Ukraine-Russia war – live: Putin issues ‘serious’ warning to west as Kyiv ‘shoots down three bombers’

Vladimir Putin has issued a “serious” warning to the west.

The Kremlin on Friday threatened “serious consequences” for Europe and the US if Russian assets held abroad are given to aid the Ukrainian budget and war effort. These might include tit-for-tat financial seizures or even a break in diplomatic relations.

It comes as Ukraine’s air force chiefs said they had shot down three Russian Su-34 fighter bombers over the south of the country, in what would be a blow to Putin. Su-34 aircraft, which are armed with guided bombs and Kh-59 missiles, can carry out long-distance attacks.

Earlier, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky cited a report by HUR, the country’s military intelligence agency, that suggested a noticeable slowdown in Russia’s military-industrial complex, almost 22 months after Moscow’s full-scale invasion.

It comes as the Dutch government announced it is preparing to give 18 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, in a boost for the embattled nation that is growing increasingly anxious about aid from its Western allies.

Key Points

• Putin issues ‘serious’ warning to west

• Ukraine claims to down three Russian fighter-bomber jets

• Dutch government take another step toward donating 18 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine

• Zelensky says Russia’s military supply lines are slowing down as fierce fighting continues on Ukraine frontline

• Ukraine repels major drone attack

• Russian forces suffer from ‘mouse fever’

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan backs cars for Ukraine scheme in apparent U-turn

10:09 , Tara Cobham

The Mayor of London has pledged his support to send 4x4s and other vehicles to Ukraine that would otherwise be scrapped under the Ulez scheme.

In an apparent U-turn, Sadiq Khan has asked the Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, to enable Londoners, and others across the country, to donate suitable vehicles to Ukraine through scrappage schemes.

The mayor had previously made it clear he did not believe altering the Ulez scheme for exporting vehicles would be possible under current laws.

Story continues

George Lithgow reports:

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan backs cars for Ukraine scheme in apparent U-turn

Ukraine claims to down three Russian fighter-bomber jets

09:15 , Tara Cobham

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and military officials said the country’s forces shot down three Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber aircraft on Friday on the southern front, hailing it as a success in the 22-month-old war.

The Russian military made no mention of the incident. But Russian bloggers acknowledged the loss, and analysts suggested US-supplied Patriot missiles had probably been used.

Reuters could not independently confirm the reports.

“Today at noon in the southern sector — minus three Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers!” Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

Air Force spokesperson Yuri Ihnat described it on national television as a “brilliantly planned operation.” “There haven’t been Su-34s for some time in our positive statistics,” he said, citing the model as one of Russia’s most modern aircraft for bombing and other assaults.

Zelenskiy in his nightly video address praised the Odesa region anti-aircraft unit for downing the planes in Kherson region.

Eurasia Daily, a Russia-based journal, said the Ukrainian account was plausible. Kyiv could have launched Patriot missiles, which have a range of up to 160 km (100 miles) against high-altitude targets, from the western side of the Dnipro River, it said.

Putin issues ‘serious’ warning to west

08:29 , Tara Cobham

Vladimir Putin has issued a “serious” warning to the west.

The Kremlin on Friday threatened “serious consequences” for Europe and the US if Russian assets held abroad are given to aid the Ukrainian budget and war effort. These might include tit-for-tat financial seizures or even a break in diplomatic relations.

A spokesperson for the Russian President told reporters that if central bank assets, believed to be worth more than $300bn (£236bn), which were frozen after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine are now seized, “Russia will never leave those who do it alone”.

Putin ally ‘responsible’ for Wagner chief assassination, according to reports

07:42 , Tara Cobham

Vladimir Putin’s close ally Nikolai Patrushev has been named by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) as the person “responsible” for the assassination of Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, according to a US war think wank.

Quoting Western intelligence officials and former Russian intelligence sources, the newspaper named the Secretary of the Russian Security Council as the person who, with the Russian President’s permission, gave the order to ”dispose” of Prigozhin in early August 2023 by planting an explosive on the wing of Prigozhin’s jet, reported the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

ISW said it “had originally assessed on 23 August that Russian forces might have shot down Prigozhin’s jet on Putin’s orders, but evidence for that assessment was circumstantial, and ISW has no reason to doubt that the sources of the WSJ report are more reliable”.

It added that Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov accused the WSJ of putting forward a ”pulp fiction” conspiracy theory about Prigozhin’s death.

Anti-war ex-journalist enters race against Putin in Russian election

05:00 , Jane Dalton

In case you missed it: An anti-war journalist has applied to run against Vladimir Putin in the Russian presidential election in March next year.

Anti-war former journalist enters race against Putin in Russia election

Investigators ‘uncover fraud’ in arms procurement

03:30 , Jane Dalton

Ukraine’s security service and the defence ministry have said they have uncovered a scheme for fraudulent purchase of artillery shells that involved embezzlement of the equivalent of nearly $40 million.

Corruption in Ukraine has become an even more crucial issue as Kyiv proceeds with its application to join the European Union.

A statement issued by the SBU security service said the corrupt scheme focused on contracts to procure artillery shells.

A contract to secure the shells at higher than market prices had been abandoned by the defence ministry’s recently created procurement agency and a new deal struck eliminating intermediaries and significantly reducing the price.

But a senior ministry official, it said, had extended the previous contract and funds totalling nearly 1.5 billion hryvnias were deposited in accounts belonging to the intermediary firms.

The official, the main suspect in the case, was removed from his duties, legal proceedings have been launched against him and attempts are under way to recover the money.

Russian mines blown up

02:00 , Jane Dalton

The Ukrainian defence ministry has posted footage of what it says is a Russian anti-tank-mines stockpile being blown up.

Kiss for a serviceman

Friday 22 December 2023 23:59 , Jane Dalton

Recap: Anger toward West swells across Africa

Friday 22 December 2023 22:15 , Jane Dalton

Russia’s foreign minister tours North Africa as anger toward the West swells across the region

In pictures: Fighting near Bakhmut

Friday 22 December 2023 20:08 , Jane Dalton

Ukraine and Poland aim to repair damaged relations

Friday 22 December 2023 19:51 , Jane Dalton

Ukraine and Poland have said they are ready to try to resolve “problematic” issues in their relations, which have been damaged by a Polish truckers’ blockade of border crossings.

