• Kiev: “Russia is also moving to undermine support for Ukraine.”
• Kremlin: Kiev's accession to the EU could destabilize the union.
• Lavrov: EU heads of state and government seek negotiations behind Kiev's back.
• Orban's veto of other European funds for Ukraine.
• Media: “Navalny transferred to a correctional facility.”
12:03 p.m. – Kiev puts Patriarch Kirill on the wanted list
According to the Interior Ministry's wanted database cited by the Kyiv Independent, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has added Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill of Moscow to its wanted list. Patriarch Kirill, born Vladimir Gundyayev, is the head of the Russian Orthodox Church and a staunch supporter of Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Russia's war against Ukraine. The database describes him as a person “hiding from the authorities responsible for judicial investigations.” Kirill is accused of violating Article 110 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code, which covers actions that violate Ukraine's territorial integrity and lead to “the death of people or other serious consequences.” The charge carries a life sentence. Kirill is also accused of “planning, unleashing and carrying out a war of aggression,” which is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
11:22 a.m. – Kiev: “The Russians are sending battalion reserves to Kupyansk”
Russia is sending reserves of assault battalions to the Kupiansk area to make up for losses. They are carrying out attacks with the intention of capturing the regional city of Kharkiv, a key logistics center that can serve as a base for an offensive to the west. This was stated by Volodymyr Fitio, spokesman for the command of the Ukrainian Land Forces, as reported by Ukrinform. According to Fitio, Moscow's losses are quite serious: 258 Russians were eliminated and 14 pieces of enemy military equipment were destroyed, including three tanks. “Of course the equipment is better protected, but human resources are of no importance to them.” Their men are used for attacks, fire reconnaissance and simply for “flesh attacks,” Fitio added.
10:17 a.m. – Kiev: “30 of the 31 drones launched from Moscow during the night shot down”
The Ukrainian Air Force says it repelled a Russian drone attack overnight and shot down 30 of the 31 drones launched from Moscow. The attack targeted regions such as the capital Kiev, the southern Kherson region and the western Khmelnytsky region. Meanwhile, Russian authorities said one person had died in overnight Ukrainian shelling of the occupied southern Kherson region. The governor of the Belgorod region of Russia.
9:54 a.m. – Ukraine puts Patriarch Kirill on the blacklist of wanted people
The Ukrainian Interior Ministry has put Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, on the wanted list. As Ukrinform reports, Kirill is accused by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) of supporting Moscow's war against Kiev, thereby “violating the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine and justifying the armed aggression of the Russian Federation.” According to the SBU, Kirill is part of the inner circle of Russia's highest military and political leadership and was one of the first to publicly support an all-out war against Ukraine.
9:53 a.m. – G7 talks on how frozen Russian assets can be used to support Ukraine
The G7 has intensified talks in recent weeks over how to use Russia's $300 billion in frozen funds to support Ukraine, as continued financial aid from the United States and Europe is not guaranteed. This was reported by the Financial Times, citing some sources. “Members of the G7 and other particularly affected states could seize Russian state assets as a countermeasure in order to persuade Russia to end its aggression,” says a US government discussion document that the newspaper was able to obtain. G7 nations have begun actively looking for ways to expropriate assets from the Russian central bank after Republicans in the United States and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban blocked financial aid packages for Kiev earlier this week, the newspaper reported.
9:32 a.m. – Blinken in conversation with Baerbock, focus on the Middle East and Ukraine
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held talks with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. During the meeting, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement that the minister welcomed the German leadership supporting Israel's right to ensure that Hamas could never repeat the October 7 attacks. “The leaders discussed the urgency of meeting humanitarian needs in Gaza, protecting civilians from harm and efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading further. The minister highlighted international efforts to stop recent Houthi attacks on merchant vessels operating in the Red Sea and support maritime security. Minister and Foreign Minister Baerbock reaffirmed the joint commitment of the United States and Germany to support Ukraine,” the statement concluded.
