Ukraine-Russia war – live: Zelensky in last-ditch plea for US aid to Biden as Moscow fires missiles on Kyiv

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky will make a last-ditch push to try to get more US weapons and aid for his country during a meeting with Joe Biden at the White House.

Congress has blocked tens of billions in fresh funding in a spat over the number of asylum seekers and migrants crossing the southern US border, a bugbear for Republicans.

The White House has said current funding will run out at the end of the month and so there is now a race against time before legislators soon leave for their end-of-year break.

It comes as Moscow attacked Ukraine with eight long-range ballistic missiles as four people were wounded by debris after air defences shot down the incoming salvo, officials said.

The strike at around 4am on Tuesday marked the first major attack on Kyiv in recent months using ballistic missiles, which travel faster than drones and cruise missiles and are harder to shoot down.

Four people were hurt by shards of shattered glass in the Darnitskyi district, in southeastern Kyiv, and needed medical assistance, the national police said in a statement.

Key Points

• Fears of winter push by Moscow ahead of Vladimir Putin elections in March

• Ukraine soldier says situation in Avdiivka is ‘very difficult’

• Day 656: What’s happening this morning in Ukraine?

• Lord Cameron says blocking Ukraine aid would be ‘Christmas present’ to Putin and Xi

Zelensky arrives in Norway ahead of EU summit

10:47 , Athena Stavrou

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Norway to discuss further military and financial aid.

Mr Zelensky is meeting with Nordic leaders ahead of the European Union summit this week where a decision on whether Ukrainian membership talks is expected.

Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Zelensky said the summit would not be easy but he insisted that Kyiv had fulfilled all demands.

Russia ‘lost 87% of pre-war troops’ in war

10:02 , Athena Stavrou

Pre-war Russian forces have been devastated by the war in Ukraine, a war monitoring think-tank has said.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), citing a declassified US intelligence document, said Putin’s army has lost 87 per cent of their pre-war active-duty ground troops.

The intelligence assessment reportedly stated that Russian forces lost 315,000 out the 360,000 military personnel on their inventory before February 24 2022.

Russia has reportedly also lost two-thirds of the tanks in its pre-war inventory and over a quarter of their stockpiles of military equipment as of November 2023.

The ISW says that Russia has managed to partially offset these losses and continues to prepare for a long war.

Intelligence suggests 420,000 Russian personnel are currently in occupied Ukraine, although they “likely have lower combat capabilities” than those they replaced.

Russia’s military command is also pursuing a “long-term restructuring and expansion” to prepare for a potential future conflict against NATO, ISW reported.

Russia use new missile launch site to ‘complicate Ukrainian air defence efforts'

09:27 , Athena Stavrou

Russia brought a new launch site into use on Tuesday in an effort to “complicate Ukrainian air defence efforts”, the UK’s Ministry of Defence said.

In their latest defence intelligence update, the MoD said Russia launched at least 15 Shahed One Way Attack Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (OWA UAV) from the Balaklava district of Crimea.

This is now the fifth confirmed OWA UAV launch site being used in Russian operations against Ukraine alongside the sites at Cape Chauda, Yeysk, Primorsko, and Kursk.

The Ministry of Defence said: “Russia is highly likely dispersing its OWA UAV launch capabilities across several locations as both a force protection measure and to complicate Ukrainian air defence efforts.

“Russia will likely use additional launch sites in response to Ukrainian attacks, forcing Ukraine to adapt to new transit corridors of these systems.”

EU chief says support Ukraine for ‘as long as it takes'

09:09 , Athena Stavrou

The European Union’s chief executive urged the bloc on Wednesday to continue supporting Ukraine for “as long as it takes”.

Ukraine is looking to a key European leaders’ summit on Thursday for a positive signal on its future in the European Union.

“As the war drags on, we must prove what it means to support Ukraine for as long as it takes,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament ahead of the leaders’ summit.

Her Commission has proposed that the summit takes a decision this week to start EU membership talks with Ukraine once it meets the four outstanding conditions set out previously to advance Kyiv’s EU hopes.

The Brussels EU executive suggested that could happen in March.

Hungary is opposed to granting Ukraine more financial aid and has threatened to veto plans to advance Kyiv’s EU membership.

Hungary reinforces opposition to Ukraine’s EU membership talks

08:25 , Athena Stavrou

Hungary has stuck to its opposition stance on Ukraine’s membership talks with the EU.

Prime minister Viktor Orban said Ukraine should aim for a strategic partnership instead in an interview with local news broadcasters this morning.

“The EU is preparing to make a terrible mistake and we must prevent that even if 26 (members) want to make the mistake,” Mr Orban said in the interview.

