Russia “Go ahead”. On Thursday, December 14, Vladimir Putin displayed his confidence in a victory in the conflict in Ukraine. “Practically along the entire length of the line of contact, our armed forces are improving their positions. Almost all of them are in the active phase”declared the Russian president, during his major press conference organized in Moscow, a week after announcing his intention to stay in the Kremlin. Russia has, according to him, a “sufficient safety margin” due to the “strong consolidation of Russian society”there “stability of the country’s financial and economic system” and of “increasing military capabilities” from Moscow. Follow our live stream.
Moscow wants to pursue its objectives. Vladimir Putin indicated, after almost two years of deadly fighting, that his objectives were unchanged: “The denazification and demilitarization of Ukraine, its neutral status”. The solution “will be negotiated or obtained by force”he warned again.
Important meeting in Brussels. European leaders are meeting on Thursday to convince hardline Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to agree to the European Union opening accession talks with Ukraine and to drop his veto on crucial aid to kyiv.
New drone attack in Ukraine. The Russian army launched 42 drones in the south of the country during the night from Wednesday to Thursday. Ukraine said it killed 41, but the scale of the attack illustrates the growing military pressure from Moscow. On Tuesday, kyiv was targeted by ten missiles which were all neutralized in flight, but the debris left around fifty people injured.
NATO fears that Russia will continue its advance beyond Ukraine. In the event of Russia’s victory in Ukraine, there is a “real risk” that Vladimir Putin does not stop there, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg once again warned Thursday in Brussels. “Our support is not charity, it is an investment in our security”he added. “Ending military assistance to Ukraine would only prolong the war, not end it”warned Jens Stoltenberg again.