9:15 a.m. – Russia: “Talks with Brazil and South Africa on opening cultural centers”
Russia is working at the intergovernmental level with Brazil and South Africa to open representative offices, so-called Russian Houses, in these countries. This was stated by the deputy head of Rossotrudnichestvo, the Russian foreign cooperation agency, Pavel Shevtsov. “We have started work on opening our official Rossotrudnichestvo centers in Brazil and South Africa at the level of intergovernmental consultations,” Shevtsov said. He added that the process of opening Russian houses is not moving quickly, as reaching intergovernmental agreements “takes some time” and in some countries parliamentary approval is also required, but Rossotrudnichestvo has started working in this direction. To date, Rossotrudnichestvo has 87 representative offices in 80 countries.
8:55 a.m. – The stop in Kiev and Orbán’s blackmail
(by Alessandro Trocino) During the vote on Ukraine's accession to the European Union, the Hungarian head of state was absent, giving the historic green light. An absence that must have cost Orbán dearly and was apparently made easier by decisive intervention by German Chancellor Olaf Scholtz. But in the end, the Hungarian head of state took revenge and vetoed the funds allocated to Ukraine, 50 billion, divided over four years. In addition, he vetoed a 64.6 billion package on the EU's new priorities: immigration, Step platform for innovation, climate emergencies and higher debt interest rates.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that they were working on a plan to procure resources even without Orbán: 1.5 billion, which the EU had already promised, should be paid out to Ukraine in the next few days.
In reality, even the green light for Ukraine is only very partial. Francesca Basso explains that “two more formal, unanimous green lights will be required before the actual opening of accession negotiations and that after that “there will be around 75 opportunities in which the Hungarian government can stop this process,” explained Hungarian Prime Minister Der Broadcaster Kossuth reminded yesterday that in the end the ratification of 27 national parliaments will also be required.
One might think that this is an ideological or at least political hostility. But it's about money. The European Commission froze 21.7 billion in EU funds for Hungary a year ago for violating the rule of law, but on the eve of the summit it released 10.2 billion as Budapest addressed deficiencies in the independence of the judiciary. However, Hungary has not yet received a euro of the Pnrr 10.4 billion as it has only completed 4 of the 27 planned projects. And Orbán wants everything, not a cent less.
8:52 a.m. – Zelensky: “The start of the EU negotiations is more important than the financing”
For Ukraine, it is more important to reach an agreement on starting accession negotiations to the European Union than an agreement on further financing. This was said by President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Financial Times reported, citing some officials. Two days ago, the European Council decided to start EU accession negotiations with Kiev, but Hungary vetoed 50 billion euros in macro-financial aid from Brussels for the country. Sources familiar with the matter told the newspaper that Zelensky had communicated his position to EU leaders in private discussions. However, according to the newspaper, this has been a week full of disappointments for the Ukrainian leader in terms of financial support.
8:08 a.m. – The gun law in Ukraine expires at the end of the year. The unknowns in the majority
(by Francesco Verderami) The law regulating military aid to Ukraine expires on December 31, but the government has not yet decided whether to extend it: is it due to the parliamentary deadlock at the end of the year or is there a political problem? The rules introduced immediately after the Russian aggression on February 22, 2022 made it possible to support the Ukrainian resistance. Support that the Meloni manager has repeatedly reiterated that he does not want to interrupt.
And in fact next Tuesday the Defense Minister will present the eighth “package” of war aid for Kiev to the Parliamentary Committee for the Security of the Republic. But in two weeks the law passed by Draghi's cabinet and confirmed by the prime minister last year will expire. And Crosetto has not yet lifted the reservation: “I don’t know if we will intervene until December or January,” he explained in a confidential conversation yesterday. (…)
06:06 a.m. – Night drone attack on Kiev, foiled by anti-aircraft fire
Ukrainian air defense forces have thwarted a night-time attack by Russian forces on Kiev using drones. No loss or damage was reported. This was reported – as the Kiev Independent reported – by the head of the military administration of the Ukrainian capital, Serhiy Popko. This is the sixth airstrike on Kiev since the beginning of December. According to Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko, strong explosions caused by air defense were recorded in the Podil area. Residents were asked to stay in emergency shelters. Unlike previous attacks, which were carried out with missiles fired from strategic bombers, this time only Shahed drones were used, which were fired over the city in waves and from different directions.
