► Zelensky expected in Washington on Wednesday for an already historic visit
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has not left his country since the invasion by Russia on February 24, arrived in Washington on Wednesday, December 21, during a historic visit.
The United States will “continue to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to defend itself”, promised Joe Biden when he received the Ukrainian president on Wednesday at the White House. The American president insisted on the need to achieve a “just peace” pour Kiev.
Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington to plead the cause of Ukraine
Volodymyr Zelensky expressed in return to his counterpart his “recognition from the bottom of the heart” for the support of the United States, which has provided kyiv with billions of dollars in weapons to defend itself against Russia.
► Washington announces to supply Ukraine with the Patriot air defense system
The United States will provide Ukraine with its most sophisticated air defense system, the Patriot, the head of American diplomacy announced on Wednesday, as Volodymyr Zelensky was preparing to land in Washington.
War in Ukraine: Zelensky in Washington, his first trip since the invasion
Washington will send only one of these highly mobile systems for the moment, as Ukraine is put to the test by the intensification of strikes from Moscow.
The Patriot is part of a new tranche of US military aid to Ukraine of about $1.85 billion, including $1 billion in weapons donations to kyiv from US military stockpiles, which can be delivered quickly. And 850 million orders to the defense industry, which implies delays of several months, even several years.
► Russia will continue to develop its military potential, including nuclear
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that his country would continue to develop its military potential, including the “combat readiness” of its nuclear forces, in the midst of the conflict in Ukraine and the crisis with the West.
For example, he announced the entry into service ” early January “ new Russian Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles, which belong to the new family of armaments developed in recent years by Moscow.
For his part, the Russian Defense Minister, Sergei Shoigu, said he judged ” necessary “ to increase the size of its army to 1.5 million soldiers and to raise the age limit for military service, in the context of the Russian offensive in Ukraine.
► New US arms deliveries will “aggravate” the conflict, according to the Kremlin
The Kremlin estimated on Wednesday that further US arms deliveries to Ukraine will only” aggravate “ the conflict with Russia, while Volodymyr Zelensky is expected in Washington.
“All this certainly leads to an escalation of the conflict and does not bode well for Ukraine”said Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov, referring to new arms deliveries to kyiv.
► Wagner considers sending women to fight in Ukraine
The paramilitary organization Wagner plans to recruit female prisoners from Russian prisons and send them to fight in Ukraine, after doing the same with men, its leader Yevgeny Prigojine said on Wednesday.
“Not just as nurses or operators, but also in saboteur groups or sniper teams. We all know that this has already been done massively”said Mr. Prigozhin.