1:42 p.m
What to remember from Vladimir Putin's press conference
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War in Ukraine: denazification, state of Russian armed forces, financial capacity… what you should remember from Vladimir Putin's speech
12:50 p.m
Volodymyr Zelensky to European heads of state and government: Now is not the time for “hesitation and half-measures”
Ukraine's president urged European leaders at a summit in Brussels to allow accession negotiations to begin with his country, warning that Vladimir Putin would exploit any failure on their part. “Don’t blame Putin for this first – and only – victory of the year,” he urged, believing that “this is not the time for half-measures or hesitation.” “Today is the day of a political decision in response to what we have achieved. “It’s about starting accession negotiations with Ukraine,” he explained via video conference.
12:25 p.m
The Russian justice system is holding the American journalist Gershkovich in custody
A Russian court on Thursday rejected the appeal of American journalist Evan Gershkovich, who had challenged the extension of his pre-trial detention on espionage charges, allegations that the reporter arrested in March 2023 denies. “The Moscow City Court confirmed the verdict of the Moscow Lefortovo District Court dated November 28 (…) Evan Gershkovich will remain in custody until January 30, 2024,” the court services said on Telegram. The 32-year-old American journalist appealed against the extension of his detention until the end of January.
11:30 a.m.
The Russian army has 617,000 soldiers in Ukraine, says Vladimir Putin
President Vladimir Putin announced on Thursday that the Russian army had stationed 617,000 troops in Ukraine, providing for the first time an accurate estimate of the forces currently involved in the attack on the neighboring country. “There are 617,000 people in the combat zone,” Vladimir Putin said during his major televised press conference. On the other hand, he has not disclosed casualties since the start of his offensive on February 24, 2022, which the United States estimates at 315,000 Russian soldiers injured or killed.
11:28 a.m
Russians under neutral banner at Olympics: The IOC risks “burying the Olympic movement”.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) risks “burying the Olympic movement” by requiring Russian and Belarusian athletes to take part in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris next summer under a neutral banner, Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced this Thursday at. “If (international sports leaders) continue to act in the same way, they will bury the Olympic movement. The idea of Olympism itself is suffering today,” he complained during his big annual press conference in Moscow.
11:07 am
Vladimir Putin: The Russian army is “improving” its positions “virtually” on the entire front line in Ukraine
The Russian army is “improving” its positions along almost the entire front line in Ukraine, where it has regained the initiative after the failure of Ukraine's summer counteroffensive, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday. “Our forces are improving their positions along virtually the entire line of contact. Almost all of them are in an active phase,” Vladimir Putin said during his major press conference in Moscow.
Vladimir Putin reacts to current issues. AFP photo 10:58 a.m
Unbeknownst to the general public, she wants to challenge Vladimir Putin in the next presidential election
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War in Ukraine: “Of course I'm afraid”… Who is Ekaterina Duntsova, the woman who wants to run against Putin in the Russian presidential election?
10:52 am
There is a “real risk” that Putin will not stop at Ukraine, warns the NATO chief
In the event of a Russian victory in Ukraine, there is a “real risk” that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not stop there, warned NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday in Brussels. “If Putin wins in Ukraine, there is a real danger that his aggression will not stop there,” Jens told the press. Stoltenberg emphasized the need for continued military aid to Kiev.
10:23 am
According to Vladimir Putin, peace is only possible in the event of “denazification” and “demilitarization” of Ukraine
Peace requires the “denazification” and “demilitarization” of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized this Thursday, assuring that his goals “do not change” after almost two years of war. “I remind you what we talked about: the denazification and demilitarization of Ukraine, its neutral status,” he said during his major annual press conference in Moscow, adding that the solution will be “negotiated or forced by force.”
