News blog about the Ukraine war
Putin opponents in Russia call for ceasefire
From dpa, Reuters, afp, t-online, mam, lw, csi, sic, fho, jcz, ts
Updated on December 7th, 2023 – 11:57 a.m. Reading time: 17 min.
Russian T-90 tank during an exercise for the war in Ukraine: A Russian opposition figure criticizes Putin’s conduct of the war and wants to run for election as the new president. (Source: Stanislav Krasilnikov/imago images)
Day 651: US aid to Ukraine is currently blocked by the Senate. Zelensky wants to expand arms production. All information in the news blog.
The most important things at a glance
Putin opponents in Russia call for ceasefire
8.12 a.m.: The liberal Russian opposition politician Grigory Yavlinsky has called for a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine. It is in Russia’s interest to sign a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine as quickly as possible, said the economist in an interview with state broadcaster RBK on Tuesday. He also expressed doubts about whether Russian polls about his compatriots’ opinions about the war are true.
Jawlinski announced that he wanted to stand as a candidate for the next presidential election in 2024 and collect the necessary signatures. In 2012, the Russian election authorities refused to allow him to take part because a quarter of his signatures were allegedly forged. According to the US think tank Institute for the Study of War, he wanted to win public support for his election with his anti-war demands.
Ukraine demands fighter jet and anti-aircraft system from the USA
3:20 a.m.: Ukraine demands new weapons from the USA to defend against the Russian invasion. The Defense Ministry in Kiev presents a “list of defense equipment to meet the needs of the Ukrainian defense forces” at a defense industry conference in Washington, which is discussed behind closed doors.
In addition to weapons already in use, the list, obtained by Reuters, also includes F-18 “Hornet” fighter jets, three types of General Atomics drones, including the MQ-9B Sky Guardian, and the THAAD (Terminal High) air defense system manufactured by Lockheed Altitude Area Defense). The Ukrainian embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Republicans block US aid package for Ukraine
12:20 a.m.: The opposition US Republicans have initially blocked a billion-dollar aid package for Israel and Ukraine. The Conservatives withheld support for the $106 billion (around 98 billion euros) package on Wednesday in a procedural vote in the Senate. The background is the dispute over immigration policy and securing the southern border of the USA with Mexico.
US President Joe Biden had signaled a willingness to compromise before the congressional vote. Biden said he was ready to make “big compromises” on immigration policy so that Congress could release funding for Ukraine. The release of financial resources to support Ukraine “cannot wait any longer”; failure would be the “biggest gift” to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Zelensky wants to expand domestic military production
9:09 p.m.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj wants to expand domestic military production in cooperation with partners. “Ukraine does not want to be dependent only on partners. Ukraine really wants and can become a security provider for all our neighbors as soon as it can guarantee its own security,” says Zelensky. The plan is “absolutely realistic”.
G7 bans direct import of Russian diamonds from January 1st
8:41 p.m.: The G7 countries will ban direct imports of non-industrial Russian diamonds from January 1st. From March there will be an import ban on Russian diamonds sold by third countries, the G7 announced in a joint statement after a meeting.
The measures are intended to make it more difficult for Russia to finance its war of aggression against Ukraine. The G7 includes the USA, Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, Canada and Japan.
