Chinese President Xi Jinping wants Ukraine conflict to be resolved through ‘political means’
Chinese President Xi Jinping at a meeting in Beijing with European Council President Charles MicheI said it was in Europe’s interest to resolve the conflict in Ukraine through political means.
Six million Ukrainians without electricity
In his last video message, President Zelensky claimed that six million people were still without electricity. Due to a bombardment, the Ukrainian authorities claimed that the city of Kherson was completely without electricity this morning.
UN launches record appeal for humanitarian aid, boosted by Ukraine
The UN has launched a record appeal for funds for 2023 in the face of soaring humanitarian needs, driven by the conflict in Ukraine and the effects of climate change, such as the risk of famine in Africa. UN humanitarian agencies will need US$51.5 billion next year, a 25% increase in needs. These funds will allow them to finance their programs to help 230 million of the most vulnerable people in 68 countries.
Intense fighting around Bakhmut
The fighting for the Russian takeover of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine is of rare intensity. Russia claimed the capture of three villages near the city that the Russians have been trying to conquer since the summer. Wagner’s boss, billionaire Yevgeny Prigojine, dubbed the battle “the slaughterhouse of Bakhmut” by swearing he wanted to “destroy the Ukrainian army”. Except that some intelligence services believe that the Russians are exhausting their forces in these fights.
US signs $1.2 billion deal with Raytheon for Ukrainian missile systems
The US military has awarded a $1.2 billion contract to Raytheon Technologies Co for six advanced Nasam surface-to-air missile systems for Ukraine. The United States has approved sending a total of eight Nasams to Ukraine to help repel Russian missile and drone attacks. “Nasams are just the latest addition to the diverse set of air defense capabilities we are providing to Ukraine,” said Bill LaPlante, Under Secretary of Defense. The Pentagon said new US-supplied Nasams air defense systems had so far had a 100% success rate in Ukraine intercepting Russian missiles. In total, the United States has committed more than $19.3 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the start of the Biden administration.
Russia in need of Iranian drones
According to analysts from the Conflict Intelligence Team, Russia is probably in need of Iranian drones. According to them, the Russians stopped actively using them in recent days. “The Russians are waiting for new supplies or setting up the production of drones on Russian territory,” they specify.
Zelensky wants to believe in the end of the war in the coming months
“The war will end either when Ukraine wins or when the Russian Federation wishes. Russia may only want this when it realizes that it is weak, isolated and has no partners. We hope that will be over in the next few months,” President Zelensky said in an interview with The New York Times.
Wagner Group propaganda videos on Tik Tok
NewsGuard, a US firm monitoring the spread of misinformation on the internet in a report spotted numerous videos, more than 160, on Tik Tok praising the Wagner mercenary group fighting with the Russians. NewsGuard analysts also identified more than 500 music videos that, while not showing acts of violence, advocated violence against Ukrainians, some including inciting the killing of Ukrainians. Some videos have gone viral.
Berlin calls for the release of a hospitalized Belarusian opposition figure
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called on Wednesday for the release of one of the Belarusian opposition figures, Maria Kolesnikova, who is serving an 11-year prison sentence and is currently hospitalized.
“The information on the state of health of Maria Kolesnikova worries me. The Belarusian government must guarantee her health and release her immediately,” the German minister tweeted. “His commitment to democracy is not a crime,” she added.
Her supporters had announced Tuesday her hospitalization in intensive care for undetermined reasons, and they were worried Wednesday not to have heard from her.
Germany recognizes the famine of the 1930s as genocide in Ukraine
The Bundestag, adopted Wednesday evening by a large majority a resolution recognizing as “genocide” the famine in Ukraine caused 90 years ago by the Stalinist regime.
There was no doubt that the vote in favor of the resolution, made public last week, was carried by the ruling coalition, formed by the SPD, the Greens and the liberals of the FDP, which was joined by the opposition conservative CDU-CSU.
The two extreme parties, left with Die Linke and right with the Alternative for Germany (AfD), abstained.
“I thank the deputies of the Bundestag for this historic decision”, reacted the Ukrainian head of state Volodymyr Zelensky on his Twitter account. “Truth always wins,” he added.
A resolution adopted by the National Assembly
The National Assembly adopted on Wednesday a resolution adopted by a large majority. The text calls for “a protective zone around the Zaporizhia nuclear power station”, the largest in Europe, and affirms the Assembly’s “fullest support” for “Ukraine, its people, its sovereignty and its territorial integrity.
The resolution, which has no legislative value, was adopted with 303 votes in favour. The LFI and RN groups largely abstained, an LFI deputy voted against.
A large part of the Assembly applauded its adoption, turning to the Ukrainian ambassador to France Vadym Omelchenko, present in the hemicycle.
The resolution “condemns in the strongest terms the brutal, unjustified and illegal attack” by Russia and its “war crimes, even crimes against humanity”.
It asks to “intensify the sanctions” against Russia and its president Vladimir Putin and that the French government and the European Union support “any initiative likely to encourage the end of the conflict”. She also pleads for “France to continue to take an active part in welcoming Ukrainian refugees”.