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10:12 p.m. : The World Bank has announced that it will grant an additional 610 million dollars to Ukraine, in order to enable the country to “addressing the most urgent needs” health matter. This support, which takes the form of two loans granted by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, is notably guaranteed for the United Kingdom to the tune of 500 million dollars.
8:54 p.m. : In the east of Ukraine, stands Bakhmout, the city that Vladimir Putin absolutely wants to seize. Despite eight months of intense bombardments, the Ukrainian army is resisting. Immersive report from France 2.
8:48 p.m. : In Kyiv, my 18-y-old nephew welded a power strip to an exercise bike. Now when someone exercises, they charge phones and light up the Xmas tree! #UkraineWillWin https://t.co/vbt5fcozK1
8:49 p.m. : There may not always be electricity in kyiv, but some are determined to celebrate Christmas, as this tweet from journalist Sasha Vasilyuk shows. “In kyiv, my 18-year-old nephew hooked an electric cord to an exercise bike. Now when someone exercises, it charges our phones and lights up the Christmas tree!”she wrote.
6:25 p.m. : France recently delivered rocket launchers and Crotale missile batteries to Ukraine, announced Emmanuel Macron in an interview with TF1 and LCI. “We are also working with the Minister of the Armed Forces so that in the first quarter we can deliver useful weapons and ammunition again”underlined the French president.
4:11 p.m. : German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier called Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two leaders discussed the conflict in Ukraine, assured the German presidency in a press release. During the discussion, which lasted an hour, Frank-Walter Steinmeier notably “stressed the common interest of China and Europe in ending the war. He asked Xi Jinping to use his influence on Russia and to act in this direction with Putin”the statement said.
2:40 p.m. : Here are some pictures of Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Bakhmout, eastern Ukraine.
(UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/AFP)
5:55 p.m. : It’s time to take stock of the news.
The risk of tensions for the electricity grid in January is now looming “average”, according to RTE. It was previously considered a month at risk “raised”.
The Argentinians are back in their country after their victory in the World Cup. The Albiceleste was welcomed by thousands of supportersbefore a big parade scheduled for the day.
Volodymyr Zelensky is on the move in Bakhmout, in eastern Ukraine, which Russian forces have been trying to conquer for months. “Zelensky in Bakhmut. The bravest president of the bravest nation”, greeted Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Follow our direct.
A triple epidemic is currently raging: Covid-19, flu, bronchiolitis. Hospitals are close to saturation. “It’s an exceptional situation“, explained to franceinfo, Sophie Vaux, epidemiologist at Public Health France.
2:23 p.m. : The head of Ukrainian diplomacy, Dmytro Kouleba, downplays the importance of the meeting between Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian ally, Alexander Lukashenko, even if kyiv fears an attack from its Belarusian neighbor. It is “a new ‘dance'” politics, he said at a press conference. He stated “that no critical decision was taken at this meeting” while assuring that Ukraine was “ready” to any scenario.
1:44 p.m. : “It seems to me that the heroes of Bakhmout should receive what everyone receives. (…) I would like to wish there was light, but the situation is so difficult that there is light , then there is no more.”
A video broadcast by the Ukrainian state channel Freedom reported on the Ukrainian president’s surprise visit to Bakhmout. We see Volodymyr Zelensky taking a photo of himself alongside soldiers in a building and giving them medals.
1:26 p.m. : Now is the time for the “best-of”, the content not to be missed on our site today.
Faced with inflation and the ecological crisis, should we stop giving christmas presents ? In addition to the almost general increase in prices, many French people are worried about the effects of consumption on greenhouse gas emissions.
A triple epidemic is currently raging: Covid-19, flu, bronchiolitis. Hospitals are close to saturation. “It’s an exceptional situation“, explained to franceinfo, Sophie Vaux, epidemiologist at Public Health France.
For several days, several senior Ukrainian officials have been warning of a possible Russian offensive on kyiv, starting at the end of January. Is the risk real?
12:33 p.m. : Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Bakhmut was welcomed by Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov on Telegram: “Zelensky in Bakhmut. The bravest president of the bravest nation.” Since the summer, the Russians have been trying to take Bakhmout, which had around 70,000 inhabitants before the invasion of Moscow launched at the end of February. In recent months, the city has become the site of apparent mass casualties on both sides.
12:23 p.m. : “The situation in the people’s republics of Donetsk, Luhansk, as well as in the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions is extremely difficult.”
Vladimir Poutine spoke in a video in particular intended employees of the FSB. He commended the work of the members of the Russian security services who act in “the new regions of Russia”ensuring that “the people living there, Russian citizens” depend on the “protection” of these services.
12:16 p.m. : Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Bakhmout, a city that Russian forces have been trying to take for months and currently the hottest point on the front in eastern Ukraine, assured his press service. “He met soldiers, spoke with them and gave decorations to our soldiers”added the press service of the presidency, without giving further details.
War in Ukraine: World Bank announces $610 million in additional aid to kyiv