location by comparing the video with maps and other drone footage of the same firing six days later via the 47th Mechanized Brigade.
Russian forces introduced an offensive in Avdiivka in October. Although they have made some incremental progress, Western analysts say the surge has claimed thousands of lives.
Sunday, December 17, 2023 12:05 PM , Maira Butt
Arpan Rai reports:
A Ukrainian truck driver has been killed at the border with Poland, the third such incident in a month since Polish truckers began blocking access to their country. The protests sparked by Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The driver fell ill at the Krakivets-Korczowa crossing, one of the four border points between Ukraine and Poland, and died while being rushed to the hospital, said Suspilne, a Ukrainian public broadcaster, on Saturday.
Vans and trucks bound for Ukraine have been stuck in a queue of several kilometers at the border with Poland for weeks. Polish protesters said their livelihoods were at stake after the European Union relaxed some transport rules.
At least two truck drivers were killed last month by the blockade, which is also hampering the delivery of parts to build drones for the Ukrainian military.
Ukrainian charities and corporations supplying the war-torn country’s military warn that unrest is worsening as Polish truckers show no signs of a lack of capacity to end the month-long border blockade.
Sunday, December 17, 2023 11:05 AM , Maira Butt
Russian President Vladimir Putin responded to Joe Biden’s claims that for Russia this could simply mean an attack on NATO.
Earlier this month, Biden warned that if Putin wins over Ukraine, Russia will attack a NATO country. Biden provided transparent evidence of his comments.
“It’s absolutely absurd, and I think President Biden understands that,” Putin said in an interview published Sunday on state television Rossiya, saying it’s an attempt through Biden to justify his “erroneous policy” toward Russia.
“Russia has no reason, neither geopolitical, economic, political nor military, to fight with NATO countries. “
Sunday, December 17, 2023 10:30 AM , Maira Butt
Vladimir Putin has vowed to run as an independent candidate in next year’s heavily orchestrated presidential election, a deceptively democratic procedure that will allow him to maintain his grip on Russia’s leadership.
Putin has been at the center of strength in the Kremlin — either as president or prime minister — for more than two decades, and that time he defended his ruling United Russia (UR) party.
The 71-year-old politician had the statutes amended twice so that, in theory, he can remain in force until he is 85.
Putin’s resolve to present himself as “independent” is most likely an attempt to present himself as a unifying force at a time when his full-scale invasion of Ukraine has cut Russia off from the world and placed unprecedented pressure on the country’s economy.
Putin Will Run as an “Independent Candidate” in the Presidential Election: What It Means
Sunday, December 17, 2023 10:00 AM , Maira Butt
Russia’s air defence systems destroyed 33 Ukraine-launched drones over several Russian regions, the Russian defence ministry said on Sunday.
The drones were intercepted or destroyed before they reached their targets over the Lipetsk, Rostov and Volgograd regions, the ministry said on the Telegram messaging app, but further details were not provided.
Sunday December 17, 2023 09:26, Maira Butt
Debris from a downed drone killed a civilian in the Odesa region, the governor of the southern Ukrainian region said on Sunday, after Ukraine‘s air force said it had destroyed 20 drones that Russia launched overnight.
Air defense systems destroyed Iranian-made attack drones over Odesa, Gov. Oleh Kiper said on the Telegram messaging app, calling it Russia’s third airstrike in the region in the past week.
“However, one of the downed drones fell in a residential area of the Odesa district and exploded,” Kiper said, adding that several houses were vandalized and a user was found dead in one of them.
The Air Force said its defense systems destroyed a cruise missile in addition to the drones. He said, without offering details, that Russia also introduced an Iskander ballistic missile that “hit” its target.
Russian air cannons were destroyed in the Odesa, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Khmelnitskyi regions, the Air Force said.
Reuters could not independently determine this information. It is unclear how many drones Russia has introduced in total.
Sunday 17 December 2023 09:05 , Maira Butt
Russia launched an overnight airstrike on Ukraine with an Iskander ballistic missile, a cruise missile and attack drones, the Ukrainian Air Force announced on Sunday.
Ukrainian air defense destroyed the cruise missile and 20 attack drones, the Air Force said on the Telegram messaging app.
The Iskander missile “hit its target,” he said, without offering additional details.
It is unclear how many drones Russia has brought in total, or whether the attack caused injuries or casualties.
Reuters may simply determine this information independently.
Sunday, 17 December 2023 08:12 , Maira Butt
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday that President Joe Biden’s claim that Russia would attack a NATO country if it won in Ukraine was “completely absurd. “
He added that Russia had nothing to do with the fighting in the NATO military alliance.
Sunday 17 December 2023 06:00 , Matt Mathers
Hundreds of protesters, angered by what they see as a waste of spending by city officials, rallied outside Kyiv’s city hall on Thursday and demanded that the money go to Ukraine’s war against Russia and not to local projects.
The civic organization Money for the AFU (Armed Forces of Ukraine), which organized the protest, took shape in September through other people involved over what they call “unnecessary” and “untimely” spending through the Kyiv city hall.
Full Report:
Kyiv Protesters Call for More Spending on Ukraine’s War Effort, Less on Projects
Sunday 17 December 2023 05:00 , Matt Mathers
The appearance of an AI-generated Vladimir Putin in a verbal exchange with the real one was not even the most unexpected moment of the Russian leader’s state of the country address, writes Chris Stevenson.
In Putin’s bizarre TV address, the devil was in all the detail that he let slip
Sunday 17 December 2023 04:00 , Matt Mathers
Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy has claimed that Ukrainians in the eastern part of the country do not mind Russian occupation.
The biotech CEO told a CNN town hall in Iowa that he would give Russia some concessions to end its unprovoked attack on Ukraine.
Full report:
Ramaswamy says eastern Ukrainians don’t care about Russian occupation
Sunday, 17 December 2023 03:00 , Matt Mathers
Ukraine received the green light on Thursday to begin fast-track negotiations to join the European Union. It is a great encouragement for war-torn Ukraine and a strong message for Vladimir Putin; However, it may only be years before the country becomes a member of the EU.