The pledge emerged from a meeting in Kyiv between Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Polish counterpart Radoslaw Sikorski, who was on his first official trip abroad.

Ukraine has counted Poland as one of its closest European Union allies. Poland, now led by a centrist, pro-EU cabinet under Donald Tusk, has given Ukraine humanitarian and military assistance and taken in millions of Ukrainian refugees.

But relations have been overshadowed by a protest blockade of several border crossings by Polish truck drivers, and what Kyiv has seen as a lack of initiative by the previous Polish nationalist government to resolve the problem.

Hauliers are angry over a loss of business to competition from Ukrainian truckers who have benefited from permit-free access to EU territory since the war began.

They want permits for Ukrainian truckers reinstated, something Kyiv and the European Commission say is not negotiable. The protests have resulted in economic losses for Ukraine and also affected vital volunteer military aid supplies.

Poland’s deputy infrastructure minister said after talks with his Ukrainian counterpart that he hoped the protests could be solved before the end of the year.

Ukraine says it has shot down three Russian fighter bombers

Friday 22 December 2023 17:59 , Jane Dalton

Three Russian bomber aircraft have been shot down over southern Ukraine, Kyiv’s air force claims.

“Today, in the Southern direction – minus three Russian Su-34 fighter bombers!,” said Ukraine’s Air Force.

Su-34 aircraft, which are armed with guided bombs and Kh-59 missiles, can carry out long-distance attacks.

Mykola Oleschuk, chief of Ukraine’s air force, said it had downed the three SU-34s “in a southern direction”, which he did not specify.

There were reports of a Russian military helicopter being scrambled to try to rescue the pilot of at least one of the planes.

Russian Telegram accounts suggested the aircraft were shot down near Ukraine’s Kherson bridgehead over the river Dnipro.

Russian official says US is hampering a prisoner exchange with unequal demands

Friday 22 December 2023 16:04 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A Russian deputy foreign minister said that talks with the United States on a potential prisoner exchange that would free Americans held in Russia are hampered by publicity and an alleged disparity in the U.S. negotiating stance.

The U.S. State Department said last week that Russia rejected several proposals for freeing Paul Whelan, an American convicted of espionage, and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was detained in March and is facing espionage charges.

“Here, as in many other areas, we observe the American traditional desire to get more for ourselves and give the minimum, as they say,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in an interview with the Interfax news agency that was published Friday.

Russian official says US is hampering a prisoner exchange with unequal demands

Dutch government take another step toward donating 18 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine

Friday 22 December 2023 15:22 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Dutch government announced Friday it is preparing to give 18 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, in a boost for the embattled nation that is growing increasingly anxious about aid from its Western allies.

The Dutch defense minister, Kajsa Ollongren, sent a letter to parliament outlining the plan to donate the sophisticated jets that was first unveiled in the summer.

Friday’s decision is a significant step toward sending the planes into the skies over Ukraine, but did not say when they will be delivered.

The government said the move “allows personnel and budget to be allocated to prepare the devices” to be sent to Ukraine.

“With F-16s, Ukraine can better defend itself against Russian attacks,” Ollongren said in a statement.

She added that the planes are “extremely important because the ongoing Russian aggression shows no sign of ending. That is why we are continuing unabated with our support for Ukraine.”

U.S. Treasury’s Adeyemo says new Russia sanctions order puts bigger burden on banks

Friday 22 December 2023 14:50 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

U.S. President Joe Biden’s new executive order strengthening U.S. sanctions against Russia will put new pressure on banks to ensure that their services are not being used to aid Russia‘s efforts to circumvent sanctions, U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said on Friday.

Adeyemo said in an interview on CNBC that most major financial institutions are adhering to U.S. sanctions aimed at preventing Russia from acquiring materials needed for its war effort. But the new executive order due to be signed on Friday allows the Treasury to target banks in countries like China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and other countries that may be willingly or unwittingly helping Russia evade sanctions, Adeyemo said.

“What this tool says is that if you’re a financial institution, you need to take steps to make sure that you are not being used” by Russian front companies to evade sanctions.

Ukraine says it downs 24 of 28 Russian drones, debris damages granary

Friday 22 December 2023 14:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukraine shot down 24 of 28 Shahed drones launched by Russia in an overnight attack that damaged residential buildings in Kyiv and an infrastructure facility and grain warehouse in southern regions, officials said.

They said more than two dozen Russian drones targeted Ukraine‘s capital, hitting the 24th, 25th and 26th storeys of an apartment building and injuring two people, and causing lesser damage to several other residential buildings.

In the south, Russia again tried to hit port infrastructure – a frequent target since it pulled out of a U.N.-brokered deal reached after Russia‘s February 2022 invasion that allowed safe passage of Ukrainian grain shipments via the Black Sea.

“…Wreckage of the downed (drone) damaged a granary. There was a fire that was quickly tamed by the company’s employees,” the southern military command said on the Telegram messaging platform, describing the aftermath in the Odesa region.

Russia says it downs five Ukrainian drones south of Moscow

Friday 22 December 2023 13:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russia said its air defences intercepted five Ukrainian drones south of Moscow in the space of less than an hour on Friday.

The defence ministry said four were intercepted over Kaluga region and a fifth was destroyed inside the Moscow region.

Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin, apparently referring to the latter incident, said fragments of the drone had fallen in the city of Podolsk but no casualties or damage had been reported.

Drone attacks aimed at Moscow have subsided since the summer, when they repeatedly hit a business district of the capital and forced frequent airport closures. In May, two drones exploded on the roof of a building in the Kremlin, without causing any serious damage.

Ukraine said on Thursday that Russia had launched about 7,400 missiles and 3,700 Iranian-made Shahed drones at targets in Ukraine in the course of the 22-month war.

