2023-12-14 20:38:23
New sanctions against Russia. The European Union approved a new package of sanctions against Russia on Thursday, December 14, which notably includes a ban on imports of Russian diamonds into the EU. European leaders, meeting at a summit in Brussels, welcomed the adoption of this new package, the 12th since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, on February 24, 2022. Follow our live stream.
Emmanuel Macron congratulates his Ukrainian counterpart. “We decide this evening to open negotiations for the accession of Ukraine and Moldova to the European Union, and to grant Georgia candidate status. Congratulations!”he declared on X. According to information from franceinfo, the French president also spoke by telephone with Volodymyr Zelensky in the evening. For the head of state, “this decision, for which France worked, constitutes a logical, just and necessary response to the aspirations of the Ukrainian people and to the reforms undertaken with great determination by Ukraine, despite Russia’s war of aggression”.
Hungary castigates “a bad decision”. The Hungarian Prime Minister abstained from the vote of European Union leaders in favor of opening accession negotiations with Ukraine on Thursday 14 December. “Hungary does not want to share responsibility” of this choice “foolish” of the 26 other countries and “therefore abstained”, Viktor Orban said in a video posted on Facebook. On the eve of the summit of leaders of the Twenty-Seven, Hungary obtained 10 billion euros from the EU.
The EU gives the green light to the opening of accession negotiations with Ukraine. The European Union has decided to open accession negotiations with Ukraine, the President of the European Council Charles Michel announced on Thursday Xon the first day of a summit of leaders of the Twenty-Seven. “This is a victory for Ukraine. A victory for all of Europe. A victory that motivates, inspires and strengthens”and reagi Volodymyr Zelensky sur X. For his part, Charles Michel commented on the EU green light as “a clear signal of hope for their people and for our continent.”
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”from “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.
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