Here’s a look at what Thursday’s resolution means and why the EU club is important and difficult for Ukraine.
Ukraine’s a step closer to joining the EU. Here’s what it means, and why it matters
Sunday, 17 December 2023 02:00, Matt Mathers
The White House has been increasingly pressuring Congress to pass stalled legislation to support Ukraine‘s war against Russia, saying that funding has run out.
On Tuesday, however, President Joe Biden touted a new $200 million military package for Ukraine.
Full story:
How the U. S. Continues to Fund the Ukrainian Military, Even Though It Claims It’s Run Out of Money
Sunday December 17, 2023 01:00, Matt Mathers
A former top officer with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has been sentenced to over four years in prison for working for a Russian oligarch, violating US-imposed sanctions.
Charles McGonigal, 55, was sentenced by the Manhattan Federal Court to four years and two months in prison after he pleaded guilty in August to one count of conspiring to launder money.
Full Report:
Former FBI agent gets over four years in prison for aiding Russian oligarch
Sunday, 17 December 2023 00:01 , Matt Mathers
The European Union will by year’s end transfer to Poland the first 5 billion euros in funding that was frozen over democratic backsliding under the previous government, the new Polish prime minister and the European Commission president said Friday.
The money is part of a larger tranche that was blocked due to legislation passed by the previous conservative national government that eroded the independence of judges, anything the EU deemed a violation of the democratic separation of powers.
Full Report:
EU releasing 5 billion euros to Poland by year’s end as new government works to restore rule of law
Saturday, December 16, 2023, 11:00 p. m. , Matt Mathers
Slowly, Ukraine is receiving aid and weapons from its European allies, at a time when it is becoming increasingly clear that it would need an avalanche to oppose its war against Russia.
On Friday, EU leaders sought to paper over their inability to boost Ukraine’s coffers with a promised 50 billion euros ($54.5 billion) over the next four years, saying the check will likely arrive next month after some more haggling between 26 leaders and the longtime holdout, Viktor Orban of Hungary.
EU aid trickle frustrates Ukraine, despite promises in accession talks
Saturday, December 16, 2023 10:00 PM, Matt Mathers
Russia and Ukraine have reported dozens of attempted drone strikes in the past day, just hours after Hungary vetoed 50 billion euros ($54. 5 billion) in EU investments for Ukraine.
Ukraine’s air force said Saturday that Ukrainian air defense had shot down 30 out of 31 drones launched overnight against 11 regions of the country.
Full report:
Saturday, December 16, 2023 9:00 PM, Matt Mathers
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s solo project to block critical EU funds, combined with a deadlock in the US Congress, leaves Ukraine facing a big problem, writes Askold Krushelnycky
Read the full story here:
Kiev wins EU club, but Western aid remains
Saturday, December 16, 2023 8:00 p. m. , Matt Mathers
A village council member in western Ukraine detonated three hand grenades during an assembly on Friday, seriously injuring him and at least two dozen others, the government said.
A video posted on social media shows a man entering a room where the Keretsky village council meets to speak and approve the community’s budget.
Full report:
Village council member in Ukraine sets off hand grenades during a meeting and injures 26
Saturday 16 December 2023 19:00 , Tom Watling
Sadiq Khan has rejected a call to send cars to Ukraine that will be scrapped from his questionable Ulez project, according to reports.
The mayor of Kyiv had called for the cars to be sent to his war-torn country, where he said they could be used for “various rescue and dispatch functions. “
But Mr Khan has said the proposal would not meet a “legal threshold” that requires that Londoners benefit, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Sadiq Khan rejects call to send scrapped Ulez cars to Ukraine
Saturday, December 16, 2023 6:00 PM, Tom Watling
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s individual project to block critical EU funds, combined with a stalemate in the US Congress, leaves Ukraine facing a big problem, writes Askold Krushelnycky
Kiev’s victory over the EU club, but Western aid remains
Saturday December 2023 17h00Array Tom Watling
A village council member in western Ukraine detonated three hand grenades during a meeting Friday, critically injuring himself and at least two dozen other people, authorities said.
A video posted on social media showed a man entering a room where the village council of Keretsky was meeting to discuss and approve the community’s budget.
The man, who was preliminary identified as Serhii Batryn, a council member who belongs to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Servant of the People party, took three grenades from his pockets, removed the pins and threw the weapons on the floor in front of him.
In Ukraine, a village council member throws hand grenades, injuring 26 people
Saturday 16 December 2023 16:30 , Tom Watling
The Ukrainian government has placed on its wanted list the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, a pro-Kremlin figure who supported Vladimir Putin’s invasion of the country.
Patriarch Kirill is now “an individual hiding from the initial investigation bodies,” according to an article on the wanted list of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs. Security in Kyiv accused him of stoking the war.
Kirill, photographed in his own clothes, has been listed as “missing” since Nov. 11 on the ministry’s website.
Ukraine puts head of Russia’s Orthodox church on ‘wanted’ list
Saturday 16 December 2023 16:00 , Tom Watling
The White House is increasingly pressuring Congress to pass blocked legislation for Ukraine’s war against Russia, saying the budget has run out.
On Tuesday, however, President Joe Biden touted a new military aid package worth $200 million for Ukraine.
Money is dwindling. But the announcement of the shipment of new weapons to Kyiv underscores the complexity of the financing. So, has the money run out, or is there still a few billion dollars in circulation?
It’s complicated.
How the US keeps funding Ukraine’s military — even as it says it’s out of money
Saturday, December 2023 15:20Array Tom Watling
Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria plan to sign an agreement in January on a joint plan to remove floating mines in the Black Sea due to the war in Ukraine, Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler said on Saturday after months of negotiations between NATO allies.
The Black Sea states of Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria met with officials from Georgia, Poland and Ukraine in April 2022 to discuss demining after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Defence ministers from the three countries also held talks on the plan at a NATO meeting in Brussels in October, and in Ankara last month as they worked to finalise the initiative.
Speaking to reporters at a meeting in Ankara, Guler said the “Trilateral Initiative” would come for now with Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria, and that his defense ministers planned to hold a signing rite in Istanbul on Jan. 11.
