War against Ukraine - President Selensky celebrates "historic week" - despite blocked billions in aid from the USA
Despite the blocking of billions in financial military aid from the USA and the EU, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi has celebrated a "historic week". In his evening video address, he referred to the EU's decision to begin accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. "The negotiation process will not be easy, but the most important thing is that we have historically decided on one thing: Ukraine will always be a part of our common European home," said Selenskyj. Last week, the Ukrainian President traveled from West Africa via South America and the USA to Scandinavia and finally to Germany to the US headquarters for Europe.
Selenskyj asked for further support for his country in the US capital Washington on Tuesday. However, US President Joe Biden dampened the prospects of further US aid being approved quickly. The release of new US aid is currently being blocked by a dispute in the US parliament. According to the government in Washington, the previously approved US aid for Ukraine will be used up by the end of the year. The European Union has also not released funds as Ukraine had hoped: Due to a veto by Hungary, the other EU heads of state and government were unable to approve a 50 billion euro financial aid package on Friday night as planned. Negotiations will therefore have to continue in January.
In his video address, Selensky nevertheless expressed confidence with regard to further financial support for his country. In addition to direct financial aid, Zelenskyi focused primarily on the possible allocation of billions from frozen Russian assets. "The assets of the terrorist state(Russia) and its allies should be used to support Ukraine in order to protect lives and people from Russian terror," he said. "That will be fair." His government is already "preparing the necessary draft decisions".
According to the Commission, more than 200 billion from the Russian central bank are frozen in the EU alone, with the income from the safekeeping of the capital constantly increasing. According to EU plans, the latter could be allocated to Ukraine.
Foreign Minister Kuleba in favor of increasing weapons production
In its defensive war against Russia, Ukraine is relying on a ramp-up of the arms industry in its own country and among its allies. "Ukraine and its partners must also increase the production of weapons," said Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on the ARD program "Bericht aus Berlin", referring to similar announcements from Moscow. Ukraine and its allies must act together as a military coalition. "We must remain resolute, stick together and support each other."
Just over a week ago, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin said that the country's own arms industry was producing many times more than at the start of the war almost 22 months ago. At the beginning of December, Ukraine itself announced that the Russian arms industry had ramped up production of missiles and combat drones.
Kiev: Russian air defense shoots down its own fighter jet
According to Ukraine, the Russian air defense system shot down one of its own Sukhoi Su-25 fighter jets. "I can say with certainty that it was not the Ukrainian air defense that shot down the Russian attack aircraft," Ukrainian Air Force Commander Nikolai Oleshchuk announced on Telegram. He thanked the Russian air defense "on behalf of the entire Ukrainian people" and added: "To be continued". The information could not be independently verified.
Fighting in the southern Russian region of Belgorod
Several villages in the Russian region of Belgorod, not far from the border with Ukraine, were hit by fighting and artillery fire. While Russian media reported an attack by regular Ukrainian units, Ukrainian military intelligence spoke of an unexpected attack by "opponents of the Kremlin regime". Independent clarification was not possible. Belgorod is located almost 50 kilometers north of the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.
Fighting continues in Ukraine - new airstrikes
New Russian attacks were also reported on Sunday from the various sections of the Ukrainian front. According to the General Staff in Kiev, Russian units once again attempted to push in the bridgeheads of the Ukrainian armed forces on the left bank of the Dnipro near Kherson. In the east, several Russian attacks were repelled near Avdiivka and in the vicinity of Bakhmut. The information could not be independently verified.
Late on Sunday evening, another air alert was triggered in several parts of the country. According to media reports, Russian military forces had again launched several waves of so-called kamikaze drones at various targets in Ukraine.
This will be important on Monday
Further fighting is expected on the frontlines in Ukraine.
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- Despite the objections from Hungary, the EU heads of state and government aimed to approve a 50 billion euro financial aid package for Ukraine and Moldova, as part of their EU accession negotiations.
- In Washington, President Selenskyi asked for additional support for Ukraine, but US President Biden expressed concerns about the pace of further aid approval due to a dispute in the US parliament.
- Foreign Minister Kuleba advocated for an increase in weapons production in Ukraine and among its allies, as a response to Russia's defensive war.
- The Russian air defense system was accused of shooting down one of its own Sukhoi Su-25 fighter jets by Ukraine, a claim that could not be independently verified.
- Fighting and artillery fire were reported in several villages in the Russian region of Belgorod, which is located near the border with Ukraine, with conflicting reports on the origin of the attacks.
- Despite Russian attempts to push into Ukrainian-held territories, the Ukrainian armed forces were able to repel several attacks near Kherson and Avdiivka, according to the Ukrainian General Staff.
- Amidst the ongoing war, the EU reported that more than 200 billion euros in frozen Russian central bank assets exist within the union, potentially providing a new source of aid for Ukraine.
- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed concern about the conflict, reiterating the EU's stance that a peaceful resolution to the conflict was essential for the security and stability of Europe and Ukraine.
- South American countries, such as Argentina and Brazil, have also offered their support to Ukraine, joining other nations in expressing solidarity with Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression.
- The Russian territory of Crimea, seized by Russia in 2014, remains a contentious issue for Ukraine and the international community, as calls for the return of the peninsula to Ukraine continue to resonate in diplomatic circles throughout Europe and the USA.
Source: www.stern.de
