Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has answered: “No,” to the query of the whether or not Moscow had any expectations that one thing optimistic may come from Zelenskyy’s journey because the battle rolls into its three hundredth day.
(AP)
Wednesday, December 21, 2022
US broadcasts $1.85B army package deal for Ukraine, together with Patriot system
The Biden administration introduced a brand new $1.85 billion army package deal for Ukraine, together with an air-defence system extremely sought by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
In addition to Washington’s first switch of the Patriot air defence system to Ukraine, the brand new help contains expanded precision-strike capabilities, extra munitions and different “critical equipment that Ukraine is using so effectively to defend itself on the battlefield,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned.
The help features a $1 billion drawdown from present US army shares and $850 million in tools that might be transferred from the Pentagon below its Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.
Today’s help for the primary time contains the Patriot Air Defense System, able to bringing down cruise missiles, quick vary ballistic missiles, and plane at a considerably increased ceiling than beforehand offered air protection programs.
Ukrainian president arrives in US for conferences with Biden, Congress
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived within the US capital for conferences with President Joe Biden and to handle a joint session of Congress.
His journey marks his first overseas since Russia started its assault in opposition to his nation 10 months in the past. Zelenskyy touched down Wednesday afternoon after flying to the US from his native Ukraine.
He is slated to go to the White House and maintain a closed-door assembly with Biden and his high officers, together with Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and different Cabinet members.
Ahead of Zelenskiy deal with, US Senate backs new ambassador to Russia
The US Senate backed the affirmation of Lynne Tracy as President Joe Biden’s nominee to be ambassador to Russia, hours earlier than Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was to turn into the uncommon wartime world chief to handle a joint assembly of Congress.
Tracy, a profession diplomat and present ambassador to Armenia, would be the first lady to function US ambassador to Russia.
Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy is because of meet US President Joe Biden on the White House in his first overseas journey because the starting of the conflict in February pic.twitter.com/4CcXKOcXTq
— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) December 21, 2022
Kremlin warning: More US arms to Ukraine will worsen conflict
The Kremlin warned that rising the provision of US arms to Ukraine would worsen the devastating 10-month conflict ignited by Russia’s assault, and Russia’s defence minister referred to as for increasing Moscow’s army by at the least 500,000 folks.
Speaking throughout a gathering along with his high army brass, Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned Moscow would take classes discovered within the battle to “develop our armed forces and strengthen the capability of our troops.”
He mentioned particular emphasis would go to creating nuclear forces, which he described as “the main guarantee of Russia’s sovereignty.”
Putin: Modern weapons make up 91 % of Russian nuclear triad
Modern weapons make up 91 % of the Russian nuclear triad and work on placing into service extra of the most recent weapons continues, Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned, in remarks sure to be seen in Western capitals as a veiled warning.
Speaking at a gathering with the Russian Defence Ministry Board in Moscow, Putin mentioned the potential of all NATO international locations is getting used in opposition to Russia – in a probable reference to the 10-month-old Ukraine conflict – and so within the face of that risk the nation ought to preserve its armed forces at high fight readiness.
The rearmament of the Russian Strategic Rocket Forces with hypersonic Avangard programs continues, and the super-heavy intercontinental ballistic missile Sarmat might be put into service within the close to future, he mentioned.
Russian army to succeed in 1.5M; Putin vows to win in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin described the combating in Ukraine as a “tragedy” however vowed to pursue his marketing campaign there till its targets are reached, whereas his defence chief on Wednesday introduced a plan to extend Russia’s army from 1 million personnel to 1.5 million.
Speaking at a gathering Putin held with high army brass, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu mentioned the 1.5 million-member army ought to embody 695,000 volunteer contract troopers. He didn’t say when the elevated energy can be achieved.
Shoigu additionally declared plans to type new army items in western Russia to counterbalance plans by Finland and Sweden to affix NATO.
Ukraine battle ‘shared tragedy’ however not Russia’s fault: Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin described the battle in Ukraine as a “shared tragedy” however positioned blame for the outbreak of hostilities on Ukraine and its allies, not Moscow.