“Due to the war between Ukraine and Russia, mines are being laid in Ukrainian and Russian ports. These rarely reach the bottom of our straits and reach them because of the current,” Guler told reporters.
“Our demining vessels will carry out constant patrols until the end of Romania’s (maritime) borders,” he added.
Saturday, December 2023 14:45Array Tom Watling
The footage showed Russian air defenses attempting to intercept part of a dozen Ukrainian drones fired at occupied Crimea overnight.
The Russian Defense Ministry showed the attack this morning on Telegram.
Ukraine launches drone attack on several sites in occupied Crimea Sites in Sevastopol, western, northern and central Crimea, in addition to a military airfield near Sevastopol, were attacked in the nochehttps://t. co/9XBLNXgoEU ? Air defense near Chornomorske, WCrimea/ Krymskyi Veter pic. twitter. com/REmgjHG5BY
– Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) December 2023
Saturday, December 2023 14:15Array Tom Watling
Hungary will veto Bulgaria’s access to the Schengen zone with an EU passport unless it scraps a transit tax on Russian gas, the Hungarian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.
The veto risk follows Thursday’s agreement among the 27 members of the European Union, excluding Hungary, to start accession negotiations with Ukraine despite its invasion through Russia, sidestepping Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s complaints by forcing him to leave the room.
Orban’s resistance in Brussels has earned him some advantages in Moscow, with whom his nationalist government has maintained normal contact even during the war in Ukraine and which still supplies most of its fuel to landlocked Hungary.
Citing Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, the ministry said Hungary had made it clear to Bulgaria that it would veto its accession if the tax on Hungary’s main fuel import remained in place.
“We have made it clear to the Bulgarians that if they maintain this position for a long time, if they jeopardize the security of Hungary’s energy source for a long time, then we will veto their access to the Schengen area,” Szijjarto said.
He said Hungary would lift its veto as soon as the transit tax is repealed.
While Western European countries have done their best to wean themselves off Russian fuel, Hungary receives 4. 5 billion cubic meters of fuel a year from Russia under an agreement signed in 2021, basically Bulgaria and Serbia.
Szijjarto said Bulgaria’s decision, which he said went against EU regulations, threatened the safety of the source only in Hungary, but also in Serbia and North Macedonia.
Saturday, December 2023 1:45PM Array Tom Watling
A former top Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) official has been sentenced to more than four years in prison for running for a Russian oligarch, violating sanctions imposed by the United States.
Charles McGonigal, 55, was sentenced in Manhattan federal court to four years and two months in prison after pleading guilty in August to one count of conspiracy to launder money.
Judge Jennifer H. Rearden said McGonigal undermined national security by ignoring sanctions imposed on Russia to put economic pressure on Moscow in its war against Ukraine.
Former FBI Agent Gets More Than Four Years in Prison for Aiding Russian Oligarch
Saturday, December 2023 13:15Array Tom Watling
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has blocked a very large EU monetary aid package worth 50 billion euros (£43 billion) for Ukraine, casting doubt on Europe’s continuity with Kyiv, which is facing a complicated winter from Russian forces.
Hours earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had welcomed the EU’s agreement on opening accession negotiations, an agreement that was reached after Orban agreed to leave the room as the other 26 countries voted.
However, Orban told Hungarian state television on Friday that he could still block the years-long admission procedure for the Kiev bloc if he believes it harms Budapest’s interests.
Battle to send £43 billion from EU to Ukraine after Hungary’s Orban blocked it
Saturday December 2023 12:45 pmArray Tom Watling
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s solo project to block critical EU funds, combined with a deadlock in the US Congress, leaves Ukraine facing a big problem, writes Askold Krushelnycky.
A victory for Kyiv on EU membership – but the headache over Western aid remains
Saturday, December 2023 12:15Array Tom Watling
The Ukrainian government has placed on its wanted list the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, a pro-Kremlin figure who supported Vladimir Putin’s invasion of the country.
Patriarch Kirill is now “an individual hiding from the initial investigation bodies,” according to an article on the wanted list of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs. Security in Kyiv accused him of stoking the war.
Kirill, photographed in his own clothes, has been listed as “missing” since Nov. 11 on the ministry’s website.
Ukraine includes the head of the Russian Orthodox Church on the “wanted” list
Saturday 16 December 2023 11:45 , Tom Watling
Russia and Ukraine have reported dozens of attempted drone strikes in the past day, just hours after Hungary vetoed 50 billion euros ($54. 5 billion) in EU investments for Ukraine.
Ukraine’s air force said Saturday that Ukrainian air defense had shot down 30 out of 31 drones launched overnight against 11 regions of the country.
Russia claimed late Friday to have thwarted a series of Ukrainian drone strikes.
Russian and Ukrainian drone strikes after EU investment halted
Saturday, December 2023 6:49 PM Array Matt Mathers
The Ukrainian government has placed on its wanted list the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, a pro-Kremlin figure who supported Vladimir Putin’s invasion of the country.
Patriarch Kirill is now “an individual hiding from the initial investigation bodies,” according to an article on the wanted list of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs. Security in Kyiv accused him of stoking the war.
Full Report:
Ukraine includes the head of the Russian Orthodox Church on the “wanted” list
Saturday 16 December 2023 10:58 , Tom Watling
Sadiq Khan has rejected a call to send cars to Ukraine that will be scrapped from his questionable Ulez project, according to reports.
The mayor of Kyiv had urged the vehicles be transported to his war-torn country, where he said they could be used for a “variety of life-saving and transport roles”.
But Mr Khan has said the proposal would not meet a “legal threshold” that requires that Londoners benefit, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Saturday December 2023 10. 30 amArray Tom Watling
Vladimir Putin will run for president again as an independent candidate with a wide support base but not on a party ticket, the state-backed RIA news agency cited two senior pro-Kremlin lawmakers as saying on Saturday.
Putin, who has served as president or prime minister for more than two decades, has announced that he will seek a six-year term in March next year, in an election he is sure to win.