Ukraine ends year disappointed by stalemate with Russia, and anxious about aid from allies

Friday 22 December 2023 13:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The year started with high hopes for Ukrainian troops planning a counteroffensive against Russia. It ended with disappointment on the battlefield, an increasingly somber mood among troops and anxiety about the future of Western aid for Ukraine‘s war effort.

In between, there was a short-lived rebellion in Russia, a dam collapse in Ukraine, and the spilling of much blood on both sides of the conflict.

Twenty-two months since it invaded, Russia has about one-fifth of Ukraine in its grip, and the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line has barely budged this year.

A crunch has come away from the battlefield. In Western countries that have championed Ukraine’s struggle against its much bigger adversary, political deliberations over billions in financial aid are increasingly strained.

Ukraine ends year disappointed by stalemate with Russia, and anxious about aid from allies

Anti-war former journalist enters race against Putin in Russia presidential election

Friday 22 December 2023 12:33 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

An anti-war journalist has applied to run against Vladimir Putin in the Russian presidential election in March next year.

Former TV journalist, Yekaterina Duntsova, 40, has submitted her documents to the Central Election Commission in Moscow to begin the formal process of entering the running.

The vote is expected to be a heavily staged-managed exercise that is all but certain to hand a landslide victory to Russia’s autocratic leader.

Anti-war former journalist enters race against Putin in Russia election

Russia: Diplomatic ties with US could break down over asset seizures

Friday 22 December 2023 12:03 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russia may cut diplomatic ties with the United States if Washington confiscates Russian assets frozen over the Ukrainian war, the Interfax news agency quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying on Friday.

The United States “must not act under an illusion… that Russia is clinging with both hands to diplomatic relations with that country,” Ryabkov said.

Russia has described relations with the United States as “below zero” because of U.S. military and financial aid for Ukraine in the war now approaching the end of its second year.

Ryabkov said Russia, which sent forces into Ukraine in February 2022 in what it called a “special military operation”, would not be the one to initiate a break in diplomatic ties, but such a rupture could be prompted by a variety of factors.

“The trigger could be asset confiscation, further military escalation, many other things. I would not go into negative forecasts here,” he said, adding that Moscow was “ready for any scenario”.

Ukraine could ask male citizens living abroad to join army next year

Friday 22 December 2023 11:21 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukrainian men who live abroad and are fit to serve in the military should return to join the country’s armed forces next year, the war-hit country’s defence minister said on Thursday, adding that punishments could be introduced for those who fail to do so.

It represents a significant shift in Ukraine’s recruitment policy 22 months after it was invaded by Russia, and comes after Volodymyr Zelensky said the military had asked him for as many as half a million more men in 2024, but that no decision on conscription had yet been made.

Umerov said that Ukrainian men living abroad would first be “invited” to report to recruiting offices, but added that measures would be taken if they did not show up willingly.

Ukraine could ask male citizens living abroad to join army next year

Uzbekistan summons Russian envoy over politician’s annexation remark

Friday 22 December 2023 10:54 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Uzbekistan’s foreign ministry has summoned the Russian ambassador over a call by a Russian politician to annex the former Soviet republic, it said late on Thursday.

Russian nationalist writer Zakhar Prilepin, who is co-chair of the “A Just Russia – For Truth” party, said this week he believed Russia should annex Uzbekistan and other countries whose citizens travel en masse to Russia for work.

The Uzbek foreign ministry told Russian Ambassador Oleg Malginov on Thursday that Tashkent was “deeply concerned” about these “provocative” comments.

Malginov, in turn, said Prilepin’s comments had nothing to do with the official Kremlin position, the ministry said.

Millions of migrant labourers from formerly Soviet republics in Central Asia work in Russia and their presence sometimes leads to economic and ethnic tensions.

Russia‘s annexation of Crimea and later other areas of Ukraine has caused unease among other ex-Soviet republics.

Kremlin says Russia will strengthen its immigration system

Friday 22 December 2023 10:27 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Kremlin said on Friday that improvements to Russia‘s immigration system were being prepared after the head of the Orthodox Church warned of a threat to the country’s national identity.

Kremlin spokesman said migration was an important topic and a list of instructions was being drawn up to strengthen the existing system.

Immigration to Russia mostly comes from Central Asian states that used to be part of the Soviet Union.

The issue is delicate for the Kremlin because many companies are struggling to find skilled workers after hundreds of thousands of Russians fled abroad following the start of the war in Ukraine, something Moscow calls a “special military operation.

Kremlin says Russia would respond in kind to any Western seizure of its assets

Friday 22 December 2023 09:54 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russia will never leave in peace any country that seizes its assets, the Kremlin said on Friday, saying it would look at what Western assets it could seize in retaliation in such a scenario.

The Kremlin was commenting on an idea being actively discussed in the West where some politicians have suggested that frozen Russian assets worth $300 billion be handed to Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a briefing that any such seizure would deal a serious blow to the international financial system and that Russia would defend its rights in the courts and through other means if it happened.

Russia’s losses, according to Armed Forces of Ukraine

Friday 22 December 2023 09:33 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Armed Forces of Ukraine has estimated Russia has lost over 350,000 troops since the beginning of the war.

Zelensky says Russia’s military supply lines are slowing down as fierce fighting continues on Ukraine frontline

Friday 22 December 2023 09:04 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukrainian intelligence is showing a noticeable slowdown in Russia’s military-industrial complex, almost 22 months after Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion.

Speaking in his nightly address, the Ukrainian president cited a report by HUR, the country’s military intelligence agency. “Today there was a separate report by the Main Intelligence Directorate. The enemy’s plans, the work of the Russian defence industry – there are signals that they are slowing down. We will help them to slow down even more.”

The Ukrainian president did not provide further details on a possible cause for the slowdown, whether tactical or a result of sustained pressure after a particularly intensive period of fighting on the battlefield.

Zelensky says Russia’s military supply lines are slowing down

Russia threatens to sever ties if U.S. confiscates its assets

Friday 22 December 2023 08:31 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russia may sever diplomatic ties with the United States if Washington confiscates Russian assets frozen over the Ukrainian conflict, the Interfax news agency quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying on Friday.

