Photo : Russian president Vladimir Putin and Slovak prime minister Robert Fico during their meeting in Mosco
Photo : Russian president Vladimir Putin and Slovak prime minister Robert Fico during their meeting in Mosco
By Neha Tresa George
WAR ON GROUND
On 26 December, Reuters reported on the Russian drone attacks in the town of Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region. It destroyed a multi-story apartment building, killing two and injuring two more. Further, regional officials in the Dnipropetrovsk region said that another drone strike in the Nikopol town wounded eight people. Governor of Zaporizhzhia Ivan Federov reported on the strike in the city, however no injuries were observed. On the same, the Ukrainian military confirmed intercepting 21 out of the 31 drones launched in an overnight attack by Russia.
On 26 December, The Kyiv Independent reported on the claims by the Centre for Strategic Communication and Information Security (CSCIS) and military intelligence. According to CSCIS, the Ukrainian Air Force attacked a plant in Kamensk-Shakhtynsky in the Rostov Oblast region used for producing solid propellant for ballistic missiles. In a statement: "This strike is part of a comprehensive campaign to weaken the capabilities of the Russian armed forces to carry out terrorist attacks against Ukrainian civilians." However, these claims could not be verified by The Kyiv Independent. In addition, Ukraine's Military Intelligence (HUR) said that North Korean troops deployed in the Kursk suffered considerable losses. Reportedly, Ukrainian strikes in December resulted in more than 3000 of them being killed. HUR also confirmed the destruction of a North Korean mortar unit. Further, they reported on the logistical barriers faced by the North Korean units, particularly in the front line of the Kursk region.
On 26 December, The Guardian cited a poll on the decreasing support for Ukraine in the EU. The YouGov survey suggests that in the past 12 months, the public desire to stand with Ukraine until it won had decreased across France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Denmark and the UK. Meanwhile, an alternative solution through peaceful negotiations was the most preferred option in these countries. It was unclear whether it was because of a "declining interest or increasing fatigue" about the war. The poll pointed out that most people in Sweden, Denmark and the UK opposed giving away Ukrainian territories to Russia compared to France, Spain, Germany and Italy. About 66 per cent of Danes, 63 per cent of Swedes and Spaniards, 59 per cent of Britons, 53 per cent of Germans and Italians and 52 per cent of French believed that military assistance to Ukraine was not enough. However, only a few proportions of Sweden, the UK, Germany, France and Italy felt they should increase the aid.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims by Russia
On 26 December, RT reported that Russia approved Slovakia as the suitable location for further peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. Putin said that Slovakia was ready to host peace negotiations. This was because Slovakia had been suggesting a peaceful resolution of the conflict, opposing arms supply to Ukraine by the EU. This comes after Putin held a meeting with Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico in Moscow. According to Putin, unlike other EU countries, Slovakia takes a neutral position. After the meeting, they discussed on ways to end the Ukraine conflict and "military situation."
On 26 December, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke about Russia's stance with the US, France, Ukraine, the EU and Syria. On Ukraine, he said that Russia did not favour pointless discussions on resolution. He added that future agreements should involve steps to prevent violations. He further said that targets would be selected based on threats to Russia. Russia also welcomes open discussions with Trump and hopes for a better understanding of the primary causes of the conflict. However, it expects Washington to take the first step. It had also received several proposals from France to discuss a peaceful resolution with Ukraine. However, Russia seems skeptical about France as it has increased its military aid to Ukraine.
On 26 December, RT reported on the statements of Russia's President Vladimir Putin over Ukraine's position to halt the transit deal for the supply of Russian natural gas to the EU. Putin said that although Ukraine needed the EU's help to exist, it was punishing Europeans by suspending the contract. He noted that this would increase the European gases to more than USD 500 per thousand cubic meters. He added that it was Ukraine's policy as Russia opted for "depoliticization of economic issues." He said: "We supplied regularly and paid, and continue pay, by the way, money for transit." The five-year transit agreement between Russian energy giant Gazprom and Ukrainian state energy firm Naftogaz expires on 01 January 2025. The EU gets five per cent of its gas from Russia through Ukraine, and it has pipelines connecting Moldova, Romania, Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia. Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has confirmed that the deal would not be extended further despite requests from some EU countries.
On 26 December, RT reported Putin's warnings on the usage of Russia's new Oreshnik ballistic missile. He said: "We have more than one system in our inventory, but we are not in a rush to use them, because this is a powerful weapon, designed to address specific problems.". He further confirmed the deployment of Oreshnik missiles in Belarus. Earlier, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko informed us about the deployment of ten missiles by Russia and the chances of further installations in the future. Oreshnik missiles can carry multiple warheads with ability to strike at hypersonic speeds.
On 26 December, Anadolu Agency reported on the claims put forth by the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation on the capture of Hihant village in Ukraine's Donetsk region, lying eight kilometres south of the Kurakhiv reservoir. According to the ministry, the village was captured as a result of an operation undertaken by the Southern Forces. Ukraine has not yet commented on these claims.
On 26 December, CBS NEWS reported that Russia's top security agency known as the Federal Security Service detained four suspects allegedly involved in Ukraine's suspected plans to assassinate several senior military officials. The agency said that these people were planning to execute one of the officers with a remotely controlled car bomb. Another officer was to be attacked by an explosive device, hidden in an envelope. However, they did not mention the identity of the officials who were targeted in this plot. Further, they released a video showing the arrest and interrogation of the unnamed suspects. They also arrested a citizen of Uzbekistan, alleged to have been recruited by Ukrainian special services. This development follows the death of Russian General Igor Kirillov in early December.
THE WEST VIEW
Responses from the US and Europe
On 26 December, the Associated Press reported that Finnish authorities had detained a Russian ship, the Eagle S, for its investigation on the Baltic Sea power cable sabotage. Finnish police and border guards entered the vessel currently being detained in the Cook Islands, in Finnish waters. According to Finnish customs officials, Eagle S is an oil tanker, part of Russia's shadow fleet of fuel tankers, used to evade Western sanctions. Yle cited police statements and reported that the Eagle S anchor was suspected of damaging the cable.
References
"Ukraine 'punishing’ EU – Putin,” RT, 26 December 2024
“Russia could use Oreshnik again – Putin,” RT, 26 December 2024
“Putin supports Slovakia as potential venue for Ukraine peace talks,” RT, 26 December 2024
“Lavrov on Ukraine, Trump, and Syria: Key statements from his annual press conference,” RT, 26 December 2024
“Finland stops Russia-linked vessel over damaged undersea power cable in Baltic Sea,” Associated Press, 26 December 2024
“Russian drone attack kills two in Ukraine's Donetsk region, several injured in Dnipropetrovsk,” Reuters, 27 December 2024
“Ukraine war latest: Ukraine hits ballistic missile propellant plant in Rostov Oblast; North Korean troops endure heavy losses,” The Kyiv Independent¸ 26 December 2024
“Support for Ukraine ‘until it wins’ falls sharply in western Europe, poll finds,” The Guardian, 26 December 2024
“Russia claims to have taken control of another settlement in Ukraine,” Anadolu Agency, 26 December 2024
“Russia says 4 arrested in alleged bomb plots to kill senior Defense officials,” CBS NEWS, 26 December 2024