“If we want to give support to Ukraine, a geostrategic signal, then we should, but this is not membership.”

The Hungarian PM was seen engaging in a heated discussion with Ukrainian prime minister Volodymyr Zelensky in Argentina over the weekend.

Mr Orban has repeatedly opposed Ukraine’s EU membership and boasts about his ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russian offensives primarily ‘aimed to weaken Western support'

08:05 , Athena Stavrou

Russia’s autumn offensive operations were primarily aimed at weakening Western support, US intelligence reportedly assessed.

War monitoring think-tank The Insititute for the Study of War (ISW) cited the intelligence that said the operational objectives of Putin’s offenses were considered secondary aims.

US intelligence reportedly concluded that offensives have only resulted in heavy Russian losses and no operationally significant Russian battlefield gains.

US National Security Council Spokesperson Andrienne Watson reportedly stated that Russian forces have suffered more than 13,000 casualties and lost 220 combat vehicles along the Avdiivka-Novopavlivka axis since launching offensive operations in October 2023, ISW said.

Western weapons should not be doubted, Kyiv official says

07:28 , Athena Stavrou

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff said the effectiveness of Western weapons should not be doubted, in light of last night’s attack.

The Ukrainian air force said it had downed 10 Russia-launched ballistic missiles overnight.

“The effectiveness of Western weapons in the hands of Ukrainian soldiers cannot be doubted,” Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak said on the Telegram messaging app.

“But there are victims as a result of falling fragments of Russian missiles, houses were burned. Kyiv is being hit with ballistic (missiles).”

Over 50 civilians, including a five-year-old child, were injured as a result of debris from intercepting missiles during the attack.

51 injured in Kyiv missile strike

07:18 , Athena Stavrou

At least 51 people, including six children, were injured in a Russian missile attack on Kyiv in the early hours of Wednesday.

Loud explosions rocked Kyiv at 3am as the city’s air defences started intercepting Russian missiles headed for the peaceful capital for the second time this week.

Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said that the debris from intercepted missiles damaged an apartment building, a private house, and set several cars ablaze. It also shattered the windows and entrances of a nearby children’s hospital.

All missiles targeting the capital were downed by Ukraine’s air defence systems, Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv’s military administration said.

Andriy Shevchenko urges the world not to forget Ukraine: ‘The cold is coming. Russia will try to hit our energy’

07:00 , Lydia Patrick

On the morning of 24 February 2022 – a date etched in every Ukrainian’s mind – Andriy Shevchenko was woken by a phone call from his mother. She told him through tears that Russia was invading. Shevchenko was in London, where he lives with his wife and four sons; his mother and wider family were in Ukraine, under attack.

Read the full voices piece by Lawrence Ostlere here

Andriy Shevchenko on Ukraine: ‘The cold is coming. Russia will try to hit our energy’

Voices- Zelensky’s extraordinary visit can’t fix the fact America’s Ukraine aid is dead

06:00 , Lydia Patrick

In December of last year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Washington as a hero, delivering a joint address to Congress. The select committee investigating the January 6 riot postponed the release of its final report as Congress rolled out the red carpet for the leader of the country pushing back against aggression from Russia.

But the warm welcome underlined the fact that Democrats, who at the time controlled the majority in the House, knew that passing aid to Ukraine would be much harder come January when Republicans took control of the House of Representatives.

And indeed, on Tuesday 12 December, despite arriving in the US Senate in his trademark fatigues flanked by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, most Republicans remained wholly unmoved in their opposition to assisting Ukraine.

There is truly no way around it: Congress is wholly at an impasse when it comes to passing aid to Ukraine, and no dramatic plea from Zelensky can change it.

Zelensky’s extraordinary visit can’t fix the fact America’s Ukraine aid is dead

Watch - Biden slams GOP ‘gift’ to Putin and calls for Congress to pass Ukraine funding

04:00 , Lydia Patrick

Homeless will not rise despite cuts to help to Ukrainians in Ireland, says minister

03:00 , Lydia Patrick

Minister for Children and Integration Roderic O’Gorman has said that he does not expect homelessness to rise in Ireland amid plans to pare back state supports being offered to arriving Ukrainians.

The Government has agreed to cut financial support for Ukrainians who are given state accommodation from the end of January, and will also provide state accommodation only for a maximum of 90 days.

During that period, arrivals will be paid a 38.80 euro subsistence allowance and an additional 29.80 per child per week “in recognition of the fact that accommodation has been provided”, according to the Taoiseach.

Arrivals had been entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance of 220 euro per week.

