• Military leaders in Sweden sound alarm: “War with Russia possible.”
• Seoul's warning: “North Korea is ready to sell new missiles to Russia.”
• Zelensky: “Any break in the conflict would help Russia.”
11:19 a.m. – Moscow announces the arrest of a spy who worked for Poland
Russia has announced that it has arrested a man and accuses him of trying to pass information to Poland about a factory in the Russian military-industrial complex to facilitate possible attacks, in what Warsaw considers “infox.” According to a statement from the Russian Security Service (FSB), this Russian citizen “proactively cooperated with a representative of the intelligence service of the Republic of Poland” to “share information about this company in exchange for asylum.” According to the same source, this information concerned, in particular, “production volumes for state orders in the defense industry” at this factory in the Penza region, a few hundred kilometers southeast of Moscow. In a video released by the security service, which also shows a Ukrainian-language book, the suspect says he wants to facilitate possible attacks on the factory. The FSB did not elaborate on these allegations. However, in response to the Russian bombings, Ukraine has increased its drone and missile attacks on Russian territory. Russian security services say their suspect also wanted to pass on the data of other factory employees who had secret defense clearance. Warsaw immediately denied this information. “Russia is the aggressor state and Putin is being prosecuted by the International Criminal Court.” Accordingly, any information provided by the Russian side must be considered infox at a time when we are making every effort to support Ukraine economically, socially or militarily.” , Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Szejna told the Onet portal .pl. “This is an information war between the democratic world and the terrorist world,” he added.
10:51 a.m. – Prodi: “Humiliating that the EU has not taken any initiative on Ukraine”
“David Sassoli taught us that principles are important ethical principles, but if these are not translated into actions by political structures, they become words.” The fact that the EU has not taken any initiative towards Ukraine and Turkey has humiliated me.” This is what former Prime Minister Romano Prodi spoke at the conference “The Legacy of David Sassoli.” A journey to a new Europe is underway in Campidoglio. “Everyone can talk well to their brothers, you have to talk to others.” “Talking to St. Francis is easy, you have to talk to the wolf,” he added.
10:47 a.m. – Türkiye: 4 ships ready to clear mines in some parts of the Black Sea
Four Turkish Navy minesweepers are ready to set sail for the Black Sea, military boats specially equipped to reclaim bomb-contaminated areas of the sea. The news appeared today in the Turkish media, citing sources from the Ankara Defense Ministry, and comes following the agreement signed by Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania to clear the Black Sea of Russian mines, which was published in these two years War with Ukraine. Each of Ankara's minesweepers will operate in a different part of the territory where Turkey is responsible for mine clearance under yesterday's agreements. The ships of the three countries will report to a joint control and coordination center.
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding took place at the end of a ceremony in Istanbul and ended with a handshake between Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Güler, his Romanian counterpart Angel Tilvar and Bulgarian Deputy Minister Atanas Zapryanov.
“This is an agreement of crucial importance to protect us from the security risks that war brings,” Güler commented, referring to the mines released by Russia during these two years of conflict. The bombs often came dangerously close to the busy Bosphorus Strait, which flanks the metropolis of Istanbul.
10:27 a.m. – Sunak is in Ukraine for a surprise visit and will meet Zelensky
Unannounced visit to Ukraine by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who will meet Volodymyr Zelensky, after London announced the allocation of £2.5 billion in military aid to Kiev next year. The Guardian reports on it. Ahead of the visit, Sunak reiterated Kiev's continued support for London.
“For two years, Ukraine fought with great courage to repel the brutal Russian invasion. “They are still fighting and have an unwavering determination to defend their country and the principles of freedom and democracy,” Sunak said. “I am here today with a message: the UK will not waver either. “We will stand with Ukraine in the darkest moments and in the best of times to come.”
10:03 a.m. – Zelensky calls for Ukraine to move closer to NATO
Volodymyr Zelensky called for Ukraine's rapprochement with NATO in the final press conference of his trip to Latvia, the final stop of his Baltic tour, as the war against Russia approaches its second anniversary. “NATO countries must show that they are not afraid of Russia,” he added.
9:57 a.m. – Moscow: “Today the UN Security Council is meeting on the issue of Yemen”
Russia has called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council after the US and UK carried out overnight attacks on Houthi rebel positions in Yemen: Russia's permanent mission to the UN announced this via Telegram, as Tax reported. “Russia has requested an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council on January 12 in connection with the US and British attacks on Yemen,” the mission said, noting that the meeting was scheduled for 10 a.m. local time (4 p.m p.m.) is planned in Italy).
6:39 a.m. – Russia: Attacks in Yemen violate UN principles
Russia has called a meeting of the UN Security Council following the US-GB raid on Houthi rebel bases in Yemen. Al-Jazeera said this, citing diplomatic sources. In particular, the Kremlin sent a message to members of the Security Council saying that the attack in Yemen was a violation of the principles of the United Nations Charter.
05:25 a.m. – China: Record trade with Russia, slowdown with the USA
Trade between China and Russia reached a new record level in 2023, rising 26.3% annually, over $240 billion and well above the $200 billion target set by Moscow and Beijing at bilateral meetings last year had. On the other hand, geopolitical tensions with the United States, which increased dramatically in 2023, led to an 11.6% decline in bilateral trade flows to $664.4 billion, the first decline, according to data released today by the Chinese Customs Administration represented a decline since 2019.
3:29 a.m. – Russian attacks in Sumy Oblast during the night
During the night, Russia attacked several Ukrainian locations in the Sumy area. According to local authorities, the missile and drone attacks hit Bilopillia, Esman, Svesa, Krasnopillia, Seredyna-Buda, Yunakivka and Myropillia.
3:16 a.m. – Medvedev: If the West supplies Kiev with long-range missiles, we will respond with nuclear weapons
Dmitry Medvedev once again recalls the nuclear holocaust by warning the West against supplying Ukraine with long-range missiles capable of hitting launch bases deep in Russian territory. In that case, warns the former president and current vice chairman of the National Security Council, Moscow would be justified in responding with nuclear weapons. Ground bombing continues from both sides. According to Ukrainian authorities, two Russian S-300 missiles hit a hotel in Kharkiv on the night of Wednesday and Thursday, injuring eleven people, including some journalists. According to the police, one of them is a Turkish reporter. Ukrainian drone attacks also continue on Russian territory. According to the Moscow authorities, unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down over the Rostov, Tula, Voronezh and Kaluga regions. According to the governor, a gas pumping station was hit and damaged in the eponymous capital of the latter oblast. The Russian Defense Ministry, meanwhile, announced that Moscow's troops had guaranteed a 12-hour ceasefire from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. along the road that the new International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors had to travel to reach the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant and replace their colleagues.
3:15 a.m. – White House: “Fight funds, stop aid to Ukraine”
American aid to Ukraine in the war against Russia has “stopped”: this was confirmed by National Security Council spokesman John Kirby after the funds allocated by Congress ran out, while negotiations between Democrats and Republicans on a new aid package continue in Washington, which could be linked to new security measures on the Mexican border against the refugee crisis.