Photo: Andrew Harnik/AP
Joe Biden reiterated his support for the Ukrainians after meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington on Tuesday, saying that "we need to make sure they win the war right now".
06:55
Update on the situation as of the morning of Wednesday, December 13.
Explosions were heard in the centre of Kiev early on Wednesday morning, injuring around 50 people, according to the military administration of the Ukrainian capital.
Stopping aid to Ukraine would be a "Christmas present" for Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden warned in a meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky. "We'll stand by you," the US leader told his Ukrainian counterpart, even as Congress stumbled over additional funding the White House had requested for Kiev. "Ukraine will emerge from this war proud, free and firmly rooted in the West if we do not withdraw," he added at a news conference.
In response to Joe Biden's words, Volodymyr Zelensky said that it was "very important that by the end of this year we are able to send a very strong signal of unity to the 'aggressor'". "Our goal is to win the air battle by crushing Russian air supremacy... Who controls the skies controls the duration of the war," he said. He also said that "thanks to the defense of Ukraine, other European nations are safe from Russian aggression." He added that he had received "more than positive" signals when Washington asked for support for Ukraine.
Republican senators remain firm in their demands for border restrictions in exchange for increased aid to Ukraine. After a closed-door meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky, the senators' position has not changed. They continue to oppose further aid to Ukraine and question the objectives of the war and the way in which US money is being spent. For example, Republican Senator Eric Schmitt said: "If you listen to people at home, they're not interested in a blank check for Ukraine when they see 12,000 people crossing our southern, open border every day."
The United States has announced new sanctions to curb Russia's "war machine". These new measures target individuals and entities suspected of supplying or financing Russia's defence industry in the war in Ukraine and of circumventing sanctions already in place against Russia.
According to US intelligence, Russia believes it can turn this winter's military stalemate to its advantage. According to this source, the Russians believe that if they achieve a military stalemate during the winter, it will weaken Western support for Ukraine and allow Russia to gain the upper hand, despite the heavy losses Russian forces have suffered and the shortage of skilled personnel and equipment they face.
Ukraine launches an investigation into the cyber attack on mobile operator Kyivstar, suspecting Russia. Kyivstar's network, which has more than 24 million subscribers, was crippled by a hacker attack early Tuesday morning. The operator's CEO spoke of an "act of war". Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) announced that it has opened a criminal case into the cyber attack on the Kyivstar operator, saying that one of the leads being investigated is a hacking attack originating from Russian special services.
The IMF disbursed $900 million to Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskiy went to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington to meet its director, Kristalina Georgieva. Immediately afterwards, the IMF announced the disbursement of $900 million (€834 million) to Ukraine under the aid plan announced in March.
06:51
The number of victims of the night attack in Kiev has risen to around 50 injured
According to the military administration of the Ukrainian capital, Kiev was the target of a Russian missile attack early on Wednesday morning, injuring around 50 people. The head of the authority, Serhiy Popko, said in a statement that fifty-one people were injured, including six children. He added that all of them had been treated, adding that no information on any deaths had been received at this stage. He said there had been "about ten cases of falling debris" from projectiles, particularly in the Desna district, where seventeen residents, including seven children, had been evacuated from the burning building. The Ukrainian air force, for its part, said Russia launched the attack "at exactly three o'clock in the morning (1:00 a.m. CET)" and sent ten missiles towards Kiev, which were shot down. An Agence France-Presse journalist heard several explosions and warning sirens.
According to the city's mayor, Vitaly Klitschko, an apartment building in the Dneprovsky district was "damaged", leading to the evacuation of "fifteen residents, including four children and two invalids". "The missile landed on the territory of one of the capital's hospitals," he said later, adding that one person was injured.
This was the second attack on Kiev in one week. Early on Monday morning, Kiev said eight Russian missiles flying towards the capital were shot down by Ukrainian air defences. Four people were treated by emergency services.
In the south, Odessa was also targeted by the Russian attack, the city's mayor, Gennady Troukhanov, wrote on Telegram. "Unfortunately, there are casualties," he said without giving figures. The military said Iranian-made Shahed drones were shot down over the city.
06:10
Berlin: German secret agent suspected of spying for Russians goes on trial
A German secret agent suspected of spying for Russia and his alleged accomplice will go on trial in Berlin on Wednesday for "treason". The trial, described by German weekly Der Spiegel as the country's "biggest espionage trial" in decades, takes place against the backdrop of Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Fifty-three-year-old Carsten L., an agent of the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND), and his alleged accomplice, Arthur E., a thirty-two-year-old freelancer, are suspected of "treason in two particularly serious cases." They face life imprisonment.
