‘We have to end theRussian aggression exactly this year and do not postpone any of the defensive capabilities that can hasten the defeat of the terrorist state”, said the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in his evening message on Telegram. “We have new and powerful results of our diplomatic marathon – he said referring to his telephone conversation with the French president -. France takes European defense support to Ukraine to a new level and I thank President Macron for this leadership”.
Meanwhile, the US president Joe Bidensaid the United States is considering sending Bradley combat vehicles to support Ukraine, while Estonia’s foreign and justice ministries are working to develop a legal basis for using frozen Russian funds in Estonia in consequence of the sanctions introduced by the European Union.
Putin, from Russia dialogue if Kiev recognizes new regions
The Russian president Vladimir Putin he reiterated in the phone call with his Turkish counterpart Erdoğan that Russia is open “to a serious dialogue” if Kiev “satisfies known requests and takes into account the new territorial realities”. The Kremlin affirms it, as reported Interface.
Ukraine, “CNN”: Iranian drones made with components produced by US companies
Components made by thirteen different US companies were found inside a Iranian drone shot down in Ukraine last fall, according to Ukrainian intelligence information obtained exclusively from the Cnn. The defense report of Kievsubmitted to US government officials late last year, it sheds light on the scale of the problem facing the Biden administration, which has promised to halt Iranian production of drones that Russia is launching by the hundreds into Ukraine.
Erdogan calls on Putin for a “unilateral ceasefire”
In their telephone conversation the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Russian president Vladimir Putin they discussed the war in Ukraine, but also energy issues, relations between Russia and Turkey, and regional developments including Syria. This was reported by the Turkish presidency. The Turkish president explained to Putin that peace efforts in the war in Ukraine should be supported by a unilateral ceasefire and a “vision for a just solution”.
Ukraine: Patriarch Kirill calls for a truce for Orthodox Christmas
The Patriarch Kirill one asked truce in Ukraine for Orthodox Christmas, from 12:00 on 6 January to 00:00 on 7 January. This was reported by the Russian Orthodox Church on its website. “I, Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, appeal to all parties involved in the conflict with a call to cease fire and establish a Christmas truce from 12:00 on January 6 to 00:00 on January 7, so that the Orthodox can attend services on Christmas Eve and on the day of the Nativity of Christ”.
Russia begins trial of Nobel Peace Prize winner Bialiatski
The Belarusian human rights NGO Viasna has published the first images of the trial that began today in Minsk a Ales Bialatskithe Belarusian winner for the Nobel Peace Prize 2022. Bialiatski faces up to 12 years in prison for “smuggling” charges: this was announced in November by Viasna, the most important rights group in Belarus, which he founded in 1996. Already detained in his country since 2021 , Bialiatski is accused of illegally importing money into Belarus to finance opposition groups. Two of his collaborators already under arrest and a third who is in exile abroad were indicted together with him.
Ukraine: 452 children killed since the beginning of the war
452 children were killed in Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion while the wounded are 877. This was announced by the Attorney General on Telegram, writes UK rinform.
These figures are not definitive, as efforts are underway to establish casualties in areas of hostilities and temporarily captured and liberated territories. Most of the dead and wounded were recorded in the region of Donetsk. A total of 3,126 educational establishments have been damaged by Russian bombing. Of these, 337 were completely destroyed. At present, 352 children have been reported missing in Ukraine since the beginning of the war.
ISW, Moscow wants to strengthen military cooperation with Iran
Russia will try to strengthen its cooperation with Iran to obtain more precise weapon systems for use in Ukraine: the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) writes in its report published yesterday. The ISW recalls that on December 28 Iranian state media stated that Iran will soon receive 24 Su-35 fighter jets from Russia, probably in exchange for Iranian-made drones and ballistic missiles. According to a Russian blogger, these precision weapons systems would allow Russian forces to more effectively strike the Ukrainian rear protected by Western anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems. Earlier, senior US officials announced that Russia is providing an unprecedented level of military and technical support to Iran in exchange for Iranian-made weapons systems. In this context, according to ISW experts, Russia and Iran are studying a new transcontinental trade route to circumvent sanctions and carry out more substantial arms shipments between the two countries.