Mr O’Gorman said that the proposal is similar to one proposed at Cabinet several weeks ago, but with a “significant change” in the form of the social welfare reduction.

He also said that a number of properties around the country are to be set up solely for use as reception centres, alongside vacancies in hotel and guesthouse properties.

Meals and laundry services, integration support and access to education for children will be provided in those reception centres.

Top US Senate Republican says Ukraine aid deal ‘practically impossible’ before Christmas

02:00 , Lydia Patrick

U.S. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said on Tuesday it would be “practically impossible” for Congress to pass a supplemental funding package including aid for Ukraine before Christmas.

McConnell told reporters that a deal will not happen until President Joe Biden and Republicans reach agreement with Republicans, who want to link funding for Ukraine to new border security measures.

US concern over Alexei Navalny ‘unacceptable meddling’, Kremlin says

01:00 , Lydia Patrick

US concern over the condition of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is unacceptable meddling in Russia’s domestic affairs, the Kremlin said.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said he was unaware of the whereabouts of Navalny, who has been moved from his penal colony to an undisclosed location.

It comes after the White House national security spokesperson John Kirby called for the immediate release of Navalny, saying “he should never have been jailed in the first place”.

MI6 chief thanks Putin’s TV channel for help in encouraging Russians to spy for the UK

00:00 , Lydia Patrick

The head of Britain’s foreign intelligence agency has thanked Russian state television for its “help” encouraging Russians to spy for the U.K. after it translated and broadcast part of a speech he gave earlier this year in which he called on Russians to “join hands with us.”

Anchor Maria Butina — herself a former Russian spy — included the clip at the top of a program about Richard Moore, the head of Britain‘s Secret Intelligence Service, also known as MI6.

Moore gave the speech in July at the British Embassy in Prague where he openly encouraged Russians faced with “the venality, infighting and sheer callous incompetence of their leaders” to spy for Britain.

On Monday, Moore tweeted that the British foreign intelligence agency had been “puzzling over how to get my message to our target audience in Russia — we never thought Russian state TV would step in to help.”

MI6 chief thanks Putin’s TV channel for help in encouraging Russians to spy for UK

Polish far-right politician extinguishes Hanukkah candle in parliament

Tuesday 12 December 2023 23:00 , Lydia Patrick

A far-right lawmaker in the Polish parliament used a fire extinguisher on Tuesday and put out a candle on a menorah that was lit for the Jewish holiday Hannukah.

All major political forces quickly denounced the incident carried out by Grzegorz Braun, and said there would be no tolerance for antisemitic and xenophobic behavior in the Sejm, the Polish parliament.

The speaker of the parliament, Szymon Holownia, called the act “absolutely scandalous” and excluded him from the day’s parliamentary proceedings. He said he was reporting him to prosecutors.

“Poland is home of all religions,” Holownia said.

Polish far-right politician extinguishes Hanukkah candle in parliament

Defence secretary Grant Shapps confirms transfer of two navy minehunters to Ukraine

Tuesday 12 December 2023 22:00 , Lydia Patrick

Britain is sending two Royal Navy minehunter ships to Ukraine to boost its Black Sea capabilities in the face of Russia’s aggressive invasion, officials said.

UK defence secretary Grant Shapps said the aid is part of the collaborative effort between Britain and Norway to bolster the Ukrainian Navy. Strong maritime forces are critical to fight Russia’s aggression and facilitate grain and steel shipments through the Black Sea, Mr Shapps said.

UK is also sending amphibious armoured vehicles and coastal raiding boats to the nation under siege.

“It’s not just those couple of ships, but we’re launching something called the ‘Maritime Coalition’, which is a British-led...but international plan to ensure that not only can they be-mine that part of the sea, but Ukraine can build a navy for the future,” Mr Shapps told the BBC.

Defence secretary Grant Shapps confirms transfer of two navy minehunters to Ukraine

Ukrainian commanders not about to be dismissed, defence minister says

Tuesday 12 December 2023 21:00 , Lydia Patrick

Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov rejected any notion on Tuesday that two of the country’s top military commanders were about to be dismissed.

“On this matter, there is no such question,” Umerov told a news conference alongside his Latvian counterpart. “On this matter, I am always open and if the question is ever raised, I will say something immediately. There are no such issues.”

At issue at the news conference was the future of Commander in Chief Valery Zaluzhnyi and Joint Forces Commander Serhiy Nayev.

The possibility of change in Ukraine‘s top military ranks has been raised several times since relations cooled between President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Zaluzhnyi over the commander’s view of the conduct of the 21-month-old war against Russia.

Zaluzhnyi, in a published essay last month, said the war was entering a phase of attrition similar to World War One battles.