“What is happening is, of course, a tragedy – our shared tragedy. But it is not the result of our policy. It is the result of the policy of third countries,” the Russian chief mentioned throughout a televised assembly with senior army officers.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin says no expense might be spared for his troops combating in Ukraine, including NATO international locations have used all their would possibly in Ukraine, however his forces have stood their floor pic.twitter.com/r8QmF1dae9
— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) December 21, 2022
Security forces raid Ukrainian Orthodox Church monasteries in northeastern Ukraine
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) within the northeastern Sumy area mentioned that it raided monasteries of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), as a part of a crackdown on church buildings allegedly loyal to Russia.
“Employees of the Security Service of Ukraine conduct counter-intelligence (security) measures at the facilities of the UOC (MP) in Sumy Oblast. In particular, we are talking about the Sofronievo-Molchensky Men’s Monastery of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary (UPC MP),” a press release from the SBU’s department within the Sumy area learn.
The assertion additional mentioned that the raids have been carried out with different regulation enforcement businesses with a purpose to counter “subversive activities” within the nation, noting that every one actions are happening “within the limits of current legislation.”
Seven civilians present in mass grave in southern Kherson area: Ukraine
The our bodies of seven civilians have been present in a mass grave in southern Ukraine’s Kherson area, the nation’s defence minister mentioned.
“On November 30, in the village of Pravdyne (in Kherson region), a mass burial of victims … was discovered: seven civilians, including a teenage girl,” Oleksii Reznikov mentioned on Twitter.
He additionally mentioned the our bodies of greater than 500 civilians, together with youngsters, have been found within the Kharkiv area alone, with search operations nonetheless ongoing.
Ukrainian minister sees huge fall in 2022 corn harvest, smaller corn space in 2023
Ukraine’s corn manufacturing may fall to 22-23 million tonnes this 12 months from 41.9 million in 2021 due to a discount within the harvested space attributable to Russia’s assault, its agriculture minister mentioned.
“It would be good if we harvest 22 to 23 million tonnes (of corn),” mentioned Agriculture Minister Mykola Solsky, whose nation is a significant world exporter of corn.
The ministry in September, forecast the 2022 corn crop at 25 million to 27 million tonnes.
Senegalese President Macky Sall appreciates Türkiye’s “concrete contributions” to stop a world meals disaster by mediating between Russia and Ukraine in a news convention along with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara pic.twitter.com/1L37Ysv0Pk
— TRT World (@trtworld) December 21, 2022
Kremlin says no probability of Ukraine talks as Zelenskyy travels to Washington
The Kremlin has mentioned that nothing good would come from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s journey to Washington and that Russia noticed no probability of peace talks with Kiev.
In a name with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned that continued Western arms provides to Ukraine would result in a “deepening” of the battle – one thing which may backfire on Kiev, he warned.
“The supply of weapons continues and the range of supplied weapons is expanding. All of this, of course, leads to an aggravation of the conflict. This does not bode well for Ukraine,” Peskov mentioned.
War in Ukraine showcases way forward for warfare: NATO official
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine demonstrates what the way forward for warfare seems to be like, in response to David van Weel, NATO’s assistant secretary common for rising safety challenges.
Although typical arms, together with tanks and artillery, and ways like digging trenches have been extensively used on the battlefield, fashionable applied sciences offered to Ukraine by the alliance since 2014 have performed a key position in boosting Kiev’s resilience in opposition to Moscow, David van Weel informed Anadolu Agency in an unique interview.
When the conflict in Ukraine started on February 24, Russian assaults weren’t restricted to tangible targets, mentioned van Weel, underlining that Moscow additionally struck the nation’s our on-line world.
US to ship $1.8 billion in support, Patriot battery, to Ukraine
The US will ship $1.8 billion in army support to Ukraine in an enormous package deal that can for the primary time embody a Patriot missile battery and precision-guided bombs for his or her fighter jets, US officers mentioned, because the Biden administration prepares to welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Washington.
US officers described particulars of the help on situation of anonymity as a result of it has not but been introduced.
The support indicators an growth by the US within the sorts of superior weaponry it’s going to ship to Ukraine to bolster the nation’s air defenses in opposition to what has been an rising barrage of Russian missile strikes.
Ukraine’s Zelesnkyy set to go to the US: sources
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is about to go to Washington on Wednesday for a gathering with Joe Biden and an deal with to Congress – his first journey overseas since Russia began its offensive in February.
The go to to Washington is about to incorporate an deal with to Congress on Capitol Hill and a gathering with President Joe Biden.
For stay updates from Tuesday (December 20), click on HERE.
Source: TRTWorld and businesses