He will not run as a candidate of the ruling United Russia (UR) party, although he has its full support, but as an independent candidate, Andrei Turchak, a senior official of the UR party, was quoted as saying by RIA.
Sergei Mironov, a senior politician from the Just Russia party who supports Putin, was also quoted by RIA as saying Putin would run as an independent and that signatures would be gathered in his support.
For Putin, 71, the election is a formality: With the confidence of the state, state media and almost no dissent in public opinion, he is sure to win.
Saturday 16 December 2023 10:00 , Tom Watling
Ukraine fired six drones at Russian positions in occupied Crimea overnight, the Kremlin said.
A statement from the Russian Ministry of Defence claimed they had destroyed all the drones fired by Ukraine.
“An attempt by the Kiev regime to carry out a terrorist attack using a drone against elements in Crimea has been stopped,” they said.
“Six Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed thanks to in-service air defense systems. “
These claims could not be verified.
Saturday, December 2023 09:30Array Tom Watling
Europe will have to try to better protect itself as new military threats may emerge towards the end of the decade, even as the attention of the United States, its security ally, turns to the Indo-Pacific, the German defense minister has said. .
Russia is especially expanding its arms production for its invasion of Ukraine, while threatening the Baltic states, Georgia and Moldova, Boris Pistorius said in an interview with Welt am Sonntag.
Meanwhile the United States will likely reduce its military engagement in Europe as it turns more towards the Indo-Pacfic.
“We Europeans want to do more for security on our own continent,” Pistorius said, stressing, however, that it would take time for the region to increase its own weapons production.
“We have five to eight years to catch up, in terms of the military and society,” he said.
Europe is aware that it may also have to compensate for U. S. aid to Ukraine if Washington fails to reach an agreement on new funding, he added.
Saturday, December 2023 09:00Array Tom Watling
When Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sparked a war in Moscow, a young Russian man who is now going through the Karabas call was plunged into despair. Shocked by photographs of what was happening to Ukrainians in Russian-occupied areas, he refused to act. to Russia, opposed to his country, and opposed to his country.
Karabas said he knew that what he was doing was drastic. He packed his bags and decided to find a way to get to Ukraine to join the ranks of Kyiv’s troops fighting Russian forces.
It took him almost a year to achieve this.
The Siberian Battalion: Meet Russian Citizens Fighting Putin
Saturday, December 2023 08:35Array Tom Watling
Ukrainian cellular and air defense teams of drones shot down 30 of 31 Russian drones in 11 regions of the country on Saturday, the Air Force said.
A series of explosions echoed across Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, as air defense teams attacked Russian drones shortly after local time.
“This is the sixth airstrike on Kyiv since the beginning of the month,” said Serhiy Popko, head of the city’s military administration.
“This afternoon, after three days of ballistic threats, the enemy reintroduced the Shaheds into the capital. The drones attacked in groups, in waves and from other directions,” Popko said.
Saturday, December 2023 08:12Array Tom Watling
The Ukrainian government has placed the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, a pro-Kremlin who supported Vladimir Putin’s invasion of the country, on its “wanted” list.
Patriarch Kirill is now “an individual hiding from the initial investigation bodies,” according to an article on the wanted list of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs. Security in Kyiv accused him of stoking the war.
Ukraine puts head of Russian Orthodox Church on wanted list
Saturday 16 December 2023 19:08 , Matt Mathers
A Russian court on Thursday overturned the fine imposed on a veteran human rights defender for speaking out against the war in Ukraine and sent Oleg Orlov’s case back to prosecutors, who asked for a three-year prison sentence.
Orlov, co-chair of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning human rights organization Memorial, was found guilty of publicly “discrediting” the Russian military after posting an article on Facebook denouncing the invasion of Ukraine. He rejected the accusation, calling it politically motivated.
Court overturns conviction of Russian activist for criticizing war, remands case to prosecutors
Saturday, December 2023 07:00Array Sam Rkaina
Saturday, December 2023 06:00Array Chris Stevenson
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has blocked a very important EU monetary aid package worth €50bn (£43bn) for Ukraine, calling into question Europe’s continuity with Kiev, which faces a difficult winter from Russian forces.
Hours earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the EU’s agreement to open accession talks, an agreement that was reached after Orban agreed to leave the other 26 countries in the room. However, Orban told Hungarian state television on Friday that he could still block Kiev’s years-long admission procedure to the bloc if he believes it harms Budapest’s interests.
“If we don’t want Ukraine to be a member of the European Union, then the Hungarian parliament will reject it. And until the factor gets to the parliaments, it’s a very, very long process, and as they and I told it, there are about 75 events where the Hungarian government can impede this process,” Orban said.
Click below for the full story.
War to send £43bn from EU to Ukraine after Hungary’s Orban blocked it
Saturday, December 2023 05:00Array Sam Rkaina
Saturday, December 2023 04:00Array Sam Rkaina
Ukraine’s fate in the war against Russia this week is in the hands of its allies on both sides of the Atlantic, and the result is a symbolic victory and a monumental headache.
Ukraine got a big morale boost when the European Union voted to start accession negotiations with Kiev at a summit in Brussels. It was a slap in the face to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who earlier in the day had tried to rejoice at the fact that Ukraine’s top military and monetary lifeline was fading away in the West.
Brussels’ resolution came after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban walked out of the room taking his objections with him once the deal was closed, after agreeing to do so. That way, you could just say you didn’t participate. At the same time, Moldova was given the green light.
Click below for the full analysis.
Kiev’s victory over the EU club, but Western aid remains
Saturday, December 2023 03:00Array Sam Rkaina
Oleksandr Komarov, Kyivstar’s chief executive, said on Thursday that the company will likely need several weeks to repair everything after the attack.
Tuesday’s attack on Kyivstar, which counts more than half of Ukraine‘s population as mobile subscribers, knocked out services and damaged IT infrastructure and air raid alert systems in several regions. Komarov said customer data was not compromised.
On Wednesday, a group called Solntsepyok, believed by Ukraine‘s security service SBU to be affiliated with Russian military intelligence, said in a post on the Telegram messenger app that it carried out the attack.