The president disagreed with any notion that the war was subject to a stalemate, though he has acknowledged that a counteroffensive launched in the east and south in June has moved more slowly than had been hoped.

Umerov, appointed in September, made a similar denial last month that changes in Ukraine‘s command were under consideration.

In his latest comments, Umerov said rotations of positions were a normal part of military operations “but there are no such issues, however much our enemies want to knock us off stride”.

“Everyone is subject to change, absolutely everyone,” he told reporters. “We will do everything necessary for our victory, but for today, there is no such issue.”

Biden tells Ukraine’s Zelensky: ‘Don’t give up hope'

Tuesday 12 December 2023 20:15 , Lydia Patrick

U.S. President Joe Biden told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy not to give up hope in his country’s fight against Russia’s invasion, saying the U.S. Congress should fund additional aid.

Biden also announced $200 million in separate military assistance for the country.

Top US Senate Republican says Ukraine aid deal 'practically impossible' before Christmas

Tuesday 12 December 2023 20:02 , Lydia Patrick

U.S. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said on Tuesday it would be “practically impossible” for Congress to pass a supplemental funding package including aid for Ukraine before Christmas.

McConnell told reporters that a deal will not happen until President Joe Biden and Republicans reach agreement with Republicans, who want to link funding for Ukraine to new border security measures.

Zelensky visits Capitol Hill and the White House with US aid for Ukraine at risk of collapse

Tuesday 12 December 2023 19:13 , Lydia Patrick

His country’s future at stake, Ukrainian President Volodymyr used inspirational words, resolve and a nod to Christmas in appealing Tuesday to leaders in Congress for U.S. aid for his fighters in the war with Russia.

But as he arrived next at the White House, additional American support was in grave doubt.Zelensky’s visit to Washington came at a grim time, much changed from the hero’s welcome he received last year.

President Joe Biden’s request for an additional $110 billion U.S. aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other national security needs is at serious risk of collapse in Congress as Republicans are insisting on linking it to strict U.S.-Mexico border security changes that Democrats decry.

“The fight we’re in is a fight for freedom,” Zelensky repeatedly said in the meetings, according to lawmakers.

Flanked by Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Zelensky entered a private meeting with senators with a public bipartisan show of support and to some applause.

But more than an hour later few senators’ minds appeared changed.Schumer called it a “very powerful” meeting, but gave no update on stalled negotiations.

Next Zelensky visited the House leaders, including privately with new Speaker Mike Johnson, whose hard-right Republicans have been the most resistance to any deal. Johnson insisted afterward: “We do want to do the right thing here.

”The White House said the time was right for Zelensky’s trip to Washington as Biden pushes lawmakers approve the aid package before the year-end holidays.

A top spokesman said the U.S. can’t let Ukraine aid lapse, especially as the Israel-Hamas war takes attention, and that the president was willing to make compromises with Republicans.

“This additional funding will absolutely help Ukraine claw back even more of their territory and kick the Russians right out of Ukraine,” said the White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on NBC.

Hackers attack Ukraine’s biggest mobile operator

Tuesday 12 December 2023 18:00 , Alexander Butler

Ukraine’s biggest mobile network operator, Kyivstar, has said it was the victim of a powerful hacker attack this morning.

The company said it was working to repair the outage and was cooperating with law enforcement bodies.

“Today, a technical failure occurred in our network, as a result of which communication and Internet access services may be unavailable to part of our subscriber base,” the operator said in a statement on Facebook.

Moldova can join EU without Transnistria, EU ambassador says

Tuesday 12 December 2023 17:00 , Alexander Butler

Moldova could be able to join the EU without the contested region of Transnistria, the Kyiv Independent quotes the EU’s ambassador to Moldova, Janis Mazeiks, as saying.

Speaking on the NordNews channel, Mr Mazeiks is reported to have said: “We wouldn’t see it fair if [Moldova] is taken hostage by the solution to this quite complex problem.”

Transnistria is a breakaway region in eastern Moldova, which is politically, economically and militarily supported by Moscow.

Russia and Iran 'working on major new agreement'

Tuesday 12 December 2023 16:00 , Alexander Butler

Russia will speed up work on a “major new interstate agreement” with Iran, the Kremlin has said.

In a statement this morning, Russia said the two countries’ foreign ministers agreed in a phone call on Monday to speed up work on the agreement, which was at “a high stage of readiness”.

The ministry provided no details on the planned agreement, which comes amid strengthening trade, political and other ties between Moscow and Tehran in the face of Western economic sanctions.