According to the indictment, the two defendants, who have been in pre-trial detention since their arrests on 21 December 2022 in the case of Carsten L. and 22 January 2023 in the case of Arthur E., were alleged to have handed over classified documents and information to the Russian security services (FSB) on two occasions in the autumn of 2022, almost eight months after the invasion of Ukraine began.
Since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, German security services have constantly warned of Russian espionage activities in Germany, which have taken on a scale rarely seen in recent years.
04:25
Dozens injured in Russian attack on Kiev, says mayor of Ukrainian capital
Dozens of people were injured in a Russian missile attack on Kiev early Wednesday morning, according to the mayor of the Ukrainian capital. An Agence France-Presse journalist heard several explosions and air raid sirens shortly afterwards.
"In the Dnipro district of the capital, 34 people were injured. Fifteen of them were hospitalized, including two children. Nineteen were given medical assistance on the spot," Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on social media, referring to rescue workers. According to the mayor, "as a result of the enemy's overnight rocket attack on the Dnipro district of the capital, a residential block was damaged." About fifteen residents were evacuated and a children's hospital was also damaged, according to Klitschko. The Kiev military administration reported that debris from the destruction of "enemy air targets" fell on the Desnyansky and Dnipro districts - the part of the city where the fire broke out, according to the same source.
This is the second attack on Kiev in one week. Early on Monday morning, Kiev said eight Russian missiles flying towards the capital were shot down by Ukrainian air defences. Four people were treated by emergency services.
02:59
Explosions were heard in the centre of Kiev
Explosions were heard in central Kiev early on Wednesday morning, an AFP journalist reported, and the mayor of the Ukrainian capital described a "hostile attack" that left seven people injured.
"According to rescue workers, seven people were injured as a result of the enemy attack on Kiev (...). Five of them have been hospitalized" in the capital's medical facilities, Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on social media.
01:02
Ireland cuts support for Ukrainian refugees
The Irish government announced on Tuesday that it would cut support for Ukrainians fleeing the war, following the example of other European countries. In this country of five million, 101 200 people have come from Ukraine, 74 500 of whom have been granted asylum by the state. More than 16 000 of them are employed, according to the Irish Government. Under the changes announced on Tuesday, which will come into force early next year, new arrivals from Ukraine will be entitled to accommodation for up to 90 days, during which time they will receive a weekly allowance of €38.8 per adult (previously €220) and €29.80 per child.
The measures will bring Ireland "in line with other EU countries" at a time of great pressure on the housing sector, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told Parliament. "These changes are necessary to ensure that Ireland can continue to meet its obligations to assist persons with temporary protection, given the impact on available accommodation and on the assumption that Ireland will continue to receive approximately 500 new arrivals per week," the Irish government said in a press release. The government therefore expects a reduction in the number of new arrivals from Ukraine, Minister for Equality Roderic O'Gorman told a press conference.
23:43
Volodymyr Zelensky says he received "more than positive" signals when he applied to Washington
After Joe Biden's speech, Volodymyr Zelensky returned to the topics discussed at the White House today. He said that he and Biden had discussed the "new isolation" of Vladimir Putin and the need to make him pay for Russian aggression. He said Russia wants a protracted war, adding that it is "very important that we send a very strong signal of unity to the 'aggressor' by the end of this year." The Ukrainian president pointed in particular to Patriot missile systems, saying that Russian weapons were no match for them. "Our goal is to win the air battle, to crush Russian air supremacy... Who controls the skies controls the duration of the war," he said. He also said that "thanks to the defense of Ukraine, other European nations are safe from Russian aggression." "We have shown that our courage and partnership are stronger than any Russian hostility," he said.
During a press meeting with the two leaders, Zelensky indicated that he had received "more than positive" signals in his request for Washington's support for Ukraine, but said he was waiting for concrete "results" from the $61 billion U.S. envelope. Asked by a reporter about the possibility of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, he replied, "How could Ukraine give up its territories? Frankly, it makes no sense. It's not about territories, it's about lives, families, stories."
Before the press conference ended, Joe Biden said that before we consider Ukraine joining NATO, "we need to make sure they win the war right now."
Le Monde/JaV
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