The United States “must not act under an illusion… that Russia is clinging with both hands to diplomatic relations with that country,” Ryabkov said.

Residential buildings hit in overnight attack

Friday 22 December 2023 08:01 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A video posted on social media showed a giant orange flame going skyward in the night after a drone hit a block of flats in Kyiv’s Solomyanskyi district.

The city’s mayor Vitali Klitschko also said drone fragments had set fire to a house under construction in Darnytskyi district on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River that runs through the city.

He said there were no injuries. Pictures posted online showed construction materials strewn about the site.

Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, reported fragments from a downed drone had struck an apartment building in a third area – Holosiivskyi district – also south of the city centre.

Popko posted pictures showing smashed windows and heavy damage to apartments.

Mass drone attack hits several Kyiv districts

Friday 22 December 2023 07:34 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russian drones targeted the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, early on Friday, injuring two people and damaging property in the city in Moscow’s latest overnight drone strike against Ukraine.

It was the sixth such attack on the capital this month and part of a larger drone swarm that targeted parts of central, southern and western Ukraine, the country’s air force said.

Ukrainian air defences shot down 24 out of 28 attack drones, it said.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said a drone had hit a block of flats in the Solomyanskyi district, south of the city centre, triggering a fire on the upper floors that was quickly brought under control.

Emergency services also said several apartments were damaged on the 24th, 25th and 26th storeys of the building. Two people were injured, including one being treated in hospital.

The incident occurred a few hundred metres from a maternity hospital.

ICYMI: EU pays the final part of Ukraine budget support for 2023 with future funding up in the air

Friday 22 December 2023 07:00 , Athena Stavrou

The European Union on Thursday paid the final portion of a multibillion-euro support package to Ukraine to help keep its war-ravaged economy afloat this year, leaving the country without a financial lifeline from Europe as of next month.

The EU has sent 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion) each month in 2023 to ensure macroeconomic stability and rebuild critical infrastructure destroyed in the war. It’s also helping to pay wages and pensions, keep hospitals and schools running, and provide shelter for people forced from their homes.

Read the full report:

EU pays the final tranche of Ukraine budget support for 2023. Future support is up in the air

Who is Putin’s election opponent?

Friday 22 December 2023 06:30 , Athena Stavrou

Vladimir Putin will be going up against an anti-war journalist in the Russian presidental election in March next year.

Former TV journalist Yekaterina Duntsova, 40, has submitted her documents to the Central Election Commission in Moscow to begin the formal process of entering the running for the election.

On being asked whether Russian authorities will allow her candidature against Putin, Ms Duntsova said: “Why are we talking about permission if this is my right according to the law and I have that possibility and have the necessary qualities to put myself forward?

“We are just moving according to the formula prescribed by federal law, and for that we don’t need anyone’s permission,” she said.

Now a regional legislator, Ms Duntsova is calling for peace in Ukraine and campaigning on her plank of a “humane Russia that is peaceful, friendly and ready to cooperate with everyone on the principle of respect”.

She asked Russians to support her fight against the incumbent leader and said: “I feel a sense of accomplishment. We’ve done everything that we needed to do. We’ve made this step, and I think it should inspire people who support us.

“I hope that I’ll at least be registered as a candidate. But, of course, collecting signatures is a huge job and I hope that people will be actively taking part,” she added.

Russia continues close ties with North Korea

Friday 22 December 2023 05:30 , Athena Stavrou

Agency Reuters is reporting from Moscow that Russia has established “comprehensive” defence cooperation with North Korea as well as announcing continued strategic partnerships with India and China.

The agency states that defence Minister Sergei Shoigu visited North Korea in July and Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in September.

The United States and its allies have voiced concern that Kim could provide weapons and ammunition to Russia to help replace stocks used in its war in Ukraine, and South Korean lawmakers said Russia had helped Pyongyang launch a reconnaissance satellite a month ago.

“The course towards developing a comprehensive strategic partnership with China and India continues. Active, comprehensive cooperation has been established with the DPRK,” Gerasimov said in a year-end address, using an official abbreviation for North Korea.

Full report: ‘Mouse fever’ outbreak leaves Putin’s troops with vomiting and severe headache

Friday 22 December 2023 04:30 , Athena Stavrou

Vladimir Putin’s soldiers in eastern Ukraine’s Kupiansk are reportedly falling sick because of a “mouse fever” outbreak – a viral disease that has left the invading Russian troops severely unwell.

The outbreak of the so-called “mouse fever” has been recorded in many units of the Russian forces in the Kupiansk direction, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence’s main directorate of intelligence said on its official Telegram channel.

Here’s our full report:

‘Mouse fever’ outbreak leaves Putin’s troops with vomiting and severe headache

Putin’s Russia a ‘real and constant threat’, says Starmer

Friday 22 December 2023 03:30 , Athena Stavrou

Sir Keir Starmer has been speaking about the threat of Russia as he visited British troops positioned close tot he border in Estonia.

He said the UK and its allies “need to be prepared, we need to deter” in response to Moscow’s actions.

The Labour leader added: “I think we have to be mindful of that threat from Russia to Europe, to ourselves in the UK and the interference that goes on.”

He said there was a “real and constant threat from Russia, measured in years, and measured back home in the UK as well”.

Sir Keir was accompanied by shadow defence secretary John Healey as they praised British troops for helping protect Nato’s eastern flank.

Zelensky shares condolences after students killed in Prague shooting

Friday 22 December 2023 02:30 , Athena Stavrou

Ukrainian President Zelensky has expressed his condolences after a gunman opened fire at a university in central Prague.

Mr Zelensky said: “Shocking reports of tragic events in Prague. Innocent people were killed and injured. My sincere condolences to the families of the victims. I wish those injured a speedy recovery.”