Kyivstar’s CEO said hackers used an employee’s compromised account for the attack, but exactly how they got to it is under investigation.
Saturday, 16 December 2023 02:00, Sam Rkaina
Ukraine’s largest cellphone operator, hit by a major cyberattack this week, announced on Friday that it had restored cellphones across Ukraine and foreign roaming.
In a message on Facebook, Kyivstar said it was working on restoring SMS text messages. The network, he said, works with all standards, adding 4G.
“This means that the quality of all communications will soon improve, even if they now operate at reduced speeds,” they say.
“In some locations it is possible that communication difficulties persist in the short term, but our specialists solve them temporarily.
Kyivstar’s Dutch parent company, Veon Ltd. , announced in an earlier statement the resumption of services.
Saturday 16 December 2023 01:00 , Sam Rkaina
Explosions occurred in the Ukrainian capital on Saturday morning as air defenses clashed with Russian drones, HAVE witnesses said.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said anti-aircraft teams went into action as drone teams hovered near the city. No casualties or serious injuries were reported.
The witnesses reported a series of loud blasts just after midnight. They said air raid sirens went off on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River, but on the opposite bank police warned residents of the air raid alert through loudspeakers.
After an initial series of explosions, air defense teams resumed operations on the eastern bank of the Dnieper River. Klitschko said the anti-aircraft activity was aimed at the Darnytskyi district, east of the river.
Saturday, December 2023 00:01Array Sam Rkaina
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday he would continue talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin if it helped create a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia.
Macron and Putin had an ongoing relationship before Russia invaded its neighbor in February 2022. In the weeks leading up to the outbreak of hostilities, Macron’s diplomatic efforts failed to avert war, but he later kept open a line of communication with the Russian president. For months.
Their diplomatic and private ties seriously deteriorated as the war dragged on. Earlier this year, Macron had the option of depriving Macron of the country. Putin was awarded France’s highest medal of honor.
Putin asked Thursday at his end-of-year press conference through a journalist from the French channel TF1 about his prospects on France and Putin.
Mr Putin said: “At some point the French president stopped the relationship with us. We didn’t do it, I didn’t. He did. If there’s interest, we’re ready. If not, we’ll cope.”
Speaking in Brussels at the end of a summit where EU leaders agreed to start accession negotiations with war-torn Ukraine, Dan Sanchez. Macron said he remained open to discussing with Macron. Putin to find a non-violent solution if Russia leader would manage to communicate with him.
“I did not start the war unilaterally, breaking the treaties I had accepted. And it was not France that committed war crimes in northern Ukraine, making talks virtually impossible,” Macron said. Seriously, so I have a very undeniable position. I haven’t replaced my number.
Friday, December 15, 2023 11:05 PM , Sam Rkaina
Ukraine has signed dozens of joint production contracts or generation swaps with Western partners, Kyiv said on Friday, as it works to increase its reliance on materials from the Western military and boost domestic production.
Efforts to increase domestic production are vitally important, as the long-term long-term large-scale military aid from the United States and the European Union looks more dubious and Western reserves are increasingly depleted.
“We have dozens of new contracts between joint production or technology exchange,” Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said in a Facebook post.
He referred to a foreign defense forum held in Kyiv in September with more than 250 Western arms producers, followed by a joint forum between Ukraine and the United States. Defense convention in Washington in December.
“We signed a memorandum with the United States on the joint exchange of technical data,” Umerov said.
Friday 15 December 2023 22:10 , Sam Rkaina
A village council member in western Ukraine detonated three hand grenades during an assembly on Friday, seriously injuring him and at least two dozen others, the government said.
A video posted on social media showed a man entering a room where the village council of Keretsky was meeting to discuss and approve the community’s budget.
The man, formerly known as Serhii Batryn, a councillor for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Servant of the People party, pulled three grenades from his pockets, discarded the pins and threw the weapons on the ground in front of him. .
Police in the Thranscarpathia region said in a statement that another 26 people were injured, six of them seriously. The man who detonated the grenades was seriously injured and medics worked to save his life, police said.
There was no immediate word on a possible motive or if the attack was somehow connected to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Friday, December 15, 2023 9:30 PM , Sam Rkaina
European Union leaders on Friday expressed confidence in their ability to deliver a primary aid package to Ukraine in early 2024, despite a veto by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
All 27 EU states, with the exception of Hungary, agreed on Thursday to start accession talks with Ukraine despite its invasion through Russia, sidestepping Orban’s grievances by making him leave the room.
But they may not triumph over their resistance to renewing the EU budget to channel 50 billion euros ($55 billion) to Kyiv and provide more money for other responsibilities such as migration control.
Kyiv is reliant on foreign aid as Russia’s war in Ukraine continues, and so far U. S. President Joe Biden has failed to secure a $60 billion package for Kyiv through Congress.
EU leaders, who would prefer a deal subsidized by all members but also have a plan B, are expected to revisit the issue at an emergency summit in late January or early February.
“We are working very hard to reach an agreement with all 27 member states,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, adding: “But I think now it’s also about exploring possible opportunities to have a workable solution in case an agreement is reached. “with 27 Member States, so unanimity is not possible.
Friday, 15 December 2023 20:26 , Sam Rkaina
Russian anti-aircraft jets destroyed 26 Ukrainian drones over the Crimean peninsula on Friday, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Telegram.
A ministry official said the interceptions took place between 8:30 p. m. and 10:30 p. m.
More on this as we get it.
Friday, 15 December 2023 19:34 , Sam Rkaina
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Friday his country will have plenty of opportunities in the future to interrupt Ukraine‘s process of joining the European Union, a day after the right-wing leader’s stunning turnaround allowed an EU summit to move forward on bringing the war-torn country into the bloc.
In an interview with Hungarian state radio on Friday, Orban said EU leaders had told him he would “lose nothing” by abandoning his veto, as in the long term he would have the option to block the Ukrainian club if he wished, something he promised to do. If Hungary’s interests appeared to be in danger.