Finland will reopen two border crossings with Russia

Tuesday 12 December 2023 15:00 , Alexander Butler

Finland will reopen one border crossing in the south of the country and one in the east, the Finnish prime minister Petteri Orpo said.

It comes after the Finnish government closed its borders to Russia after accusing the Kremlin of deliberately sending refugees to destabilise the country.

Russian troops suffer shortage of night vision technology, MoD says

Tuesday 12 December 2023 14:00 , Alexander Butler

Russian troops are “highly likely” to struggle fighting at night due to an ongoing shortage of night vision goggles, the UK ministry of defence said.

“Russian forces are highly likely to continue to struggle when fighting at night. Numerous reports from combatants have highlighted this trend since the start of the war.

“In late November 2023, a social media user claiming to be a Russian soldier serving in Kherson highlighted the shortage of night vision goggles and low-light cameras for uncrewed aerial vehicles,” it said on X.

US concern over Alexei Navalny ‘unacceptable meddling’, Kremlin says

Tuesday 12 December 2023 13:00 , Alexander Butler

US concern over the condition of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is unacceptable meddling in Russia’s domestic affairs, the Kremlin said.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said he was unaware of the whereabouts of Navalny, who has been moved from his penal colony to an undisclosed location.

It comes after the White House national security spokesperson John Kirby called for the immediate release of Navalny, saying “he should never have been jailed in the first place”.

'Highly worrying' that Alexei Navalny has 'been missing for a week', says EU foreign affairs chief

Tuesday 12 December 2023 12:35 , Alexander Butler

The EU’s foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell has said it was “highly worrying” that Alexei Navalny, the jailed Russian opposition leader, is reported to have been missing for seven days.

“Highly worrying news of Navalny missing for seven days. Russia’s political leadership is responsible for his safety & health in prison for which they will be held to account.

“The EU reiterates its call for his immediate and unconditional release from politically motivated incarceration,” Mr Borrell wrote on X.

Ukraine’s biggest mobile network operator victim of major cyberattack

Tuesday 12 December 2023 11:46 , Alexander Butler

Ukraine’s biggest mobile network operator, Kyivstar, said it was the victim of a major hacker attack on Tuesday morning which has temporarily knocked out its cellular and internet signal, Reuters reports.

The company said it was working to repair the outage and was cooperating with law enforcement bodies.

Separately, the co-founder of Monobank, a major Ukrainian payment system, said his company was currently suffering a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack, but that everything was “under control”.

Defence secretary Grant Shapps confirms transfer of two navy minehunters to Ukraine

Tuesday 12 December 2023 10:00 , Alexander Butler

Britain is sending two Royal Navy minehunter ships to Ukraine to boost its Black Sea capabilities in the face of Russia’s aggressive invasion, officials said.

UK defence secretary Grant Shapps said the aid is part of the collaborative effort between Britain and Norway to bolster the Ukrainian Navy. Strong maritime forces are critical to fight Russia’s aggression and facilitate grain and steel shipments through the Black Sea, Mr Shapps said.

UK is also sending amphibious armoured vehicles and coastal raiding boats to the nation under siege.

Defence secretary Grant Shapps confirms transfer of two navy minehunters to Ukraine

Four wounded as Russia attacks Kyiv with ballistic missiles

Tuesday 12 December 2023 09:00 , Alexander Butler

Russia attacked the Ukrainian capital with eight long-range ballistic missiles before dawn on Monday and four people were wounded by debris after air defences shot down the incoming salvo, officials said.

The strike at around 4am marked the first major attack on Kyiv in recent months using ballistic missiles, which travel faster than drones and cruise missiles and are harder to shoot down.

Four people were hurt by shards of shattered glass in the Darnitskyi district, in southeastern Kyiv, and needed medical assistance, the national police said in a statement.

Zelensky says US and European freedom threatened by ‘Putin and his sick clique’

Tuesday 12 December 2023 08:00 , Alexander Butler

Russia’s real target is freedom in America and Europe despite a continuing war in Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky said in a candid speech at a defence university in Washington on Monday.

The Ukrainian president kick-started his visit to the US to ask for more aid to fight off the Russian invasion of his country.

Mr Zelensky said Russia’s war on Ukraine is not “just about some old-fashioned dictatorship trying to settle scores, real or imagined”.

Zelensky says US and European freedom threatened by ‘Putin and his sick clique’

Watch - Defence Secretary Grant Shapps confirm transfer of two naval minehunters to Ukraine

Tuesday 12 December 2023 07:00 , Lydia Patrick

Putin visits a shipyard to oversee the commissioning of new Russian nuclear submarines

Tuesday 12 December 2023 06:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday traveled to a shipyard to attend the commissioning of new nuclear submarines, a visit that showcased the country’s nuclear might amid the fighting in Ukraine.