Latest pictures from Ukraine

Friday 22 December 2023 01:30 , Athena Stavrou

Ukraine to increase domestic borrowing in 2024

Friday 22 December 2023 00:30 , Athena Stavrou

Ukraine is having to increase domestic borrowing due to a lack of foreign support in 2024, the country’s finance minister has said.

It comes as both the US and EU are struggling to agree on further aid packages for Ukraine, with the US failing to pass their aid bill before their Christmas break.

“Unfortunately, in January and February, the decisions taken by the partners are not enough so that we can cope on our own. That’s why we have a Plan B mechanism in force now,” the Interfax news agency cited Serhiy Marchenko as saying.

Three people killed in coal mine attack

Thursday 21 December 2023 23:30 , Athena Stavrou

Russian aerial bombs on Thursday have struck two coal mines in Ukraine‘s eastern town of Toretsk in the Donetsk region, killing three and injuring at least five civilians, the interior minister said.

“Two bombs hit the territory of one of the mines in Toretsk. One person was killed and two others were injured,” Ihor Klymenko, the minister, he said on Telegram messenger.

There was a power outage, and 32 miners remained underground but were successfully rescued.

Medical cannabis legalised in Ukraine

Thursday 21 December 2023 22:30 , Athena Stavrou

Ukraine has legalised the use of medical cannabis in response to the growing number of people suffering from war-related PTSD.

While recreational use will remain a criminal offence, cannabis will be allowed to be used for scientific and industrial means with strict control.

The law will come into effect in six months time.

Ukraine Western creditors extend debt suspension through March 2027

Thursday 21 December 2023 21:30 , Athena Stavrou

Ukraine and a group of its Western creditors agreed on Thursday to extend through March 2027 a debt payment suspension agreed in September 2022 that could have expired at the end of this year, the Ukrainian government said.

“I am grateful to our partners from the G7 countries for understanding Ukraine‘s needs in the time of war,” Ukraine‘s Minister of Finance Sergii Marchenko said in a statement.

Zelensky notices ‘slow down’ of Russian offensive

Thursday 21 December 2023 20:30 , Athena Stavrou

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that Ukraine was receiving signals that Russia’s military planning and activity were slowing.

Zelensky, in his nightly video address, said this was noted in a report issued by the HUR military intelligence directorate.

“There was a separate report from the HUR,” Zelensky said. “The enemy’s plans, the work of the Russian defence (industry). There are signals indicating a slowdown. We will continue to support their slowdown.”

He did not elaborate and it is not clear whether the he was referring specifically to the Russian defence industry or to Russian tactics and objectives in a broader sense.

Zelensky meeting with Orban

Thursday 21 December 2023 20:00 , Alex Ross

This could be interesting. After Hungarian leader Viktor Orban blocked the EU’s funding package for Ukraine, it’s now emerged that a meeting will take place between Mr Oban and Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky.

We can only imagine that Mr Zelensky will use the meeting to persuade Mr Orban to change his mind on supporting his fight against Russia.

Mr Orban had earlier said that any funding package for Ukraine should not come out of the EU budget, but be funded separately by the 26 supporting EU member states instead.

Mr Orban is also opposed to Ukraine joining the EU.

‘Potential security threat’

Thursday 21 December 2023 19:20 , Alex Ross

Russia said on Thursday that it regarded joint military exercises by Japan, the United States and Australia near the Japanese island of Hokkaido as a “potential security threat”, and would strengthen its own defences.

Relations between Moscow and Tokyo have worsened since President Vladimir Putin sent his armed forces into Ukraine in 2022 and Japan joined Western nations in imposing punitive sanctions on Russia.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the military drills had taken place close to Russia’s borders and that it interpreted them as a sign that Japan was intent on raising tensions.

“We regard such provocative activity involving non-regional states as a potential security threat,” the ministry said, adding that it had issued a formal protest to the Japanese embassy.

Russian spends $12 billion to boost aviation sector

Thursday 21 December 2023 18:40 , Alex Ross

Russia has handed out more than $12 billion in state subsidies and loans to keep its aviation sector afloat since Western sanctions over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine cut off supplies of key parts and maintenance services, a analysis from agency Reuters shows.

Dependent on foreign-made aircraft, Russia faces the daunting task of developing its aviation industry alone with domestically sourced parts, while buying aircraft from foreign lessors to avoid more of its fleet being seized.

Western planemakers Airbus and Boeing halted supplies of services and spare parts in March 2022 and dropped regular maintenance support for flag carrier Aeroflot and other Russian airlines.

Since then, Russia has spent 1.09 trillion roubles ($12.07 billion) supporting the civil aviation industry, including aircraft manufacturing and financial assistance for airlines, Reuters calculations show, based on data from the Ministry of Finance and the Accounts Chamber, which oversees budget execution.

Putin’s challenger denies link to former oil boss

Thursday 21 December 2023 18:00 , Alex Ross

As we mentioned earlier, former TV journalist Yekaterina Duntsova has put her name forward to go up against Vladimir Putin in Russia’s next presidential election.

Just a day after announcing her candidacy, she ‘s been accused by the state news agency RIA of being “supported and financed by fugitive oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky (foreign agent)”.

Khodorkovsky was the billionaire head of oil firm Yukos but fell foul of Putin and spent 10 years in jail on fraud charges, which he denied, before being released in 2013. He now lives in London.

But Ms Duntsova has come out to strongly deny the claim. She said she had “no direct link” to Khodorkovsky.

The allegation may have been based, she said, on the fact that her candidacy was supported by Anastasia Burakova, the head of a project called Kovcheg (The Ark) that Khodorkovsky founded to support people who have fled Russia because they oppose the war in Ukraine.

Thursday 21 December 2023 17:10 , Alex Ross

Workers using cranes installed two more restored crosses on top of the domes of Kyiv’s 11th-century St Sophia Cathedral as part of ongoing repair work at the landmark site.

The seven golden crosses atop the iconic cathedral’s seven domes had become corroded. Officials said they required urgent attention.

The final cross, on the cathedral’s main golden dome, is due to be removed next week. It is expected to be put back in May.

