Developments in Ukraine EU leaders’ decision to start accession talks and continue supporting Kyiv

According to the international group Tasnim news agency, the leaders of the European Union member states in their meeting on Thursday In Brussels, they agreed on the continuation of military aid to Ukraine and acknowledged that this country is in dire need of supplying missiles, ammunition and air defense systems. Europe and its member states will continue to meet Ukraine’s urgent military and defense needs. In particular, the Council of Europe insists on the importance of timely, predictable and sustainable military support to Ukraine through the European Peace Facility program as well as through direct bilateral assistance from member states. He stressed the urgent need to speed up the supply of missiles and ammunition, particularly as part of an initiative to supply Ukraine with one million rounds of artillery ammunition, as well as to provide Ukraine with more air defense systems.

Furthermore, European leaders decided to confirm the start of negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova for their accession to the Union. Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, wrote on his X page (former Twitter) last night: “The European Council has decided to start accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova “

Furthermore, he recalled that this community has also granted Georgia candidate status. According to Michel, the actions taken show “a clear signal of hope for the people of these countries and for It is the whole continent”. Meanwhile, Hungary condemned the European Union’s decision to start negotiations with Ukraine to join this union. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said, “We believe that the European Union has made a bad decision. To start negotiations with Ukraine for the country’s accession to the European Union. According to him, Budapest does not want to participate in the discussion of Kyiv’s accession to the European Union.

You can continue to follow the developments related to the 660th day of the Ukrainian war:

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Hungary once again Blocked the aid plan to Ukraine during the EU summit

Reuters news agency this morning, Friday, referring to the words of the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, reported that Hungary has waived its right to veto. He used it at the European Union summit in Brussels and once again opposed the financial aid program for Ukraine. According to him, the support plan for Ukraine included providing 50 billion euros from the EU budget until 2027. 26 member states of the European Union voted to allocate this amount. However, Hungary spoke against it. Rutte added: “Of course we still have time to reach an agreement. Ukraine will not run out of money in the next few weeks.”

He also expressed hope that early next year, in January, the plan will still be approved Another meeting is planned for this purpose.

Victor Orban, the prime minister of Hungary, also talked about using his veto right for the aid program to Ukraine on his page on the X social network (former Twitter). He wrote: “The result of last night’s meeting: veto on providing additional money for Ukraine, veto on revision of the multi-year financial plan. We will return to this issue next year at the EU meeting after proper preparation.”

In the final statement of the European Union summit in Brussels, the adoption of the 12th sanctions package against Russia was mistakenly welcomed, which has not been approved at all. This document was published on the website of the European Union on Thursday, and its text states: The European Council welcomes the approval of the 12th sanctions package.

While the aforementioned sanctions package was blocked by Austria, why Vienna demanded that the Austrian bank “Raiffeisen Bank International” be removed from the black list of pro-Russian companies by Kyiv.

Probably, such a mistake in the final document could be caused by the initial intention of EU members to approve a new round of anti-Russian sanctions. Yes, because the text of the summit statement was already prepared.

A senior EU official explained that the new package has not yet been officially approved and that the congratulations are about a political decision. At the same time, the diplomat claimed that Austria has already lifted the ban on new sanctions, so the document does not contain errors and the sanctions package now only needs official approval. The process of joining the European Union will begin in a few days

Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Olga Stefanyshina, announced last night that negotiations with representatives of the European Commission regarding The first stage of Ukraine’s accession to the European Union is scheduled to begin on the first of next week.

He said: “Literally 15 minutes after the decision (on the start of negotiations with Ukraine to join the European Union) ), I had a telephone conversation with the President of the European Commission and it was agreed that on Monday, December 18, we will discuss the next steps. Therefore, there is a work plan already.”

The deputy prime minister added that this time all geopolitical issues and problems will be taken into account. The most important and final geopolitical decision has been made – announcing the start of negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. Then negotiations will continue as long as necessary to ensure that all our interests are taken into account.” Pentagon: America must choose between its defense readiness and aid to Ukraine

Pentagon spokesman Major Patrick Ryder announced in his press conference last night, Thursday, that the funds needed to support Ukraine are running out, so the United States will soon have to choose between helping Kiev and maintaining He said: “Ultimately, we will have to make a decision about maintaining our combat readiness and the ability to continue to support Ukraine militarily in the manner necessary on the battlefield.” .

Ryder noted that $4.4 billion is currently allocated to aid Ukraine, while only $1 billion is allocated to support the US military, on which the country’s security depends. /p>

Kirby: Republicans will go on vacation without an agreement on new aid to Kiev!

John Kirby, coordinator of strategic communications of the White House National Security Council, in a meeting The news blamed US lawmakers, especially Republicans who control the House of Representatives, for going on New Year’s break while still not approving a new request for military aid to Ukraine.

He “They are going home for vacation, while Ukrainians have to continue fighting on the battlefield and need weapons and ammunition,” he said.

Kirby lamented that Russian President Vladimir Putin during his press conference considered the only acceptable option to resolve the conflict around Ukraine when Russia has achieved its goals.

The White House official expressed hope that the Republicans, who have “held essential aid to Ukraine hostage for months,” understood the message well. Kirby emphasized that Kyiv needs help now, not after the Christmas break. In addition, according to him, the conflict in Ukraine is not a foreign problem and is part of America’s interests that Congress should consider. » which the United States has worked hard to create for years.