Putin’s trip to the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk in Russia’s northwestern Archangelsk region comes three days after he declared his intention to seek another six-year term.

Putin announced his decision to run in the March 17 presidential election, which he is all but certain to win, while speaking to soldiers who fought in Ukraine after a Kremlin award ceremony — a setting that underlined his focus on the military action in Ukraine.

Putin visits a shipyard to oversee the commissioning of new Russian nuclear submarines

Tuesday 12 December 2023 05:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Schoolboy’s hilarious reaction to Zelensky walking into classroom

Zelensky says had ‘frank’ talk with Hungary’s Orban ahead of Nato summit on Kyiv membership

Tuesday 12 December 2023 04:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Volodymyr Zelensky said he had a “frank” conversation with Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban on Sunday as the two were seen chatting on the sidelines of the inauguration of Argentina’s new president Javier Milei.

“It was as frank as possible – and obviously, it was focussed on our European affairs,” said Mr Zelensky in his nightly address, referring to his interaction with the Hungarian leader.

The two leaders were seen conversing in a corner of the Argentine parliament after Mr Orban threatened to block more European Union financial support to Kyiv. A nearly 20-second-long video showed Mr Zelensky engaging with Mr Orban animatedly in parliament where hundreds of leaders had gathered.

Zelensky says had ‘frank’ talk with Hungary’s Orban ahead of Nato summit

Who is Russian army chief Valery Gerasimov? The country’s top soldier turned Putin’s fall guy

Tuesday 12 December 2023 03:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Valery Gerasimov, an unsmiling, grey-haired giant, stood waiting for Vladimir Putin outside the entrance to the Russian Southern Military Command Centre, about 60 miles from the eastern Ukraine border.

His clenched hands hung by his sides, like a schoolboy waiting for the headmaster. It was 19 October 2023. The Russian chief of the general staff, Mr Putin’s top soldier, had been appointed the operational commander of the invasion of Ukraine in January.

It was a move akin to the owner of a football club appointing the manager as his captain on the field. Since 2012, when he was appointed chief of the Russian military, his job had been big-picture strategy; from January 2023, he had needed to be engaged in day-to-day tactics as well.

Who is Russian army chief Valery Gerasimov? Top soldier turned Putin’s fall guy

Tuesday 12 December 2023 02:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Hungary relies on Russia for some of its energy supplies, and Orban is seen as President Vladimir Putin’s strongest ally in Europe. The government in Budapest has routinely blocked work on sanctions against Moscow linked to the war.

In a letter to European Council President Charles Michel, who will chair the two-day summit starting on Thursday, Orban warned that forcing a decision on Ukraine could destroy EU unity. Other government leaders, ministers and EU officials admit to being perplexed about what Orban wants.

“The only way I can read the Hungarian position, not just on Ukraine but on many other issues, is that they are against Europe and everything Europe stands for,” Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said.

Pressure mounts on Hungary to unblock EU membership talks and funds for Ukraine

Tuesday 12 December 2023 01:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Pressure mounted on Hungary on Monday not to veto the opening of European Union membership talks and the supply of economic aid to war-torn Ukraine at a pivotal EU summit this week, after Prime Minister Viktor Orban demanded that the issue be struck from the agenda.

With tens of billions of dollars in military and economic assistance blocked by Senate Republicans in the United States, Ukraine is desperate to ensure longer-term financial and military assistance as fighting in its almost 2-year war with Russia bogs down.

Pressure mounts on Hungary to unblock EU membership talks and funds for Ukraine

Zelensky in Argentina on leader’s first trip to South America

Tuesday 12 December 2023 00:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukraine‘s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, was in Argentina on Monday, where he attended the swearing-in of the country’s new president, Javier Milei.

It was the Ukrainian leader’s first official trip to South America as Kyiv continues to court support among developing nations for its 21-month-old fight against Russia‘s invading forces.

Mr Zelensky met with Mr Milei as well as with the presidents of Uruguay, Paraguay and Ecuador. During the inauguration ceremony, Mr Zelenskyy could be seen exchanging words with Hungarian leader Viktor Orban, widely considered one of Russian president Vladimir Putin’s closest allies in Europe and one of the few European leaders who has not sided with Ukraine in the war.

In his nightly video address, Mr Zelensky said he had a “highly straightforward conversation” with Mr Orban, “focused on our European affairs”.

He said he also spoke by phone with the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, “about joint work at the EU level and about the joint defence of Europe”.

