The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, is expected this Monday, January 15, in Switzerland and will participate in the World Economic Forum in Davos. This visit comes at a time when kyiv is trying to secure reliable support from its allies as the second anniversary of the Russian invasion approaches.
Information to remember
⇒ Neither kyiv nor Moscow are ready to conclude a lasting peace agreement
⇒ Zelensky is expected in Switzerland this Monday, where the Davos Forum will begin
⇒ Paris and Berlin reaffirm their support for Ukraine
Ukraine claims to have shot down two Russian airborne command planes
Ukraine’s air force said Monday it had shot down two Russian airborne command planes over the Sea of Azov, in what would be a major blow to Russia in an area it is supposed to control.
“I thank the Air Force for this perfectly planned and executed operation in the Azov Sea region!”, reacted the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Army Valery Zalouzhny, after the announcement of the destruction an A-50, an airborne detection and command aircraft, and an Il-22, an aircraft also serving as a command post.
The UN says it wants $4.2 billion for humanitarian aid in 2024
The United Nations announced Monday that it needs $4.2 billion for humanitarian aid to Ukraine in 2024, and to help the millions of refugees who have fled the country since the Russian invasion almost two years ago. .
“Hundreds of thousands of children live in frontline communities, terrified, traumatized and deprived of the most basic things,” said the Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, in a statement.
In Davos, more than 80 countries discuss a peace plan
National security advisers from 83 states participated, this Sunday, January 14, in a fourth round of discussions on the basis of the 10-point proposals of the Ukrainian head of state for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, almost two years after Russia launched its large-scale military offensive. The talks were taking place in the luxury ski resort of Davos, on the eve of the opening of the five-day World Economic Forum summit, which Ukraine’s president is due to attend.
“The aim is to prepare ourselves so that we are ready and mature to launch a process with Russia, when the time comes,” declared Ignazio Cassis, the federal councilor in Davos, during a press conference. The Swiss minister, however, said that so far neither kyiv nor Moscow were ready to take the plunge. The head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, Andriy Iermak, said the talks were “open, constructive and detailed” on the key principles to achieve a “comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine.” Even so, disagreements on how to achieve this remain.
Ignazio Cassis underlined the importance of the participation in the negotiations of Brazil, India and South Africa, which sit alongside Russia within the Brics and maintain, with it, “a certain degree of confidence “. The Ukrainian official said his country plans to hold summits with African and South American states to explain Ukraine’s position.
Zelensky’s visit to Switzerland
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Switzerland from Monday, January 15, his services said on Sunday. This announcement comes at a time when Ukraine is trying to secure reliable support from its allies as the second anniversary of the Russian invasion approaches.
The Ukrainian president will have to “meet the heads of both houses of parliament, party leaders as well as the Swiss president and participate in the World Economic Forum” in Davos.
Demonstrations by truckers and farmers in Romania
Truck drivers and farmers demonstrated this Sunday in Romania against taxes they consider exorbitant by blocking traffic on the outskirts of cities and on the border with Ukraine, accused of driving prices down. Romanian truck drivers complain of insurance rates and taxes that are too high, but also that it takes too long to cross the border. Farmers, for their part, are demanding that the government speed up the subsidy payment schedule and are demanding compensation following the drought and the shortfall linked to the opening of the European market to Ukrainian cereals.
The Russian blockade of Ukrainian Black Sea ports has transformed Romania into a hub for the transit of Ukrainian grain, particularly through the port of Constanta. This fed-up began to be expressed last week by snail operations carried out on the ring roads of several towns, including the capital Bucharest.
The demonstrators were received by the government, according to which certain quickly applicable measures were the subject of an agreement, others requiring the green light from the European Union.
France and Germany will support Ukraine “as long” as necessary
The new head of French diplomacy, Stéphane Séjourné, and his German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock, reaffirmed this Sunday their countries’ desire to support Ukraine “as long” as necessary in the face of Russia’s offensive. “Which means that we must organize at the European level elements of initiatives which are coordinated” on “the defense of our values and our interests”, added the minister, who had gone to Kiev the day before, without give more details.