The cathedral, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, is in the heart of Kyiv. It has not sustained any major damage from the bombing of the Ukrainian capital by Russia since its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24 2022, but it has occasionally been struck by debris from explosions.

In September, the U.N.’s World Heritage Committee placed the cathedral on a list of sites it considers to be in danger.

The cathedral was built to rival the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. The monument to Byzantine art contains the biggest collection of mosaics and frescoes from that period. It is surrounded by monastic buildings dating back to the 17th century.

It is one of Kyiv’s main tourist sites.

Three killed and five injured in bombing on coal mines

Thursday 21 December 2023 15:40 , Alex Ross

Russian aerial bombs on Thursday have struck two coal mines in Ukraine‘s eastern town of Toretsk in the Donetsk region, killing three and injuring at least five civilians, the interior minister said.

“Two bombs hit the territory of one of the mines in Toretsk. One person was killed and two others were injured,” Ihor Klymenko, the minister, he said on Telegram messenger.

There was a power outage, and 32 miners remained underground but were successfully rescued.

Russia also dropped two bombs on another mine, killing two and injuring three more people, Klymenko added. Administrative buildings and equipment were damaged.

The General Prosecutor’s office said those killed were 41, 42 and 45 years old.

Russia denies deliberately targeting civilians although many have been killed in air strikes across Ukraine since Moscow sent in tens of thousands of troops in February 2022.

Legalise medical marijuana to help war victims

Thursday 21 December 2023 14:46 , Alex Ross

Ukraine‘s parliament has voted to legalize medical marijuana, after the war with Russia left thousands of people with post-traumatic stress disorder that many believe could be eased by the drug.

The new law, which will come into effect in six months’ time and which also allows cannabis to be used for scientific and industrial ends, passed by 248 votes in the 401-seat parliament in Kyiv. A full breakdown of the vote wasn’t immediately available.

The law was proposed by Prime Minister Denys Smyhal.The possible legalization of medical marijuana has long been debated in Ukraine.

Many people argued in favour of the benefits the treatment can bring, while others feared legalizing medical marijuana would lead to an influx of drugs on the streets of Ukrainian cities.

The debate gained new momentum after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.

The Kremlin’s forces have repeatedly used powerful missiles to blast civilian targets across the country, with devastating consequences.Many people are believed to be suffering from stress and anxiety.

Ukraine steps up mobilisation

Thursday 21 December 2023 14:00 , Alex Ross

Ukraine defence minister Rustem Umerov has said his country is planning to recruit nationals living abroad for the army as the war against Russia shows no sign of ending soon.

Mr Umerov told German newspaper Die Welt that that Ukrainians of military age will be asked to report to armed forces recruitment centres.

It comes as the Ukrainian army says it needs another 500,00 troops mobilised. The Independent understands it has 500,000 servicemen, 200,000 of which are active military personnel.

If the figures are accurate, the Ukrainian army’s suggestion would bring the total number of servicemen to nearly one million.

Putin’s Russia a ‘real and constant threat’

Thursday 21 December 2023 13:22 , Alex Ross

Sir Keir Starmer has been speaking about the threat of Russia as he visited British troops positioned close tot he border in Estonia.

He said the UK and its allies “need to be prepared, we need to deter” in response to Moscow’s actions.

The Labour leader added: “I think we have to be mindful of that threat from Russia to Europe, to ourselves in the UK and the interference that goes on.”

He said there was a “real and constant threat from Russia, measured in years, and measured back home in the UK as well”.

Sir Keir was accompanied by shadow defence secretary John Healey as they praised British troops for helping protect Nato’s eastern flank.

More than one in five Russian missiles shot down

Thursday 21 December 2023 12:30 , Alex Ross

On the back of last night’s drone attack, where 34 out of 35 of Putin’s drones were shot down by Ukraine, today the Ukrainian air force said that more than one in five missles launched by Russia since September had been shot down.

The figures show that while Ukraine has improved its defence against the Iranian-made drones, it’s still vulnerable to missiles, with president Zelensky calling for more financial support to stop the attacks.

Drone attack damage – in pictures

Thursday 21 December 2023 12:08 , Alex Ross

Pictures released by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine appear to show the damage caused to a warehouse in the Kyiv region following a night of attacks from Russian drones.

Ukraine’s air force has claimed it shot down 34 of the 35 Iranian-made devices, which were sent in several waves from 8pm to 3.30am.

Russia continues close ties with North Korea

Thursday 21 December 2023 12:05 , Alex Ross

Agency Reuters is reporting from Moscow that Russia has established “comprehensive” defence cooperation with North Korea as well as announcing continued strategic partnerships with India and China.

The agency states that defence Minister Sergei Shoigu visited North Korea in July and Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in September.

The United States and its allies have voiced concern that Kim could provide weapons and ammunition to Russia to help replace stocks used in its war in Ukraine, and South Korean lawmakers said Russia had helped Pyongyang launch a reconnaissance satellite a month ago.

“The course towards developing a comprehensive strategic partnership with China and India continues. Active, comprehensive cooperation has been established with the DPRK,” Gerasimov said in a year-end address, using an official abbreviation for North Korea.

Plea from Ukraine

Thursday 21 December 2023 11:40 , Alex Ross

As the EU and US continue to stutter on providing major funding packages to Ukraine, Kyiv has reported it received last 1.5 billion euro tranche from the 18 billion package from the European Union.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said: “Today we have received the last 1.5 billion euros of the 18 billion euro financial aid package. Hope for continued unwavering support from the EU.”

There’s a concern amongst leaders in Ukraine that the country will have to downsize military operations due to a lack of funding, which could give Putin the upper hand on the battlefied.

Hungary offers explanation on blocking EU funding

Thursday 21 December 2023 11:12 , Alex Ross

A week after Hungary blocked £43 billion of EU aid for Ukraine, the country’s prime minister has said money should not be given to aid the country’s war effort from the EU’s budget.

Viktor Orban added that a “sensible” timeline should be set for any financing for Ukraine.

Hungary, which maintains close ties with Russia, proved the stumbling block for a major aid package after all other 26 leaders agreed to the deal. EU leaders have said negotiations would resume early next year.