Ukraine warns Russia will target energy infrastructure

Monday 11 December 2023 23:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukrainian officials have warned that Russia will target energy infrastructure to cause power outages and blackouts like it did last winter.

In an intelligence update over the weekend, the UK Defence Ministry noted that Russia last week used its heavy bomber fleet for the first time since September.

It predicted the start of a more concerted campaign aimed at degrading Ukraine‘s energy infrastructure as winter sets in.

Kyiv is routinely targeted by Russian drone and missile attacks.

Just over two weeks ago, Kyiv came under what Ukrainian officials said was the most intense drone attack since the beginning of Russia‘s full-scale invasion in 2022.

Ukraine‘s air force said Russia launched 75 Iranian-made Shahed drones against the capital, of which 74 were destroyed by air defences.

Ballistic missiles shot down in latest Russian attack on Kyiv

Monday 11 December 2023 22:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russia fired eight ballistic missiles at Kyiv early on Monday, all of which were shot down, Ukraine‘s air force said.

The thwarted attack still left one person injured by shrapnel and three more suffered severe stress reactions, officials said.

Several homes were also destroyed and more than 100 were left without electricity.

The predawn attack on Kyiv came amid warnings that Russia will step up its attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure as winter sets in with freezing temperatures.

A series of loud explosions rang out in Ukraine‘s capital just after 4am, as the city was under its nightly curfew, followed by air raid sirens.

Ukraine‘s military said its air defenses intercepted all eight ballistic missiles. However, falling debris from rockets damaged homes on the ground, leaving one person wounded and three others suffering severe shock, officials said.

The attack also left some 120 households in the city without electricity, Ukraine‘s Ministry of Energy said.

Why so many of Nepal’s Gurkhas end up fighting for Russia in Ukraine

Monday 11 December 2023 21:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Nearly 200 Nepalese nationals are serving as mercenaries in the Russian army – but it’s not only a phenomenon benefitting the Kremlin’s military recruitment, as Namita Singh explains:

Afew months ago, a Ukrainian official posted a video of a man who had been captured while fighting for Russia. The man was neither trained by Russia nor a resident of that country, and he had no direct stake in the Ukraine war. Yet he had flown over 4,000km to serve in “one of the Russian Airborne Forces brigade”, the video said.

Belonging to the landlocked Himalayan state of Nepal, which has a growing population and rising unemployment, Bibek Khatri admits to joining the Russian forces solely for the money.

Why so many of Nepal’s Gurkhas end up fighting for Russia in Ukraine

Zelensky, in Washington, urges Congress not to play into Putin’s hands

Monday 11 December 2023 20:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told a U.S. military audience on Monday that he hoped he can still count on the United States and urged Congress not play into Russian President Vladimir Putin’s hands, as he started a critical visit to Washington to shore up security assistance.

“We won’t give up. We know what to do and you can count on Ukraine. And we hope just as much to be able to count on you,” Zelensky said in an address to the National Defense University.

U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration has warned Congress that a failure to renew military assistance to Ukraine could tip the nearly two-year-old war in Russia‘s favor, creating national security threats for the West.

Zelensky, in an oblique reference to disputes in Congress over allocating aid, said it was “crucial that politics ... not betray the soldiers.”

“Let me be frank with you, friends. If there’s anyone inspired by unresolved issues on Capital Hill, it’s just Putin and his sick clique,” Zelensky added.

‘Homelessness will not rise in Ireland,’ says Minister for Children

Tuesday 12 December 2023 19:18 , Lydia Patrick

Minister for Children and Integration Roderic O’Gorman has said that he does not expect homelessness to rise in Ireland amid plans to pare back state supports being offered to arriving Ukrainians.

The Government has agreed to cut financial support for Ukrainians who are given state accommodation from the end of January, and will also provide state accommodation only for a maximum of 90 days.

During that period, arrivals will be paid a 38.80 euro subsistence allowance and an additional 29.80 per child per week “in recognition of the fact that accommodation has been provided”, according to the Taoiseach.

Arrivals had been entitled to a jobseeker’s allowance of 220 euro per week.

Mr O’Gorman said that the proposal is similar to one proposed at Cabinet several weeks ago, but with a “significant change” in the form of the social welfare reduction.

Asked if people would be made homeless after the end of the 90-day period, Mr O’Gorman said: “I fundamentally don’t believe that’s going to become an issue because what’s happened in other EU member states is when a limitation has been introduced to the amount of time Ukrainians can stay in accommodation, it hasn’t resulted in homelessness.

“Ukrainians are an extremely mobile population, they have the right under the temporary protection directive to move to other EU member states, they have the right to move back to their own country as well.