“Their decisive argument is that Hungary wastes nothing, given that the final word on Ukraine’s accession had to be given through the national parliaments, 27 parliaments, adding Hungarian,” Orban said.
“I have made it clear that we will not doubt for a moment whether the monetary and economic consequences of this bad resolution will be paid through the Hungarians. Those who made this decision should be the ones who pay,” he said. “If necessary, we will brake hard. “
Friday, 15 December 2023 18:15 , Alexander Butler
The Ministry of Defence released its latest update on the scenario in Ukraine and said it was highly unlikely that Russian forces would make a breakthrough.
On Day X, the Defense Ministry said heavy fighting continued around Marinka, and that Russian forces would “likely occupy a very small portion of territory controlled across Ukraine. “
He added that despite “gradual advances,” it is “highly unlikely” that Moscow’s forces will make a significant breakthrough in this area.
The illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is continuing.The map below is the latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 15 December 2023. Find out more about Defence Intelligence’s use of language: https://t.co/4BQbwiyDJ8 #StandWithUkraine ?? pic.twitter.com/Xm32sIUJYv
– Ministry of Defense ?? (@DefenceHQ) December 15, 2023
Friday, 15 December 2023 17:15 , Alexander Butler
Pope Francis has denounced the deaths of thousands of young people due to waves of violence in the Gaza Strip, Ukraine and Yemen.
The head of the Catholic Church condemned a “whirlwind of violence” that has led to “more than 500” children’s deaths in Ukraine.
Francis said: “His reminiscence leads us to be beacons to the world ourselves, to touch the hearts of many people, especially those who can prevent the whirlwind of violence. »
Friday 15 December 2023 16:15 , Alexander Butler
Friday, 15 December 2023 15:15 , Alexander Butler
The Kremlin has welcomed Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban’s veto of £43 billion worth of EU investments for Ukraine.
“Hungary, like many European countries, firmly defends its interests, which impresses us,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
This comes after Hungary blocked large EU aid to Ukraine just hours after a deal was reached to start Kyiv’s accession negotiations to the bloc.
Leaders of 26 EU countries approved the plan, which would include Kyiv’s budget between 2024 and 2027, but Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban opposed the decision, which requires unanimous approval from all 27 EU member states.
Friday, 15 December 2023 14:15 , Alexander Butler
Joe Biden and Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday discussed Sweden’s application to join the NATO alliance.
The White House said Presidents Biden and Erdogan discussed “the importance of welcoming Sweden as a best friend as soon as imaginable and further strengthening” Turkey’s “interoperability” with NATO.
Mr Erdogan’s senior foreign policy adviser, said that there were still some issues that need to be “ironed out” for Sweden’s bid to be ratified by the Turkish parliament.
He said the ideal scenario would be for Washington to continue selling the F-16 jets that Turkey has asked to buy.
Friday, 15 December 2023 13:20 , Alexander Butler
A Ukrainian adviser detonated two grenades at a village assembly, wounding up to 26 people, police said.
A man filmed his situation near a door and pulling grenades out of his jacket before throwing them on the ground in Transcarpathia, Ukraine.
Several explosions followed, leaving the room filled with smoke and bodies on the floor. It is not clear why he carried out the attack.
Friday, 15 December 2023 13:15 , Alexander Butler
Russia said the EU’s resolve to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova was politicized and could simply destabilise the bloc.
“Negotiations to form an EU club may last for years or even decades,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
“The EU has always had strict criteria for accession and it is obvious that at the moment neither Ukraine nor Moldova meets these criteria.
“It is clear that this is an absolutely politicised decision, the EU’s desire to demonstrate support for these countries.
“But these new members can destabilise the EU and, as we live on the same continent as the EU, we will of course follow it closely. “
Friday, 15 December 2023 12:16 , Alexander Butler
Vladimir Putin’s forces are Ukrainian prisoners of war who serve as human shields to advance on enemy positions, according to a U. S. think tank.
The Institute for the Study of War said the footage showed Russian infantrymen hiding Ukrainian prisoners of war as they made their way toward Ukrainian positions near Robotyne.
The prisoners in the video appear unarmed, while Russian infantrymen force them forward at gunpoint, according to ISW.
Friday, December 15, 2023 12:00 PM, Alexander Butler
The EU’s resolve to open accession negotiations for Ukraine and Moldova is a “powerful affirmation” of their respective “European futures” and a “historic moment” for Europe, the State Department spokesperson said.
“We welcome the European Council vote on EU enlargement and congratulate Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina on a historic step toward their EU aspirations. T
“The U. S. strongly supports enlargement and potential EU membership applicants,” Miller said on X.
We welcome the European Council’s vote on EU enlargement and congratulate Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and Bosnia and Herzegovina on this historic step towards their European aspirations. The United States strongly supports enlargement and potential EU applicants.
– Matthew Miller (@StateDeptSpox) December 15, 2023
Friday, 15 December 2023 11:49 AM , Alexander Butler
The United States could pay a “much greater cost” than other people believe if it allowed Russia to win in Ukraine, a US think tank has warned.
The Institute for the Study of War said the U. S. deploys “a significant portion of its ground forces” and “a giant number of stealth aircraft” to Eastern Europe to ensure security in the event of a Russian victory in Ukraine.
“The entire undertaking will cost a fortune, and that charge will last as long as the Russian risk persists, indefinitely,” the ISW said.
“Helping Ukraine keep the lines where they are through continuous Western military support is far more advantageous and cheaper for the United States than allowing Ukraine to lose.”
Friday, 15 December 2023 11:00 , Alexander Butler
Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has claimed that Ukrainians in the east of the country oppose the Russian occupation.
The biotech CEO told CNN in Iowa City that he would give some concessions to Russia to end its unprovoked attack on Ukraine.
Mr Ramaswamy told the audience of GOP voters he was confident he could get Vladimir Putin to accept his peace plan, which would involve Russia cutting itself off from China militarily.
