• President Zelensky's wife: “If the world doesn't help us, we will die.”
• The political struggle in the United States and the fate of Ukraine.
• Scholz: “If the others fail, be prepared to increase aid to Kiev.”
• Moscow: “Peace if Kiev accepts the new Russian territorial reality.”
3:54 p.m. – Macron's support for Kiev's EU accession
Before arriving in Argentina, Zelensky contacted French President Emmanuel Macron, who reiterated France's “support” for Ukraine's start of accession negotiations with the European Union, which are currently blocked by Hungary.
Macron welcomed the adoption of numerous crucial pieces of legislation by the Ukrainian parliament on December 8 and 9, particularly on the rights of national minorities, judicial reform and the fight against corruption, according to a statement from the Elysee Palace. “Ukraine thereby demonstrates its determination to respond immediately to the recommendations of the European Commission.”
Orban met Macron at the Elysée Palace on Thursday, but without leaving much room for the possibility of a Hungarian yes vote at the entrance to Kiev: “Ukraine is known for being one of the most corrupt countries in the world,” he said.
3:50 p.m. – The President of Paraguay meets Zelensky in Buenos Aires
Paraguay President Santiago Peña met with Zelensky today in Buenos Aires on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony of Argentina's elected President Javier Milei. “I spoke with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, to whom I assured my full support. “Paraguay reiterates its commitment to peace and respect for the sovereignty of the peoples,” Peña wrote on X at the end of the meeting.
3:24 p.m. – Orban and Zelenskyy in Argentina
Today, both Ukrainian President Voodymyr Zelensky and Hungarian President Viktor Orban will attend the inauguration in Milei, Argentina.
Ukrainian media have speculated in recent days about the possibility that the two European leaders could meet on the sidelines of the event to try to resolve differences over Kiev's possible accession to the European Union – a topic that will be discussed next European summit will be discussed this week.
The European Commission has made its recommendation for Ukraine to join the bloc, but the decision must be made unanimously by member states, and Orban has repeatedly expressed his opposition.
Zelensky's chief of staff Andriy Yermak said he was working to find a date for a possible meeting between the two leaders.
1:04 p.m. – The challenge of the German ambassador to Russia and the anger of Moscow
The German ambassador to Russia, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, remembered the victims of wars, emphasized their “inevitability” and called for peace in a speech to hundreds of people in the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary of the Conception in Moscow, yesterday, on the occasion of the traditional Christmas concert.
The intervention angered Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who regretted that the diplomat “forgot to thank his government for regular arms deliveries to the conflict zone in Ukraine.” “In the Cathedral of the Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary one should pray and not commit blasphemies,” he added.
The holiday, the ambassador said, was an opportunity to remember the victims of the wars “in the Middle East and Ukraine, regardless of their nationality or faith.” People and nations can conclude peace agreements even on difficult issues if they have the will to do so. As we know, war is not inevitable. “We can and must find a peaceful solution together, despite all differences in interests and beliefs,” he emphasized.
12:59 p.m. – Lavrov’s words: “The rule of the West is about to end”
“The dominance of the West, which has lasted 500 years, is about to end.” This was said by Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergei Lavrov, who also once again attacked Israel's response to the October 7 attack: “It is unacceptable, this “To use the event,” he said, “to justify collective punishment.” Palestinian people». According to Lavrov, there should be a presence of international troops on the ground in Gaza: “We have been telling Israel for years that the most dangerous factor for the stability of the Middle East is the unresolved Palestinian issue.” “I am not a hypocrite,” Lavrov concluded, “and Russia neither.”
12:34 p.m. – More than 100 doctors write to Putin asking for treatment for their opponent Gorinov, who is in prison
More than a hundred Russian doctors have written an open letter to Vladimir Putin asking for treatment for his opponent Aleksey Gorinov, who is suffering from chronic lung problems and acute bronchitis in prison. “He doesn’t even have the strength to sit or speak. “He keeps falling,” denounced one of his lawyers. Doctors point out that denying medical care to those who need it is a violation of the Constitution. Gorinov was sentenced to seven years in prison in July last year for spreading “false news” about the Russian Armed Forces and for speaking out against a children’s art competition at a meeting of the Council of the Russian Armed Forces shortly after the invasion began in Krasnoselsky District in Moscow, where he was a city councilor. “What art competition are you talking about when children die every day,” he said, describing the special military operation as a “war.” It was his first conviction under Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code for false news about armed forces spread a few days after the start of the war in Ukraine.
11:31 a.m. – Putin: “Russia’s future depends on special operations soldiers”
The future of Russia depends on the soldiers fighting in the special operation in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin said this at a meeting with Russian soldiers in the Kremlin on the occasion of Heroes of the Fatherland Day, celebrated in Russia on December 9. Russian news agencies Ria Novosti and Tass reported on this, saying that a fragment of the conversation was posted by journalist Pavel Zarubin of Rossiya-1 television on his Telegram account. “A big part of Russia’s future depends on your combat work, that’s obvious,” Putin said.