Vladimir Putin holds his annual press conference. AFP photo 10:20 a.m
Vladimir Putin's press conference begins
Russian President Vladimir Putin begins his annual press conference in Moscow. In the beginning, he reiterates that Russia is confident enough to “move on” despite the economic sanctions, the conflict in Ukraine and the confrontation with the West. According to Vladimir Putin, when asked about the economy's resilience to sanctions, his country has a “sufficient margin of safety” due to the “strong consolidation of Russian society”, the “stability of the country's financial and economic system” and “the…” Increasing Moscow's military capabilities.
10:01.
Viktor Orban: The EU is “not in a position” to start accession negotiations with Ukraine
The European Union is “not in a position” to start accession negotiations with Ukraine, said Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Thursday upon his arrival at the European summit in Brussels, which is important for Kiev. “There is no reason to discuss anything because the conditions (for starting accession negotiations) are not met,” said the nationalist leader, who also opposes 50 billion euros in budget aid for Ukraine.
08:54.
Russia says it neutralized nine drones en route to Moscow
Russia says it has neutralized nine Ukrainian drones en route to Moscow, hours before President Vladimir Putin takes part in a marathon round of questions from journalists and citizens in the Russian capital. “An attempt by the Kiev regime to carry out a terrorist attack using aerial drones.” Locations on Russian territory were foiled,” a Russian Defense Ministry statement said. According to the same source, “nine Ukrainian drones were destroyed or intercepted” over the Kaluga region, 160 km from the Russian capital and Moscow.
08:49.
Ukraine reports Russian night attacks with 42 explosive drones
Ukraine said on Thursday it had intercepted 41 of the 42 explosive drones Russia fired into its territory overnight, a new attack that highlights growing pressure from Moscow on the ground in recent days. “41 (explosive drones, editor's note) +Shahed+ destroyed” out of “a total of 42 captured,” the Ukrainian Air Force said in a statement on Telegram. The Russian army also fired S-300 missiles at the southern regions of Kherson and Mykolaiv, according to this source, without providing details about the consequences of these attacks.
07:28.
Vladimir Putin will hold his annual press conference in Moscow today
Also read:
War in Ukraine: military victories, iron health, consolidated economy and diplomacy… how everything was aligned with Putin in 2023
07:10.
Catherine Colonna: “Sustainable support for Ukraine is in our interest”
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said on Monday, December 11, at the European Union Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels: “Sustained support for Ukraine is our interest, we will not let up.”
07:04.
Cyberattack on the Ukrainian mobile operator: return of service
Following the large-scale cyberattack on Ukraine's largest mobile operator, Kyivstar, announced on Wednesday a gradual return to normality of its services. The company blames Russia for the computer hacking attack it was the victim of. There are still “possible” difficulties, warns Kyivstar.
06:55.
Europe releases 10 billion for Hungary… on the eve of the European Council
While Viktor Orban speaks out against starting accession negotiations for Ukraine's EU membership, the European Union released 10 billion euros for Hungary on Thursday. This amount is due to reforms implemented by Hungary to improve the independence of the Hungarian judicial system, according to Brussels. Europe has frozen 21 billion euros promised to Hungary because the country does not respect the rule of law.
06:48.
Ukraine in Europe: “A terrible mistake” for the Hungarian president
Hungarian President Viktor Orban remains a staunch opponent of Ukraine's accession to the European Union. In his opinion, starting accession negotiations with Ukraine would be “a terrible mistake.” Viktor Orban wrote on Facebook: “We do not support Ukraine’s quick accession to the EU!” The Hungarian president has maintained relations with Vladimir Putin since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.
06:46.
An important European Council for Ukraine
The meeting has long been noted in Volodymyr Zelensky's diary. A European Council will meet in Brussels this Thursday and Friday. Ukraine is particularly on the agenda. The twenty-seven must decide unanimously on starting accession negotiations with Ukraine, but also on financial aid worth 50 billion euros and military aid worth 20 billion euros. Ukraine one day within the European Union? Hungarian President Viktor Orban is against it. However, there will be no start to accession negotiations without unanimity.
06:45.
Welcome to our life
Follow the news about the war in Ukraine live all day this Thursday, December 14, 2023 on ladepeche.fr