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5:14 p.m. : “First. Ukraine does not attack its neighbors and kill civilians. Unlike the Russian Federation. Ukraine simply destroys members of the occupation army on its territory. Second: the Russian Federation Russia must leave the territories it occupies – there will only be a temporary truce after that. Put away your hypocrisy.”
The Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhaïlo Podolyak accuses an end of not receiving at the request of the Kremlin, which wishes a truce on the occasion of the Orthodox Christmas. He qualifies as“hypocritical” this call.
4:29 p.m. : “We also discussed the exchange of prisoners of war with the mediation of Turkey, but also the development of the grain agreement”, said Volodymyr Zelensky after his exchange with Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Turkish President, who had spoken a little earlier with Vladimir Putin, had called on his Russian counterpart to apply a “unilateral ceasefire” in Ukraine.
4:27 p.m. : Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan today. “NOTWe discussed the security cooperation of our countries, nuclear security issues, in particular the situation at the Zaporizhia NPP”he said on Telegram.
4:17 p.m. : Kirill, Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, had earlier proposed a ceasefire in Ukraine for the Orthodox Christmas holiday. “I address all parties involved in the fratricidal conflict to call on them to establish a ceasefire and seal a Christmas truce from 12 noon on January 6 to midnight on January 7”he said in a message posted on the Church’s website.
4:17 p.m. : The Kremlin now calls on the Ukrainian side to do the same, “given that a large number of Orthodox citizens live in the areas of hostilities”says a press release (link in Russian). Moscow cites the appeal launched this morning by Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow.
4:22 p.m. : Vladimir Poutine orders his minister Sergei Shoigu to impose a ceasefire on the entire front line in Ukraine, on the occasion of Orthodox Christmas (Julian calendar). This applies from January 6 at noon (Moscow time) to January 7 at midnight, specifies a press release from the presidency.
3:34 p.m. : In Beryslav, in the Kherson region, a shelling killed a 12-year-old child and his parents, while they were at their home. “They were preparing to celebrate Christmas together [7 janvier dans le calendrier julien]but the cynicism of the Russians took them to their own house”commented the Ukrainian presidential office (link in Ukrainian). The Attorney General’s Office (link in Ukrainian) adds that a young man was killed in another strike, this time in Kherson.
3:33 p.m. : For several weeks now, searches have targeted the premises of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, accused of being an agent of Russian influence, or even harboring Russian spies. In November, a scandal also erupted after a hymn to the glory of Russia was sung in one of kyiv’s Lavra churches. On December 1, Volodymyr Zelensky demanded “spiritual independence” from Ukraine, in one of his video addresses.
2:59 p.m. : The Lavra of the Caves of kyiv is an immense architectural ensemble, which notably houses an Orthodox monastery. The Minister of Culture (link in Ukrainian) announces that the State has completed the steps to terminate the lease granted to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which depends on the Moscow Patriarchate and is a very small minority. This January 7, for the first time, the feast of Christmas (Julian calendar) will therefore be celebrated by the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (link in Ukrainian)which has been independent since 2018.
(EFREM LUKATSKY / AP / SIPA)
2:34 p.m. : For the first time, the Wagner group claims to have released from their obligations a group of about twenty mercenaries recruited in prison and sent to Ukraine. For several weeks, Evguéni Prigojine, Wagner’s leader, has been sending thousands of fighters recruited directly from Russian prisons to the front.
(ANADOLU AGENCY / AFP)
2:33 p.m. : The city of Bakhmout, in the Donbass, is now 60% destroyed, announced the Ukrainian military governor of the Donetsk region, Pavlo Kirilenko. The Russian forces, and in particular the mercenaries of Wagner, have been trying for weeks to conquer this locality, almost emptied of its inhabitants. This is the point of the front line where the fighting is the most intense. Yesterday, “two civilians were killed by Russian artillery attacks”, says the manager.
2:02 p.m. : 2 p.m., let’s make a new update on the news:
Emmanuel Macron asked energy suppliers to “renegotiate” in January the “excessive contracts” of the very small enterprises concerned. Follow our live.
The Minister of Justice, Eric Dupond-Moretti, this morning unveiled an action plan resulting from the Estates General of Justice. Increase in the justice budget, “sanctuarized” recruitment, overhaul of the criminal procedure… Here is what to remember from the measures of the action plan for justice.
During a telephone exchange with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Vladimir Putin “repeated that Russia is open to a serious dialogue (with Ukraine)provided that the Kyiv authorities comply with the well-known and repeatedly expressed requirements and take into account the new territorial realities”, according to the Kremlin. Follow our live.