3:52 a.m. – US Ambassador in Kiev: “Urgent new support for Ukraine”
U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink called on the U.S. Congress to reach an agreement on additional support for Kiev “as soon as possible,” calling the situation “urgent.” This is reported by the Kiev Independent. “It is important to ensure and maintain the successes achieved so far by the Ukrainians.” And also to protect our national security,” the diplomat said.
3:41 a.m. – Macron: “I haven’t changed my number. If Putin has serious peace proposals, France will help.”
«I haven't changed my number. If President Vladimir Putin makes serious proposals and has the desire to resume a dialogue that will allow us to build a peace that respects international law, France will always be a power that helps and will spare no effort to achieve a result This is what French President Emmanuel Macron said when he responded at a press conference in Brussels to Putin's accusation against France that “relations” with Moscow had been “broken off”.
France, he continues, will not hold back in this case, “as we did, moreover, in all the years before the conflict and as I did several weeks or even several months after the outbreak of the war.”
3:19 a.m. – CNN: Western 007 assess Kiev's resistance without US and NATO help
“Western intelligence agencies are calculating how long Ukraine could hold out without US and NATO help and what the longer-term prospects of losing the war with Russia might be,” CNN reports. Western 007's assessments come as the American aid package has stalled in Congress and Hungary has blocked aid from the European Union. An American official speaks of months of resistance and describes the worst-case scenario as a significant setback or even defeat by the summer. “With us there is no guarantee of success, but without us they will surely fail,” states another official. The biggest concern is the impact that the lack of aid could have on the counteroffensive in the east and south.
02:58 – Kiev: “Russia is also moving forward to undermine support for Ukraine”
Russia is moving to the front not only to occupy new areas of Ukraine, but also because it wants to undermine international support for Kiev. This was reported by Andrii Yusov, representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense (GUR), as RBC Ukraine reported. “One of the most important things in the aggressor's use of the front-line situation for these purposes is the weakening of the pro-Ukrainian coalition and the weakening of Ukraine in the world,” Yusov said, pointing out that the Russians are trying to show this the alleged Futility of the Ukrainian struggle and the “impossibility of defeating the aggressor.” “They (the Russians, editor's note) are trying to spread this message through influential agents and convey it to the world. However, we see that it doesn't work. Ukraine's international coalition is strong and support continues. Even if it is a very difficult task for the military and political leadership and diplomats,” the Gur representative added.
02:17 a.m. – USA: “Concern about Navalny, Russia bears responsibility”
The Foreign Ministry says it is “deeply concerned” about the health of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. “We have communicated to the Russian government that they are responsible for what happens to Navalny in their custody and that they will be held accountable by the international community,” a State Department spokesperson told Axios.
01:56 a.m. – Media: “Navalny transferred to a correctional facility”
A Russian court has confirmed that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was released from Penal Colony No. 6, in the city of Melehovo in the Vladimir region, where he was being held. The news was revealed during a hearing related to a lawsuit he filed against officials at the high-security facility. The independent Sota news agency reported that a document from the Vladimir Department of the State Penitentiary Service was read out during the hearing, which stated that Navalny had left the penal colony “to a correctional facility outside the Vladimir region” and that further information would be provided as soon as You have reached your goal.