Meanwhile, Orban told a press conference: “I am convinced that to give Ukraine 50 billion euros ($54.70 billion) from the EU budget for five years… That’s a bad decision.

“They [EU members] want to give the money to Ukraine from inside the EU budget, Hungary wants to give it outside the EU budget. They have the possibility – if we don’t agree on this – to resolve this outside the budget but don’t have the option of resolving this from the EU budget without Hungarian approval.

“They have the possibility, 26 members to resolve this with a joint loan outside the budget. If this comes up we will consider what we say.”

Thursday 21 December 2023 10:50 , Alex Ross

Vladimir Putin’s soldiers in eastern Ukraine’s Kupiansk are reportedly falling sick because of a “mouse fever” outbreak – a viral disease that has left the invading Russian troops severely unwell.

The outbreak of the so-called “mouse fever” has been recorded in many units of the Russian forces in the Kupiansk direction, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence’s main directorate of intelligence said on its official Telegram channel.

More on the disease and its impact here:

‘Mouse fever’ outbreak leaves Putin’s troops with vomiting and severe headache

Ukraine shoots downs dozens of Russian drones

Thursday 21 December 2023 10:00 , Alex Ross

Ukranie’s air force today claimed it had shot down 34 out of 35 Russian drones that were launched in a large overnight attack in 12 Ukrainian regions.

Russia launched Iranian-made Shahed drones in several waves from about 8:00pm to 3.30am, the air force said in a statement.

Air alerts in many Ukrainian regions in the centre, southeast and north lasted for hours. There have so far been no reports of major damage or casualties.

Boost for Ukraine with German funding

Thursday 21 December 2023 09:14 , Alex Ross

Amid concerns a drop-off in foreign aid to Ukraine will downsize military operations, Germany has just apporved an additional 88.5 million euros ($96.89 million) to help strengthen the resilience of the Ukrainian energy system as Russia targets its infrastructure.

Germany’s foreign and economy ministries made the annnouncement on the funding in a joint statement on Thursday.

The economy ministry is contributing 54.3 million euros via the state-owned bank KfW and the foreign ministry 34.2 million euros to the Ukraine energy support fund, the statement said.

It comes as Ukraine has warned of the impact of a hold-up in US funding, with a £47 billion military package blocked in the US Congress earlier this month. And last week, Hungary blocked a EU £43 billion financial aid deal.

Putin opposition

Thursday 21 December 2023 08:35 , Alex Ross

Vladimir Putin will be going up against an anti-war journalist in the Russian presidental election in March next year.

Former TV journalist Yekaterina Duntsova, 40, has submitted her documents to the Central Election Commission in Moscow to begin the formal process of entering the running for the election.

More on the story here:

Anti-war former journalist enters race against Putin in Russia election

Latest pictures from Ukraine

Thursday 21 December 2023 07:00 , Athena Stavrou

ICYMI: Russian pranksters trick Irish PM who told them Ukraine not likely to join EU

Thursday 21 December 2023 06:00 , Athena Stavrou

Ireland’s prime minister Leo Varadkar has become the latest victim of pro-Kremlin Russian phone pranksters Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexei Stolyarov, his office confirmed.

The former YouTubers, who moved to streaming platform Rumble after their page was suspended, have tricked some of the world’s most high-profile politicians, including Justin Trudeau, Boris Johnson and most recently Italy’s Georgia Meloni.

The pranksters spoke to Mr Varadkar while pretending to be representatives of the African Union Commission, according to a video of the call posted online on Tuesday.

During the course of the call, the Irish leader appears to say it is “not very likely” that Ukraine will join the European Union in the near future, and that he hopes to see a united island of Ireland “in my lifetime”.

Read the full report below:

Russian pranksters trick Irish PM who told them Ukraine not likely to join EU

How many troops does Russia have?

Thursday 21 December 2023 05:00 , Alexander Butler

The Russian army has about four times more active military personnel than Ukraine some 1,330,900 men and 250,000 reservists. As of 2021, Russia had a male population of around 66 million.

In July, the Russian parliament raised the maximum age at which men can be conscripted from 27 to 30, increasing the number of young men liable for a year of compulsory military service from 1 January 2024.

It means men will be required to carry out a year of military service, or equivalent training during higher education, between the ages of 18 and 30, rather than 18 and 27.

The law also prevents men from dodging the draft by banning them from leaving Russia from the day they are summoned to a conscription office.

Pictures:Ukrainian soldiers shoot rockets from self-made rocket launcher on frontline

Thursday 21 December 2023 04:00 , Athena Stavrou

Ukrainian troops were pictured shooting rockets from a self-made rocket launcher on Wednesday.

The photos were taken from the frontline in the Donetsk region and are of the 228 Separate Battalion of the 127th Separate Territorial Defence Brigade.

Full report: US imposes more Russian oil price cap sanctions

Thursday 21 December 2023 03:00 , Athena Stavrou

The U.S. imposed new sanctions on alleged violators of a $60 per barrel price cap on Russian oil and tightened compliance rules for insurance firms and shippers, Wednesday.

Firms across the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong were identified for economic sanctions, including UAE-based Sun Ship Management D Ltd., which Russian state-owned fleet operator Joint Stock Company Sovcomflot owns.

Read the full report below:

U.S. imposes more Russian oil price cap sanctions and issues new compliance rules for shippers

How many soldiers does Ukraine have?

Thursday 21 December 2023 02:00 , Athena Stavrou

As the Ukrainian army says they need another 500,000 troops mobilised, my colleague Alexander Bulter has calculated how many soldiers they already have:

The Ukrainian army counted around 500,000 servicemen, 200,000 of which are active military personnel, recent figures show.

If the figures are accurate, the Ukrainian army’s suggestion would bring the total number of servicemen to nearly one million.

Under Ukrainian law, only men aged 27 to 60 can be mobilised for the front line, although younger men can volunteer to fight. As of January 2022, Ukraine had a male population of 19 million.