The liberal doctors are called to demonstrate this afternoon in Paris, in order to obtain a revaluation of the consultation. The Minister of Health says “ready to increase the price of the consultation “as soon as the needs of the French are met”. However, François Braun does not specify an amount.
1:49 p.m. : Mikhail Podolyak, adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, reacts to the remarks of Kirill, Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, who proposes a ceasefire in Ukraine on the occasion of the Orthodox Christmas holiday. It’s a “cynical trap” and one “propaganda element”, reacts Mikhail Podolyak. “The Russian Orthodox Church has called for genocide of Ukrainians, encouraged massacres and insists on even greater militarization of Russia,” he complains.
12:22 p.m. : Vladimir Putin says he is open to a dialogue with Ukraine, if kyiv accepts the “new territorial realities” since the beginning of the Russian offensive. During a telephone exchange with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Vladimir Putin “repeated that Russia is open to a serious dialogue, provided that the authorities in Kyiv comply with the well-known and repeatedly expressed demands and take into account the new territorial realities”says the Kremlin.
1:07 p.m. : After France’s announcement of the delivery of tanks to Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is urged by members of his coalition to do the same. “Once again, France assumes the role that was expected of Germany and takes the lead itself”, deplores the president of the Defense Committee in the Bundestag, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, a member of the liberal FDP party. For the chosen one, “the ball is now in Berlin’s court.”
1:06 p.m. : In a telephone interview this morning, Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Vladimir Putin to stop the war in Ukraine. “Calls for peace and negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv should be supported by a unilateral ceasefire.”
10:22 : Kirill, Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, proposes a ceasefire in Ukraine on the occasion of the Orthodox Christmas holiday. “I address all parties involved in the fratricidal conflict to call on them to establish a ceasefire and seal a Christmas truce from 12 noon on January 6 to midnight on January 7”he wrote in a message posted on the Church’s website.
09:24 : The French Foreign Minister in turn welcomes the delivery of tanks to Ukraine. “It is the sign of our continuous and reinforced support since this autumn for Ukraine which, let us remember, is a country under attack”, said on LCI Catherine Colonna.
1:02 p.m. : At 9 o’clock, here is a new point on the news of the day:
The Minister of Health, François Braun, says to himself “ready to increase the price of the consultation as soon as the needs of the French are met” but does not specify an amount. An announcement made while liberal doctors are demonstrating this afternoon in Paris.
It is this morning at 10 a.m. that Eric Dupond-Moretti presents his action plan for justice. The Keeper of the Seals will in particular undertake to increase the justice budget from 9.6 to 11 billion euros in 2027.
The funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI begins at 9:30 a.m. in Saint Peter’s Square. Gérald Darmanin represents France as Minister of Worship. You can follow the ceremony in this live.
Volodymyr Zelensky has “thanked” Emmanuel Macron for the delivery of light combat tanks to Ukraine “Your leadership brings us closer to victory” he rejoiced on Twitter.
#AMAZON Amazon will remove “just over 18,000” jobs, including in Europe. This is the most massive staff reduction in the history of the American e-commerce giant. These layoffs will mainly affect the company’s physical stores, which include Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go, as well as certain internal departments, such as human resources.
08:21 : ? LIVE ? France will deliver light combat tanks to Ukraine ➡️ “These are armored reconnaissance vehicles”, explains Edouard Jolly, researcher in armed conflict theory. “This corresponds to the tactics employed by the Ukrainian military.” https://t.co/yqgcNQuri1
08:21 : On franceinfo, Edouard Jolly, researcher in armed conflict theory, gives some details on the AMX-10 RC light combat tanks that France will deliver to Ukraine.
07:45 : France is making another important contribution to our common victory ?????? Thank you @EmmanuelMacron for your leadership and this decisive commitment. Thank you France for your unchanging support for Ukraine and for every life saved! #StandWithUkraine https://t.co/4foKzTICz7
07:51 : On Twitter, the Ukrainian embassy in Paris in turn welcomes the transfer of AMX-10 RC light combat tanks by France.
07:21 : Of course, and as of yesterday evening. Volodymyr Zelensky has “thanked” Emmanuel Macron for the transfer of AMX-10 RC light combat tanks to Ukraine. “Your leadership brings us closer to victory”he also wrote on Twitter.
07:21 : Did Ukraine react to the fact that France was going to deliver tanks?
06:32 : The United States prefers not to advance on the number of Russian soldiers dead after the deadly strike of Makiïvka. There is “No lament from the US administration. This is war. The Ukrainians have been invaded and they are fighting back and defending themselves”simply reacted last night John Kirby, the spokesman for the American National Security Council. Russian soldiers on their territory are a legitimate target of military action for Ukraine, period.”