1:35 a.m. – Lavrov: EU heads of state and government are seeking negotiations behind Kiev’s back
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov revealed that several European leaders have tried to negotiate with Moscow over the war in Ukraine behind Kiev's back over the past six months, assuring that Russia will not negotiate with those who support its defeat strive for on the battlefield. “Several well-known Western leaders, one in particular, have sent us signals several times through three different channels to meet and talk about what needs to be done regarding Ukraine and European security,” he said during a press conference with his Belarusian counterpart Sergey Aleinik. Lavrov, who said he did not want and had the right to “name names,” called the situation an act of hypocrisy and malice. Western politicians “have five Fridays a week and lie without blushing.” If, out of inertia, they declare and continue to declare that without Ukraine they will not negotiate anything about Ukraine, this is nothing but hypocrisy.” The head of Russian diplomacy explained that the contacts were not direct from leader to leader, although the politicians had “direct access” to their counterpart in Moscow. “But these are the tricks we’ve seen in the last six months,” he said. Lavrov noted: “If anyone is interested in putting an end to attempts to ensure their own security at the expense of others, to putting an end to attempts to limit the legitimate interests of Russia and the legitimate interests of Russians living in many countries of our continent , then welcome.” “We are ready to discuss these issues seriously at any time.” However, he ruled out Moscow's willingness to negotiate with those who make future contacts dependent on Russia's defeat in Ukraine.
00:57 – Kremlin: Kiev's accession could destabilize the EU
The accession of Ukraine and Moldova to the EU could “destabilize” the European Union, which has only decided to initiate the procedures for their admission for “political” reasons. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this, citing the Interfax agency. Neither Ukraine nor Moldova meet the criteria for joining the EU, Peskov added, quoted by Ria Novosti agency.
12:35 a.m. – Hungary: We are not blackmailing anyone, others have done it to us with Covid funds
“We didn’t blackmail anyone. Other countries have blackmailed Hungary, which did not receive the Covid funds for a number of political reasons,” said Viktor Orban’s spin doctor Balazs Orban at a briefing with journalists in Brussels on the sidelines of the work of the European Council. The spokesman for the Budapest government reiterated his country's no to the revision of the multiannual financial framework and called for funds to support Ukraine to be made available outside the EU budget. “We are not blackmailing anyone, it is our financial decision,” Balazs Orban said.
00:26 – The Kremlin praises Hungary: a sovereign country that defends its interests
The Kremlin welcomes the government of Viktor Orban, which is vetoing new EU aid worth 50 billion euros for Ukraine. “Hungary is a sovereign country. He has his own interests. And Hungary, unlike many European countries, steadfastly defends its interests, which impresses us,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. The Budapest government, he added, “is not pro-Russian at all, it is simply conscious and independent enough to defend its own interests.”
00:05 – Orban: EU releases our funds or no help for Kiev
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is demanding all European funds destined for Hungary and blocked due to violations of the rule of law in order to give the green light to the aid package for Ukraine. “I have always said: If someone wants to change the budget, then this is a great opportunity for Hungary to make it clear that it must get what it is entitled to. Not half or a quarter,” the prime minister said in an interview with Kossuth Radio.
With the aid package for Ukraine, the Prime Minister explained, the EU wanted to repeat what happened with Covid and NextGenerationEU. “We made an exception once and did it badly,” Orban said, lamenting the fact that Hungary had no access to renovation funds. Orban then focused on what he described as the “lengthy and difficult” discussion about the start of Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations, reiterating Budapest’s resistance and warning that this process could be “stopped later.” “I spent eight hours trying to convince them not to make this wrong decision,” Orban said, explaining that the key argument was that if Hungary was against Ukraine’s EU accession, “the Hungarian parliament would vote against it “The process is very, very long.” The start of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU is a wrong decision that could have negative consequences, but “the financial ones “The Hungarians will not bear the economic consequences,” warned the Prime Minister. But at the center of the game that Orban is playing with the EU is also the “treasure” of European funds that are intended for his country and are blocked. In total, the EU has ordered the freezing of around 22 billion euros in cohesion funds for the 2021-2027 programming period and 10.4 billion euros in national PNRR funds in response to the rule of law violations challenged against Orban's government. In recent days, Brussels has decided to release 10.2 billion euros of cohesion funds and to pay 900 million in pre-financing for the Hungarian PNRR modified with the Repower chapter.