“Don’t give Putin this first and only victory of the year.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged European leaders on Thursday December 14 not to abandon his country and called for the opening of accession negotiations. In his eyes, a failure would constitute a victory for Vladimir Putin. “Today is the day of a political decision in response to what we have achieved. It is about opening accession negotiations with Ukraine”he declared by videoconference in front of the Twenty-Seven meeting at a summit in Brussels. Follow our live stream.
Important meeting in Brussels. European leaders are meeting on Thursday to convince Hungary’s unyielding Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to agree to the European Union opening accession talks with Ukraine and to drop his veto on crucial aid to kyiv.
Russia is “moving forward.” Vladimir Putin on Thursday showed 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”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”of the “stability of the country’s financial and economic system” and of “increasing military capabilities” from Moscow.
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.
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.