Men aged 18 to 20 cannot be sent to the battlefield. Most Ukrainian soldiers at the front are believed to be volunteers, many of whom have been fighting since the start of Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

Estimates of the number of Ukrainian men killed in the conflict have varied between 30,000 and 70,000. In November, a Ukrainian civic group put the death toll at 30,000.

But US military sources have suggested the number is closer to 70,000. Kyiv treats its losses as a state secret and officials say disclosing the figure could harm its war effort.

In pictures: Ukrainians prepare for first wartime Christmas on new calendar

Thursday 21 December 2023 01:00 , Athena Stavrou

Ukrainians are gearing up to celebrate their first Christmas according to a new calendar, another step towards erasing all traces of Russian influence as their military fends off a Kremlin invasion.

“It turns out that Ukrainians used to celebrate Christmas on December 25, just like the rest of Europeans,” said Tetiana, a 25-year-old believer who said she would celebrate on Dec. 25 for the first time.

Zelensky grateful for continued international support

Thursday 21 December 2023 00:01 , Athena Stavrou

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked countries who continue to support Ukraine.

His message of gratitude comes after the Empire State Building in New York was lit up in blue and yellow to show solidarity.

“I am grateful to every country that has stood with Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began,” Zelensky wrote on X. “This support provides strength to our people.”

Russian PM and Chinese President meet in Beijing

Wednesday 20 December 2023 23:00 , Athena Stavrou

Chinese president Xi Jinping and Russian prime minister Mikhail Mishustin met in Beijing on Wednesday to discuss the two nation’s ties.

“Maintaining and developing China-Russia relations well is a strategic choice made by both sides based on the fundamental interests of the two peoples,” Xi Jinping was quoted as saying by the Chinese foreign ministry.

The South China Morning Post reported that Xi Jinping also pledged that Beijing would continue to develop “high-level” political and economic relations with Moscow.

Ukraine’s biggest mobile operator restores services after cyberattack

Wednesday 20 December 2023 22:00 , Athena Stavrou

Ukraine’s largest mobile network has restored all services following a large-scale cyber attack last week.

Ukraine’s Kyivstar, which provides cellular and internet services to 24.3 million mobile subscribers and over 1.1 million home internet users, came under a deadly cyberattack last Tuesday.

It silenced air raid alerts in some parts of Ukraine at a time Russia started firing ballistic missiles on civilian regions, wiped out services, and damaged IT infrastructure.

A source close to Kyivstar said military communications have not been affected by the attack.

Kyivstar said: “Our specialists have resolved the communication difficulties that arose this morning in a number of cities in the west and south of Ukraine.

“The services are now operating as usual.”

Ukraine to produce a million FPV drones next year

Wednesday 20 December 2023 21:00 , Athena Stavrou

Kyiv plans to produce a million FPV (first-person-view) drones and more than 11,000 medium- and long-range attack drones next year, Ukraine‘s minister for strategic industries said on Wednesday.

Ukraine has used FPV drones – small drones originally for personal civilian use, but modified for the battlefield – since the first days of the 2022 Russian invasion as a cheap but effective option for attacks.

The tactic was subsequently adopted by Moscow’s troops, now estimated to have many more such drones at their disposal.

“All production facilities are ready, and contracting for 2024 begins,” Oleksandr Kamyshin, the minister, said on Telegram messenger.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy later said the issue of drones, both in stock and being deployed, was discussed at a meeting of commanders and officials on Wednesday

“Logistics will be faster. We are also working on making the use of drones, particularly FPV drones, more efficient in all areas,” Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address.

“This is an obvious priority for our country and a very concrete way to protect the lives of our soldiers.”

Ukraine has been working to increase its domestic weapons production in order to secure stable deliveries, not rely exclusively on partners’ aid, and give a boost to the economy.

Ukrainians prepare for first wartime Christmas on new calendar

Wednesday 20 December 2023 20:00 , Athena Stavrou

Ukrainians are gearing up to celebrate their first Christmas according to a new calendar, another step towards erasing all traces of Russian influence as their military fends off a Kremlin invasion.

Most Ukrainians are Orthodox Christians and the country’s main church agreed this year to move away from the traditional Julian calendar, which is used in Russia and celebrates the holiday on Jan. 7.

“It turns out that Ukrainians used to celebrate Christmas on December 25, just like the rest of Europeans,” said Tetiana, a 25-year-old believer who said she would celebrate on Dec. 25 for the first time.

Standing outside Kyiv’s golden-domed St. Michael’s Monastery, she added that it would feel “a little unusual” but was “the right thing to do”.

Near the front line of Russia’s invasion, which is nearing its two-year mark and shows no signs of abating, soldiers were also preparing to make the switch to Dec. 25.

“Just like it was before Jan. 7 was imposed upon us,” said Bohdan, a service member stationed in eastern Ukraine.

Moscow’s February 2022 attack rallied the nation in defence and sparked many Ukrainians to reject the Russian language and culture, among other historical ties to Kyiv’s former ruler.

“Everything that was related to Russia, and everything that Russia did the same way we did, provoked disgust among people,” said Mykhailo Omelian, an Orthodox priest in Kyiv.

Kremlin claims Ukraine peace talks fell through because of Britain

Wednesday 20 December 2023 19:00 , Athena Stavrou

The Kremlin said that there is no current basis for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine and that Britain had sunk chances of a peace deal in 2022 by putting pressure on Kyiv to refuse a draft deal.

“We really consider that the topic of negotiations is not relevant right now,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

He said Ukraine withdrew from the negotiation process in 2022 “at Britain’s insistence” and “forbade” negotiations with Russia.

Peskov said: “After that, there were no prerequisites for negotiations – and there were even fewer prerequisites after Ukraine actually legally prohibited any negotiations with the Russian side,”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signed a decree in October 2022 formally declaring the prospect of any Ukrainian talks with Putin “impossible” after Russia claimed to have annexed four regions of southern and eastern Ukraine.

Peskov said that Zelenskiy’s peace plan, known as his “peace formula”, was flawed because he said it sought to find peace without Russia’s participation.