Russia-Ukraine War, LIVE: In an unprecedented gesture, Putin canceled his state of the nation address

Putin canceled his state of the nation speeches

“Before the new year, the president obviously won’t be making the speech. Now, as a matter of time, his schedule is very tight,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said in his daily telephone briefing.

Putin, whom the independent press accuses of wanting to avoid uncomfortable questions about battlefield defeats in Ukraine, had not canceled that speech even during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

Peskov explained that the Kremlin would report after the Christmas holidays on the date of what is known in Russia as a speech before the Federal Assembly, which includes the Duma and the Senate.

According to the Constitution, the Head of State must address both houses of Parliament every year to update them on the management of the State, on social and economic programs and on programs for the coming year.

Ukraine has reported Russian casualties since the start of the war

The World Bank approves a $610 million package to address Ukraine’s urgent needs

The World Bank Group on Tuesday announced a new financing package that includes projects to boost Ukraine’s relief and recovery efforts amid the Russian invasion.

​The World Bank will provide additional funding of $500 million through a UK-guaranteed IBRD loan for the same amount and mobilized under the Public Expenditure for Resilience of Administrative Capacity (PEACE) project.

Ukraine denounces that Russia is trying to leave them without electricity before the new year

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said “Russia intends to leave Ukrainians without electricity before the new year”. To address this, he seeks to triple the more than 5,000 “invincibility centers” now operating in the country.

These centers “have all the basic services,” including electricity, telephone coverage, Internet access, heating, drinking water and health care, according to the New York Times.

France will supply more weapons to Ukraine in early 2023

France has supplied Ukraine with Crotale rocket launchers and air defense systems and will deliver more weapons early next year, French President Emmanuel Macron said.

The president specified that, among other weapons, France would provide additional Caesar mobile artillery units.

Zelensky is already on his way to Washington

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is already on his way to Washington, two sources familiar with the trip plans told CNN.

His arrival will take place this Wednesday and the president will meet his US counterpart, Joe Biden, to talk about the Russian invasion.

In the US they say Zelenski will visit Washington this Wednesday

Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky is expected to arrive in Washington on Wednesday, according to multiple US media outlets on Tuesday, adding that during the visit he will speak to Congress and meet with his counterpart Joe Biden.

This is Zelensky’s first international trip since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

The World Bank approved a new $610 million aid package for Ukraine

The World Bank announced on Tuesday that it had approved a new $610 million aid package for Ukraine, resources that aim to provide essential services and support health as the war persists.

The aid comes at a time when the Russian invasion “continues to wreak havoc with economic and humanitarian consequences” in areas such as health care, energy infrastructure and transportation, World Bank President David Malpass said in a statement.

Of these new resources, 500 million dollars will come to Ukraine through a loan to the government to grant benefits to families and children, supplement the salaries of civil servants and pay for public services.

The remainder of the aid will go to the primary health sector and address growing demand for mental health care and wartime rehabilitation, among other needs, the bank added.

The EU cuts gas consumption by 20% in the last four months to cut Russian dependency

European Union (EU) member states have reduced their gas consumption by 20% in the past four months, while continuing to adapt to the energy crisis, the bloc’s statistics agency said on Tuesday.

This drop exceeds the 15% target that EU countries set themselves last August, when the price of Russian gas reached almost 340 euros per megawatt, far from the agreed maximum price of 180 euros for future contracts.
The downward trend in consumption underscores the bloc’s drive to reduce energy demand as it grapples with sharply reduced supplies from Russia in retaliation for EU sanctions over war in Ukraine.

The UN announces more aid for humanitarian groups in Ukraine

The UN on Tuesday announced new $20 million in aid from its Humanitarian Fund for Ukraine to support civil society groups and volunteers who are assisting millions of war-affected people.