“So we’re not seeing, when other member states introduce changes like this, any sort of instances of homelessness there.”

On Ukraine’s frontline, Kyiv’s troops know US funding is vital to keep them alive

Monday 11 December 2023 19:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Delays in receiving shells and other weapons because of a political spat in Washington will only benefit Vladimir Putin and Russia, writes Askold Krushelnycky:

Ukraine is firing thousands of shells a day on the frontlines against the forces of Vladimir Putin – and believes it needs to be firing thousands more to try and push back Russia‘s troops.

Speaking to soldiers on the frontline in the south and the east of Ukraine, two of the major theatres of battle, they have been calling for more ammunition and weapons for months. European weapons manufacturers suggest that Ukraine may need up to 1.5 million artillery shells a year. This requires money and time, two things that Kyiv believes it doesn’t have enough of.

On Ukraine’s frontline, Kyiv’s troops know US funding is vital to keep them alive

EU seeks to raise 15 billion euros for Ukraine from Russia's frozen assets - FT

Monday 11 December 2023 19:22 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The European Union will propose on Tuesday to ringfence profits generated from Russia‘s frozen assets in the EU, aiming to eventually collect up to 15 billion euros ($16.14 billion) for Ukraine‘s benefit, the Financial Times reported on Monday.

“It’s important to look at how we can use Russian immobilised assets and proceeds from those immobilised assets to support Ukraine,” European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis told the FT.

Who is Russian army chief Valery Gerasimov? The country’s top soldier turned Putin’s fall guy

Monday 11 December 2023 18:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Valery Gerasimov, an unsmiling, grey-haired giant, stood waiting for Vladimir Putin outside the entrance to the Russian Southern Military Command Centre, about 60 miles from the eastern Ukraine border.

His clenched hands hung by his sides, like a schoolboy waiting for the headmaster. It was 19 October 2023. The Russian chief of the general staff, Mr Putin’s top soldier, had been appointed the operational commander of the invasion of Ukraine in January.

It was a move akin to the owner of a football club appointing the manager as his captain on the field. Since 2012, when he was appointed chief of the Russian military, his job had been big-picture strategy; from January 2023, he had needed to be engaged in day-to-day tactics as well.

Who is Russian army chief Valery Gerasimov? Top soldier turned Putin’s fall guy

IMF chief Georgieva to meet with Ukraine’s Zelenskiy on Monday

Monday 11 December 2023 18:15 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Kristalina Georgieva will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Washington on Monday, an IMF spokesperson said, as the fund’s executive board prepared to release more funds from the country’s $15.6 billion loan program.

An IMF spokesperson confirmed Georgieva’s meeting with Zelenskiy, but gave no time for that meeting or the meeting where the IMF board will review Kyiv’s progress on a four-year Extended Fund Facility loan approved earlier this year.

The IMF last month announced a staff-level agreement with Ukraine on updated economic and financial policies, paving the way for a $900 million disbursement, once it is finalized by the board.

At the time, the IMF said the Ukrainian economy continued to show “remarkable resilience” despite Russia‘s invasion in February 2022, with recent developments pointing to a stronger-than-expected economic recovery in 2023 and continued growth in 2024.

Zelenskiy is also scheduled to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden and top congressional officials while in Washington as he seeks to shore up support for continued U.S. security assistance to help Kyiv continue its fight against Russia‘s invasion.

Ukraine has received more than $68.5 billion in budgetary support since the war started, finance ministry data shows.

Its government expects a budget deficit of about $43 billion in 2024 and plans to cover it with domestic borrowing and financial aid from its Western partners. But Ukrainian officials are growing worried about the certainty of financing, and some analysts predict Western aid could start diminishing next year.

Navalny’s team says he has vanished in Russia’s prison system

Monday 11 December 2023 17:46 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny has been removed from the penal colony where he had been imprisoned since the middle of last year and his current whereabouts are unknown, his allies said on Monday.

Navalny aides have been preparing for his expected transfer to a “special regime” colony, the harshest grade in Russia‘s prison system, after he was sentenced in August to an additional 19 years in prison on top of 11-1/2 years he was already serving.

The process of moving prisoners by rail across Russia‘s vast territory can take weeks, with lawyers and family unable to obtain information about their location and well-being until they reach their destination. It was unclear if Navalny was already in transit to a new prison.

Navalny’s spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said staff at the IK-6 facility in Melekhovo, 235 km (145 miles) east of Moscow, had told his lawyer waiting outside that the opposition leader was no longer among its inmates.

“Where they have taken him, they refuse to say,” she said on social media platform X.

The United States said it was deeply concerned.