Ramaswamy says eastern Ukrainians don’t care about Russian occupation
Friday, 15 December 2023 10:00 , Alexander Butler
And so ended the first year of the 118th Congress. With no aid for Ukraine on the horizon, no aid for Israel, no prospective negotiations on spending and no aid for Gaza, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives has rewarded itself with a vacation. writes Eric García, The Independent’s Washington correspondent.
Progressives warn Biden opposes immigrants as ‘bargaining chip’ for Ukraine
Friday, 15 December 2023 09:35, Alexander Butler
Hungary blocked a large £43 billion aid package to Ukraine just hours after reaching an agreement to start accession talks with Kyiv.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said he had vetoed the additional money for Ukraine and would do so again next year after “good preparation. “
Leaders of 26 EU countries approved the plan, which would include Kyiv’s budget between 2024 and 2027, but Orban opposed the decision, which requires unanimous approval from all 27 EU member states.
Orban announced his ban on social media. He wrote in X: “Night Shift Summary: Veto on Additional Money for Ukraine. We will return to this topic next year in the #EUCO after some preparation.
Hungarian Prime Minister Orban blocks £43 billion of EU investment for Ukraine
Friday, 15 December 2023 09:00 , Alexander Butler
Officials from Russia’s prison authority told a court on Friday that jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was no longer in the penal colony where he had been serving his sentence but they did not explain where he had gone, an ally said.
Lawyer Vyacheslav Gimadi wrote on the X social network that it has been 10 days since those close to the politician lost track of his whereabouts.
Another Navalny ally, Kira Yarmysh, quoted the government that Navalny left the penal colony on Dec. 11. Navalny is a high-profile critic of Putin and has been imprisoned since 2022.
Friday, 15 December 2023 07:48, Alexander Butler
Ukraine’s air force claims to have shot down 14 drones fired through Russia overnight.
“The 14 enemy drones were shot down by cellular firing teams of the Air Force and the Defense Forces of Ukraine in the Mykolaiv, Kherson, Khmelnytsky and Poltava regions,” the Air Force wrote on the Telegram app.
Friday December 15, 2023 07:00, Sam Rkaina
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Thursday the EU decision to give the green light to Ukraine membership was a ‘historic day’.
“Today is a historic day for Europe,” Sanchez said on the social network X.
“I would like to congratulate Ukraine and Moldova on the European Council’s resolution to start negotiations for their accession to the EU. “
“We also welcome the popularity of Georgia’s candidate and the progress of Bosnia and Herzegovina. “
Friday, 15 December 2023 05:00 , Sam Rkaina
The Air Force on the Telegram messaging app said that Russian forces used 3 Kinzhals dropped from 3 fighter jets in the central Tula region of Russia, and that its anti-aircraft missile unit shot down one of the missiles in the Kiev region.
“Of course, we do not comment on the consequences of firing or not firing enemy missiles in the Khmelnytskyi region,” he added.
The local government said earlier that emergencies were active at both crash sites, but no injuries or injuries were reported.
Overnight, Russia launched 42 drones and 6 missiles at Ukraine, with 11 people injured and buildings and warehouses damaged by falling debris. The Ukrainian military said it destroyed 41 drones.
Friday, 15 December 2023 04:00 , Sam Rkaina
The Ukrainian Air Force said Russian MiG-31K fighter jets equipped with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles struck targets in central Ukraine just 10 minutes after taking off from Savasleyka air base, prompting a national alert on Thursday.
The air force said it shot down a Kinzhal missile over the Kyiv region, while two others hit the Starokostiantyniv district, where there is an air base in the Khmelnytskyi region, west of Kyiv, which has been attacked several times during the 21-month war.
Kyiv regional governor Ruslan Kravchenko said no casualties or damage to civilian and critical infrastructure had been reported, after explosions were heard through a Reuters correspondent near the capital.
Friday, 15 December 2023 03:00 , Sam Rkaina
Turkey became a member of the club in 1987, granted it prestige as a candidate in 1999 and had to wait until 2005 to start negotiations for effective membership.
Only one of more than 30 negotiating “chapters” has been completed in the years since, and the whole process is at a standstill as a result of various disputes.
Several countries in the Balkans meanwhile have become discouraged by the bloc’s failure to live up to its lofty membership promises.
North Macedonia applied in 2004. Even after turning its call to resolve a long-running dispute with EU member Greece, the country is still waiting for accession negotiations to begin because member Bulgaria has raised an obstacle. ethnic and linguistic.
Bosnia remains plagued by ethnic divisions that make reform an almost impossible challenge. The commission said last month that it should only start membership talks after more progress is made. It expressed concern about the justice system and other rights failures in the Bosnian Serb part of the country.
Serbia and Kosovo refuse to normalise and are being the last in line with the EU.
Friday 15 December 2023 02:00 , Sam Rkaina
EU officials said negotiations may not officially begin until Ukraine has resolved several issues, adding corruption, lobbying disorder and restrictions that could prevent national minorities from reading in their own language.
While EU officials say Ukraine has made progress on these issues in recent months, it still has a long way to go.
All EU countries have accepted Ukraine’s candidacy, with the exception of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Putin’s best friend in the EU. Orban argues that Ukraine is not even in a position to start talking about EU membership.
In a surprising move, Orban withdrew on Thursday and abstained from the vote to allow Ukraine’s accession talks to begin. This is just the beginning and there are still many steps to be taken.
Debt problems, waves of migration and Brexit have all contributed to the bloc’s reluctance to expand its ranks in recent years. The same has happened with Eurosceptic political forces in many Member States.
But the urgency created by Russia’s invasion and Ukraine’s call for an accelerated review has altered the EU’s slowness to add new members and ended years of “enlargement fatigue. “
Thursday’s resolution also has an effect on other potential members, who believe the EU is showing favoritism.
Friday December 15, 2023 01:00, Sam Rkaina
Ukraine is one of many countries that have long sought to join the EU, seeing it as a path to wealth and stability. Although the EU is not a military alliance like NATO, the club in the bloc is seen by some as a bulwark against Russian influence.
Ukraine officially applied for EU accession less than a week after Russia invaded in February 2022. The capital Kyiv faced the threat of capture, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government faced the threat of collapse.
