Shortly after a drone attack on kyiv, Vladimir Putin assured, Monday, December 19, that Russia had “no interest in absorbing anyone. It simply does not make sense”. Vladimir Putin has traveled to Belarus to meet Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko amid growing fears in Kyiv that Moscow is pushing its closest ally to join a new ground offensive against Ukraine. Putin called the talks “very productive”.
- Putin says Russia ‘has no interest’ in absorbing Belarus
Russian President Vladimir Putin assured Monday that Russia “has no interest” in absorbing Belarus, its closest ally, very dependent on Moscow for gas and oil deliveries. “Russia has no interest in absorbing anyone. It just doesn’t make sense,” Vladimir Putin said during a press conference with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko after their talks. talks in Minsk. The master of the Kremlin insisted on the close ties between the two countries, “the closest allies and strategic partners” who resist “effectively” Western sanctions.
According to him, during these “substantial” talks, Moscow and Minsk agreed to strengthen their cooperation in “all areas”, especially in the defense sector. These are “common measures to ensure the security” of the two countries, “mutual deliveries of weapons”, as well as the joint manufacture of armaments, said Vladimir Putin.
- Putin says situation in illegally annexed parts of Ukraine ‘extremely difficult’
The Russian president said on Monday (December 19th) that the situation in four regions of eastern Ukraine – Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson – which Moscow had illegally annexed in September was “extremely difficult”, in a translated comment by Reuters. Russia’s illegal annexation of the four territories, which together make up 15% of Ukraine, marked the largest forcible takeover of territory in Europe since World War II and was condemned by Kyiv and its Western allies as illegal. Russia has suffered serious setbacks in these areas, halting its ambitions. Putin’s comments were made on Security Services Day, which is widely celebrated in Russia.
- Ukraine to follow reforms to pave the way for financial support
Ukraine will follow the recommendations of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under the terms of an economic monitoring program with the institution, which could pave the way for aid when the country needs more than 40 billion dollars, the IMF said on Monday. The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund has reviewed Ukraine’s Surveillance Program (PMB) “aimed at maintaining financial stability and catalyzing donor funding,” the Fund said in a statement on Monday.
The Ukrainian authorities are committed to reforms concerning in particular the collection of taxes, the domestic debt market, transparency and the independence of the central bank. They have four months to prove their progress, says the Fund. This framework of measures monitored by the IMF “aims to pave the way for financing”, indicated Gavin Gray, head of mission in Ukraine for the IMF, which can “come from many sources”.
- Russia will not “steal” Christmas, assures the mayor of kyiv while inaugurating a festive tree
Officials in the Ukrainian capital lit up a tree in the center of the city on Monday, saying they would not let Russia “steal” this Christmas from Ukrainian children. The day began with a series of attacks on a set of critical infrastructure in kyiv. But at the end of the day, an artificial tree 12 meters high was installed in the center of the capital, symbolically decorated with doves of Peace.
A few dozen residents braved the freezing cold to admire the tree – which adjoins kyiv’s Saint Sophia Cathedral and its famous golden domes – and take selfies. Among them, the tour operator Natalya. She is delighted with AFP: the tree “brings a festive atmosphere in such a difficult period”. “It’s such an iconic element of our holiday season,” she adds, pointing to the tree illuminated by a constellation of blue and yellow dots, the colors of the Ukrainian flag.
- Germany promises Slovakia to strengthen its anti-aircraft defense
Germany on Monday promised Slovakia the Mantis system that will strengthen its anti-aircraft defense, the Slovak Defense Minister said. “This is a new air defense system that will protect eastern Slovakia,” Minister Jaroslav Nad said at a joint press conference with his German counterpart, Christine Lambrecht, in Bratislava on Monday. “It is a short-range system intended to protect concrete sites,” he added.
The details of the deal are now to be worked out over the next few months. Christine Lambrecht, who began a two-day visit to Slovakia on Monday, said Mantis could be used in particular to protect a maintenance base of German industry recently commissioned in Slovakia, where war material from Ukraine is revised. The base is located near the town of Michalovce in eastern Slovakia.