Ukrainian forces are holding their ground against Russian troops in the eastern Donbass region and are making small advances in some areas., Volodymyr Zelenskiy said. The President of Ukraine added His nightly video address Kyiv has strengthened its anti-aircraft capability and will strengthen it further in the new year to protect itself and the entire European continent. His claims could not be verified.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Vladimir Putin has not abandoned plans to “contain Ukraine”. And warned everyone to “prepare for the long haul.” Stoltenberg told the dpa news agency that Russia had mobilized “many new troops” and had “demonstrated a willingness to bear painful losses”. “It’s Not Over” he said. “We must not underestimate Russia.”
Vladimir Putin has invited his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping for a state visit to Moscow Next North Spring, Russia seeks to deepen its ties with China amid growing international isolation over the war in Ukraine. Speaking to Xi via video conference, Putin said Russia’s relations with China were “the best in history.” His willingness to extend military cooperation.
The call between the two leaders came hours after Ukraine was hit again by Iranian-made “kamikaze” drones. Ukraine’s military said it shot down 16 drones sent from the southeast and north. Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said there were no casualties from the strikes.
Ukraine has summoned its ambassador after Belarus shot down a Ukrainian air defense missile. Alexander Volpovich, Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus He accused Ukraine of trying to “trigger a regional conflict”.Calling Ukrainian air defense missile “impossible”. It went down on Thursday Accidentally entered Belarusian airspace. A Ukrainian military spokesman said the incident was “the result of air defense”.
Zelensky repeated his earlier warnings that Moscow may be planning to plunge Ukraine into darkness ahead of the New Year’s Eve holiday. The latest drone strike comes at the end of a weekend in which Russian forces carried out a series of deadly bombings over the recently liberated city of Kherson.
Moscow’s exiled chief rabbi says Jews must leave Russia while they still can, before they fell victim to the hardships caused by the war in Ukraine. Pinchas Goldschmidt told the Guardian: “When we look back in Russian history, whenever the political system is in danger, you see the government trying to redirect the anger and discontent of the people onto the Jewish community. A kind of Soviet Union.” Goldschmidt resigned his post and fled Russia in July after refusing to support Putin’s war.
Self-proclaimed republics in Donetsk (DPR) and Luhansk (LPR).Both are occupied parts of Ukraine, which Russia claims to have annexed. Adopted new “constitutions”.The Russian state-owned TASS news agency reported. Denis Bushilin, who is considered the acting head of DPR, was quoted “Congratulations on the arrival of Donbass To the bosom of Russian cultural and historical heritage”.
Wealthy Russian oligarchs have lost nearly $95 billion this year amid sanctions imposed by the West. In the war in Ukraine – Costing $330ma per day Since the Kremlin began its invasion. Ex-Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich suffered the biggest loss, with his fortune falling 57% to $7.8 billion this year. Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Britain says it has given Ukraine more than 1,000 metal detectors and 100 pieces of equipment to defuse bombs. In a recent instance of military support. “This latest package of UK support will help Ukraine safely clear land and buildings while Ukraine reclaims its rightful territory,” British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said. said in a statement.
Vladimir Putin “Happy New Year” to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Kremlin said the “mutually beneficial relations” between the two countries would be “very dynamic.” It added that Putin would not wish New Year’s greetings to Joe Biden, Olaf Scholes, Emmanuel Macron or other “unfriendly” leaders.
Chief EurovisionMartin Österdahl told BBC radio Russia’s current ban from international song contests is tough, but the event should represent “the fundamental and ultimate values of democracy.”.