The start of accession negotiations, less than two years later, is only one step on a long journey. But it sends a strong signal of solidarity with Ukraine, just as U. S. support for the Ukrainian military is waning and the Ukrainian counteroffensive is stalled, and Putin is turning around. more and more emboldened.
Thursday December 14, 2023 23:59, Sam Rkaina
Ukraine was given the green light on Thursday to start fast-track negotiations to join the European Union.
This is a great stimulus for a war-torn Ukraine and a strong message for Vladimir Putin; however, it may take years, if not decades, before the country becomes a member of the EU.
Here’s a look at what Thursday’s resolution means and why the EU club is important and difficult for Ukraine.
EU HISTORY AND HOW DO YOU JOIN?The European Union was born after World War II as a trading bloc with a bold ambition: to prevent another war between Germany and France. The six founding members were Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
Since then, the EU has steadily expanded to contain 27 democratic nations, many from the former communist bloc in Eastern Europe, inspired by the idea that economic and political integration among nations is the best way to promote prosperity and peace.
This led to the creation of the shared euro in 1999, the opening of the continent’s borders and pioneering regulations to reduce carbon emissions and technology giants.
To join the EU, candidate countries will have to go through a lengthy procedure to align their legislation and criteria with those of the EU and demonstrate that their institutions and economies meet democratic criteria. The publication of accession documents requires the consensus approval of all 27 EU countries.
Thursday 14 December 2023 23:00 , Sam Rkaina
The U. S. Senate will vote next week on military aid to Ukraine and Israel as negotiations continue over adjustments to U. S. border security policy that would be tied to funding, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday.
The Senate will delay its recess, which was scheduled to begin Friday, and convene on Monday to give negotiators time to reach a deal, Schumer said.
“We’re lucky in a lot of things,” Schumer said. We know the world is watching. “
Democratic President Joe Biden has suggested lawmakers approve an additional aid package to provide $50 billion for increased security to Ukraine as it fights Russia, as well as $14 billion to Israel as it wages a war against Hamas in Gaza.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, along with Republicans in the Democratic-led Senate, have continually said they would only vote for the aid if it was combined with new U. S. -Mexico border controls.
Thursday, December 14, 2023 10:00 PM, Sam Rkaina
Ukraine‘s air force shot down a hypersonic Kinzhal missile over Kyiv on Thursday, a spokesman said.
In response to an explosion heard in Kyiv, Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat said: “Air defense systems were operational.
“A missile shot down. “
Thursday, 14 December 2023 21:19 , Sam Rkaina
During a marathon four-hour end-of-year press conference, Vladimir Putin painted a picture of threats and ridicule from Western countries as he tried to paint an optimistic picture of Russian life.
However, he faced complaints from the Russians when they texted him in front of him, which appears to be a gaffe.
After canceling the same annual celebration last year, it is the first to be held since the Russian president introduced his war just two years ago.
Putin said that “there will be peace in Ukraine only when we achieve our goals,” which necessarily forced kyiv to submit. It is a risk that Russia has reiterated as Ukrainian forces vigorously protect their territory.
With Mr Putin having recently announced he is running for the presidency again in March 2024, he had to be seen to be backing his war machine, although even he let slip that any Russian gains in Ukraine were “modest”; Kremlin-speak for the fact that there has been little movement on the frontlines in recent months.
The highly organized press conference was attended by millions of people across Russia. Ordinary citizens sent questions along with those of journalists, and Russian media said at least $2 million had been sent in advance, some of which were displayed on a screen at the site. even though Mr. Putin did not respond. This generated uncomfortable messages for the president.
Critical text messages broadcast on Putin’s screen at end-of-year press conference
Thursday, 14 December 2023 20:15 , Sam Rkaina
Ukraine badly needs support from its Western allies in its nearly two-year fight against Russia’s invasion. Its counter-offensive has failed to make major gains and the Biden administration has so far been unable to get a $60 billion aid package for Ukraine through the U.S. Congress.
European Commission leader Ursula von der Leyen said it was a “strategic resolution and a day that will go down in the history of our Union. “
Orban had other words to describe the decision.
“Hungary’s position is clear: Ukraine is not in a position for us to start negotiations on EU membership,” he said, calling the resolution to start negotiations “irrational” and “inappropriate. “
“But 26 member states insisted that this resolution should be adopted, so Hungary said that if 26 do, they deserve to go their own way and Hungary does not need to participate in this misguided resolution,” he said.
Thursday 14 December 2023 19:30 , Sam Rkaina
Ukraine, which has a population of 44 million and is geographically larger than any EU member, presents difficult situations for admission to the 27-member bloc.
Due to intense international relations on the issue, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met with Orban ahead of the summit, along with von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel.
The European Commission on Wednesday restored up to 10. 2 billion euros in reimbursements for economic projects to Hungary after finding it had met the conditions for the independence of its judiciary.
Talks will continue at the summit on the bloc’s multi-annual budget framework.
Michel said the European Council was also due to open accession negotiations with Moldova on Thursday.
He added that the summit had conferred prestige on Georgia as an EU candidate and that it would also favour the candidacy of accession candidate Bosnia once it had achieved “the mandatory degree of fulfilment” of the criteria.
Thursday 14 December 2023 19:00 , Sam Rkaina
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will not use his veto power over Ukraine’s accession talks at Thursday’s summit of European Union leaders, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar told reporters after the meeting.
“Prime Minister Orban made his case very strongly. He disagrees with this decision and he is not changing his opinion, but essentially decided not to use the veto power,” Varadkar said.
Asked about Orban’s role in the vote, Varadkar added: “He is not in the room. “
Thursday 14 December 2023 18:32 , Sam Rkaina
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday hailed the start of accession talks by European Union leaders with Kyiv as “a victory” for his country and Europe.
“This is a victory for Ukraine,” he wrote on X. A victory for the whole of Europe. A victory that motivates and empowers. “
European Council President Charles Michel called it “a transparent sign of hope for its peoples and for our continent. “
The resolution was announced at a summit of the leaders of the 27 EU countries.
Click here to read the full blog on The Independent’s website
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