11:27 a.m. – Kiev: Russians attack Avdiivka in Donetsk 24 hours a day
“Despite the terrible weather conditions, Russian troops are attacking Avdiivka in Donetsk 24 hours a day, launching an average of 30 to 40 massive bombing raids per day to capture the city in every possible way,” the city's military chief Vitaliy Barabash said, according to UNIAN . “Along the entire defense line of the city, the enemy is carrying out offensive operations, accompanied by the use of artillery guns and rockets, mortar fire, tank attacks and aircraft operations,” he told Ukrainian public television. According to the US think tank ISW, Putin gave the order to take Avdiivka before the March elections.
8:24 a.m. – Trump responds to Biden saying he is a threat to democracy, I will save it
Biden “is the real threat to democracy,” was Trump’s response. And again, “Do you believe it?” That’s her new line, you know. Here we go again: “Russia, Russia, Russia”, “Müller, Müller, Müller”, “Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine”. One joke after another. Trump said Biden's attacks were a “desperate and shameless attempt to distract from the monstrous abuses of power the left is committing before your eyes.”
7:06 a.m. – Zelensky, stopover in Brasilia before arriving in Buenos Aires
The plane carrying Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky to Buenos Aires to attend the inauguration of President-elect Javier Milei made a stopover in Brazil that night. Local media reported this, saying the plane landed at the Brazilian Air Force base in Brasilia at 8:15 p.m. (local time). The stop was classified as “technical” and was due to the need to refuel the plane, which took off again towards the Argentine capital at 10:15 p.m. The plane had departed from Cape Verde, where Zelensky met Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva. “On the way to Argentina I met the Prime Minister of Cape Verde. The first meeting of heads of state and government in the history of our bilateral relations. The voice of Cape Verde is a voice of democracy and support for us at the United Nations. I thanked the Prime Minister for supporting the humanitarian initiative “Grains from Ukraine” and invited Cape Verde to participate in the implementation of the Ukrainian peace initiative.
3:50 a.m. – Zelensky will be present at Milei's swearing-in ceremony in Argentina
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has decided to attend the swearing-in ceremony of new President Milei in Argentina, the Ukrainian Presidential Office said. But first he met the Prime Minister of Cape Verde. Zelensky himself wrote it on X by publishing a photo with Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva.
3:24 a.m. – Scholz: “Ready to increase aid for Kiev if others lack it”
Germany should be prepared to increase support for Ukraine if it is rejected by other countries. Chancellor Olaf Scholz said this at the Social Democratic Party conference, as Deutsche Welle reported. The Chancellor added that “this war is unlikely to end so quickly” and it is therefore important to “be able to do what is necessary in the long term”, i.e. “continue to support Ukraine in its defensive struggle”.
02:33 – Kiev: Russian losses at Avdiivka are 25% higher than those at Bakhmut
Russian losses in the area of Avdiivka, the Donetsk city attacked by Moscow since mid-October, are 25% higher than those recorded in the attack on Bakhmut. This was reported by Oleksiy Hetman, major in the Ukrainian National Guard and veteran of the Russo-Ukrainian war, UNIAN reported.
Hetman stated that at least 40,000 Russian troops are currently concentrated near the Ukrainian city. “On Avdiivka they limit themselves to carrying out raids, and there are no instructors like at Wagner.” The average daily losses during the attack on Bakhmut “were 776 Russian soldiers, now – in the direction of Avdiivka – 931.” That's 25% more, and “they haven't succeeded yet.” “Even if they succeed, there will be no fundamental and significant changes on the front,” the Ukrainian major explained.
02:17 – Zelenska's shock to the world: “If you are tired of Ukraine, let us die”
(by Matteo Castellucci) “When the world gets tired, it just lets us die.” Olena Zelenska is more than a first lady: together with her husband, she embodies the international image of Ukraine resisting. In an interview with the BBC, Zelenska recalls “in simple terms” the price her country is paying for global distraction.
1:56 a.m. – Moscow: “Peace if Kiev accepts Russia’s new territorial reality”
The Russian Foreign Ministry said that lasting peace in Ukraine would only be possible if “the West stops sending weapons and if Kiev accepts the 'new territorial realities,'” Ria Novosti reports. Zakharova also stressed that Russia is open to negotiations, but added that Moscow currently sees neither in Kiev nor in the West the political will to advance these negotiations.
00:57 – Kiev: Russian losses at Avdiivka are 25% higher than those at Bakhmut
Russian losses in the area of Avdiivka, the Donetsk city attacked by Moscow since mid-October, are 25% higher than those recorded in the attack on Bakhmut. This was reported by Oleksiy Hetman, major in the Ukrainian National Guard and veteran of the Russo-Ukrainian war, UNIAN reported.
Hetman stated that at least 40,000 Russian troops are currently concentrated near the Ukrainian city. “On Avdiivka they limit themselves to carrying out raids, and there are no instructors like at Wagner.” The average daily losses during the attack on Bakhmut “were 776 Russian soldiers, now – in the direction of Avdiivka – 931.” That's 25% more, and “they haven't succeeded yet.” “Even if they succeed, there will be no fundamental and significant changes on the front,” the Ukrainian major explained.