At noon Moscow time (10:00 in Italy) the ceasefire declared by Moscow on the occasion of Orthodox Christmas came into effect. “The Russians now want to use Christmas as a cover to stop the advance of our men in Donbass for a while and bring equipment, ammunition and mobilization close to our positions.” The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, is convinced that the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, is using the so-called “truce” To stop the advance of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the east, at least for a while. “What will be the result? Just another increase in the number of casualties. Everyone in the world knows how the Kremlin uses the lull in the war to continue the confrontation with renewed vigor,” Zelensky says. Even European Council President Charles Michel is convinced of the hypocrisy of the Kremlin president’s declaration. The Biden administration speaks of a “cynical truce” for the sole purpose of “causing catharsis.”
The cease-fire declared by Russia has entered into force
At noon Moscow time (10 am in Italy) the Christmas ceasefire in military operations in Ukraine officially announced by Russia entered into force, which will last until midnight (10 pm in Italy) tomorrow.
American Sources: The Wagner Group’s Economic Interests in Bakhmut
The Wagner Group is fighting in the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut for control of the salt and gypsum mines. This was reported by a White House official, citing the Guardian newspaper. The Wagner Group, which was founded and led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, is said to have economic interests in the mine.
GB: Pro-Russian militias integrated into the Armed Forces of Moscow
Pro-Russian militias in the republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, in Ukraine’s Donbass, which are fighting alongside Moscow’s forces, were officially incorporated into the Russian army last December 31: this is what British intelligence claims today in its daily briefing on the war in Ukraine, citing the Guardian newspaper.
The same bulletin notes that Moscow now considers these territories to be part of the Russian Federation, but it is stated that they will be seen as a divisive element in Russia, which according to many, is a drain on financial resources and has a political and diplomatic cost. for home.
Kyiv: 453 minors have been killed since the beginning of the war
The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office said on Telegram that since the start of the war, 453 minors have been killed and 877 seriously injured. Minor victims were recorded mainly in Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kiev, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhia, Kherson, Chernivtik, Lugansk and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts.
Also among the new US aid to Kiev are 50 Bradleys
The administration will also include 50 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles in its upcoming military assistance package to Ukraine, which is expected to be announced today. This was announced by Reuters. On Wednesday, it was US President Joe Biden who quipped that Washington was considering supplying Bradley to Ukraine. The package is worth about $2.8 billion.
US State Department: Russia’s truce “ironic”
US State Department spokesman Ned Price said Moscow’s proposal for a 36-hour truce in Ukraine for Orthodox Christmas is “ridiculous” and merely an attempt by Putin to “get a bullet in the arm”. “No word can describe (the armistice proposal) better than ‘cynical’. Our concern (…) is that the Russians seek to exploit any temporary lull in the fighting to rest, recover, regroup and eventually finish, reattach Price said.
Tanks attacking the Russian trenches as in 1916
Japanese Prime Minister invited Kishida to visit Ukraine
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has been invited to visit Ukraine. Japanese Prime Minister Hirokazu Matsuno said, “Japan stands with the citizens of Ukraine… and is taking appropriate steps as the G7 chair this year.” Next week, Kishida will visit G7 member countries including France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States, a major diplomatic tour before Japan hosts the annual G7 summit in May in Hiroshima.
Latvia: We want to strengthen the resilience of Moldova
Latvia will pledge to “strengthen Moldova’s resilience” against threats posed by Russia and to cooperate in the European integration process. This was stated by Latvian Foreign Minister Edgar Renkis at the end of the bilateral meeting with his Moldovan counterpart Nico Popescu, which took place today in Riga.
Zelensky: “The armistice only leads to preparation for new attacks”
“The Russian authorities want to use Christmas as a cover to stop the advance of our men in Donbass, if only for a short time, and bring equipment, ammunition and mobilization close to our positions.” Volodymyr Zelensky said this in his evening message, commenting on the 36-hour truce for Orthodox Christmas demanded by Vladimir Putin.
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