Kiev, destroyed more than 60% of the city of Bakhmut
Over 60% of the city of Bakhmutin southeastern Ukraine, was destroyed during the fighting and the Russian offensive, which has been going on for six months: the head of the military administration of the Donetsk region, Pavlo Kyrylenko, announced at a press conference, as reported RBC-Ukraine. “No matter what attempts the enemy made to enter the city, they were unable to advance. No matter how successful they were, they were pushed back to their former positions outside the city,” Kyrilenko commented, adding that the Russian forces “now they are in a flat and devastated area, which is also contributing to the huge loss of soldiers.” Kyrylenko also said two civilians died yesterday in Russian shelling of the city.
Moscow is preparing for military escalation in February
Russia is preparing for an escalation of the situation at the front in February and at the same time moving behind the scenes to push Kiev to sign “peace agreements” on the model of those of Minsk, the Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne told on Secretary of the Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Oleksii Danilov. “February will be decisive for them – said Danilov -. Since dates and anniversaries are important for them they are preparing for an escalation”. “Now a man named (Taras) Kozak (collaborator of the pro-Kremlin Ukrainian politician and personal friend of Putin, Viktor Medvedchuk) has become more active – he continued -. He is organizing meetings with European representatives to force us to sign some peace, or so they believe, a kind of Minsk 3. Of course we will not accept”
Filorussi, strong explosion in Melitopol
A strong explosion was heard last night in Melitopol, a city occupied by Russian forces in the Zaporizhzhia region of southern Ukraine, Vladimir Rogov, a Moscow-appointed member of the regional administration board, said. of Russian press Ria Novosti. There are currently no reports of any injuries or victims.
Usa: Russian exhibitors excluded from the CES Las Vegas technology fair
The CES (Consumer Electronic Show), the major technology fair in Las Vegas staged until January 8, has excluded Russian companies from those who can participate in the event due to the invasion of Ukraine. A spokesman for the Consumer Technology Association, the trade group organizing the event in Las Vegas, said the move only impacted one prospective exhibitor, while Ukrainian exhibitors will be in attendance. CTA chairman and CEO Gary Shapiro earlier called the Russian invasion a “tragic and illegal assault on the people and independent nation of Ukraine”. “Many people from all over the world want to support Ukraine,” Shapiro added. The event dedicated to technology is expected to attract a total of up to 100,000 attendees.
Estonia studies how to use frozen Russian funds
Estonian foreign and justice ministries are working to develop a legal basis for the use of Russian funds frozen in Estonia as a result of the sanctions introduced by the European Union. A first draft will be presented by the Government during the month of January. Like other European states, Estonia would like to use the capital of Russian oligarchs frozen in the country’s banks for the reconstruction of Ukraine.
US consider sending Bradley combat vehicles to Kiev
US President Joe Biden said the United States is considering sending Bradley combat vehicles to support Ukraine. Biden was asked during a meeting with reporters on a trip to Kentucky if supplying the tracked armored fighting vehicle to Ukraine was on the table. The president replied “yes,” with no further comment. With Russia’s war against Ukraine now in its 11th month, Kiev has been lobbying the United States for tanks, long-range missiles, armor and air defense systems. Intense fighting continues in eastern Ukraine despite the onset of winter. The Bradley is a medium armored fighting vehicle that can function as a troop transport. It is a tracked vehicle but is lighter and more agile than a tank. It can carry approximately 10 personnel or be configured to carry additional munitions or communications equipment. The Pentagon has already supplied Ukraine with more than 2,000 combat vehicles.
Zelensky: “It is necessary to end Russia’s aggression this year”
“It is necessary to end Russian aggression this year, without postponing any of those defense opportunities that can hasten the defeat of the terrorist state.” So the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, quoted by Ukrinform in his evening speech. “France is taking European defense support to Ukraine to a new level and I thank President Macron for this leadership. We will have more armored vehicles, including French-made wheeled tanks. This is what gives a clear signal to everyone our other partners: there is no rational reason why western-style tanks have not yet been supplied to Ukraine. And this is very important to restore security for all Ukrainians and peace for all Europeans” , he adds.