The House of Representatives finished its work session last night and will be on vacation until January 9. The Senate is also scheduled to finish its work on Friday and return from recess on January 8.

The US Senate will also work on helping Ukraine on Monday

Chuck Schumer, the leader of the majority of the Democrats in the US Senate, announced last night that the Senate plans to postpone his New Year’s holiday and, contrary to usual, continue working on Monday to double the government’s budget allocation, including for aid to Ukraine.

The senator said: “If we think important and urgent matter, we must stay and get the job done. ATTENTION ALL SENATORS: After business ends today, the Senate will also be back on Monday. This will give White House negotiators, Senate Democrats, and Senate Republicans until the end of the week. Try to reach a framework agreement.” Meanwhile, the House of Representatives of the US Congress is currently planning to return to work only in January and has postponed the review of this issue until after returning from vacation.

NATO Spokesman: Russia’s intention to attack alliance territory has not been observed

NATO Spokesman Dylan White announced that the North Atlantic Alliance had no information on It does not have the authority to confirm Russia’s intention to attack the territory of member states.

In this way, he reacted to the statements of the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the crash of a drone in an empty land near the border of Ukraine, which apparently could belong to Russia, and said: “We are attacking the vital infrastructure of Ukraine by Russia. [However] NATO has no information of any deliberate attack by Russia against allied countries.”

White added that the alliance continues to monitor the situation and remains in close contact with Romanian authorities. .

Vucic: Russia cannot be defeated and now everyone understands it

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic expressed his opinion that if realistically Looking at the course of the military conflict in Ukraine, it is clear that Russia cannot be defeated.

He said in an interview on Thursday: “I think this issue has become clear to everyone. I’m not trying to favor anyone and I’m just talking about the facts. The treatment of the disease should be for everyone, not just one side, otherwise it is useless. That’s exactly how conflicts should be resolved.” However, according to Vucic, no one knows how to find a solution, not even the United States and Russia. He added: “Interests have become so sensitive” that the slightest concession from one side or the other seems like betrayal and surrender of national interests.” The President of Serbia added: “And this fact makes me This means that this will be a long-term problem, because no one can come up with an offer that is at least partially acceptable to the other side.”

Austria blocks EU’s 12th package of sanctions against Russia Kurd

Reuters news agency reported, quoting a news source, that Austria blocked the 12th package of European Union sanctions against Russia and demanded the cancellation of Ukraine’s sanctions against the country’s Raiffeisenbank by Kiev.

In March 2023, the National Anti-Corruption Agency of Ukraine blacklisted the Austrian banking group Raiffeisen Bank International due to the bank’s continued operations in Russia.

According to the sources. News, Austria wants this Austrian bank, which is the largest western bank in Russia, to be removed from Ukraine’s blacklist in exchange for the approval of new EU sanctions against Russia, otherwise it will not agree to this action.

Britain will ban diamond imports from Russia from January 1, 2024, as reported on the country’s government website on Thursday.

In addition, London has included the export of a number of dual-use goods, including machinery parts and electronic equipment, to Russia in its sanctions list. “The British government is proposing a bill to ban the import of diamonds from Russia, and plans to ban ancillary services in the metals sector if this is done jointly with international partners,” the statement said. /p>

The sharp response of the secretary of the National Security Council of Ukraine to a question about the failed counter-attack of the army

Alexey Danilov, the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine yesterday, to the radio host’s question He answered sharply about the reasons for the failure of the Ukrainian army’s plan to attack Russian positions. Danilov said: “Plans are being developed that there may be other plans out there that will gather more interest. Don’t you think they might have plans?” It can fully conform to a predetermined schedule. “This issue may appear on paper, but it will never happen in practice.” Politico newspaper revealed yesterday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wanted to personally attend and address the opening of the EU summit, but canceled at the last minute with only one day to go.

This The publication noted that Zelenskiy “cancelled his speech as he had doubts about the outcome of the meeting, especially about Ukraine’s future accession to the European Union”. He addressed Europe and said: “Whether this meeting is good or bad for us, history will remember everything.” <...> It is very important that Europe does not fall into uncertainty today. Nobody wants Europe to be seen as untrustworthy.” Volodymyr Zelenskiy admitted that the EU meeting that started in Brussels may not end well for Kiev. He claimed that apparently Ukraine’s EU conditions Regarding the necessary amendments to obtain the right to negotiate for membership, it has done correctly.

Naryshkin: The West is using Ukraine as much as possible to harm Russia

Sergey Naryshkin, director of the Russian foreign intelligence service, emphasized that the United States and its Western allies are trying to create chaos in the Commonwealth of Independent States.

He said at the end of the 19th The meeting of the heads of the security agencies and intelligence services of the member states of the Commonwealth of Nations told reporters: Washington and its allies are analyzing the development of global processes in different regions and understand that the planet is gradually disappearing from under their feet. They lose their privileged position and in order to maintain it, they are interested in destabilizing the situation and creating political and social chaos in different countries.

According to this Russian security official, Western countries are trying Use historical conflicts to reignite them and create chaos. He added: In this context, the main attention of the Western Bloc has been focused on the space left after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Naryshkin also reminded that the West is aware of the defeat of the Ukrainian army against Russia, but does not want to change the strategy. Hypocritically stop using Ukraine to harm Russia as much as possible. According to him, Ukraine is used as a consumable to cause the greatest possible damage to the Russian Federation and it will be used as much as possible.

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