25.12.2022, Moscow.
We publish a summary of events concerning the situation around Ukraine as of 7 p.m., December 25.
Russia
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that “China-Russia relations are as strong as a monolith.” In his view, they are not prone to provocations, interference and changes in the circumstances.
Russia will never agree to any price deck for its energy resources, it is a matter of principle not to allow interference in market processes, Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said on the Russia One TV channel.
There are plans to create military training centers, similar to the Russian University of Special Forces in Chechnya’s Gudermes, throughout the country – Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev and First Deputy Head of the Russian Presidential Administration Sergey Kiriyenko addressed with this initiative to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Vladimir Putin in an interview with the Rossiya TV Channel:
– Russia is ready to negotiate with all parties to the conflict;
– Russia’s goal is to unite the Russian people;
– Moscow has always sought to resolve all disputes by peaceful means through negotiations;
– In the military operation in Ukraine, we are acting in the interests of Russian citizens;
– We will be able to destroy Patriot missile defence systems if they are delivered to Ukraine.
– Putin said that he did not condemn those who had not shown themselves to be true patriots.
Ukraine
The Orthodox Church of Ukraine and Greek Catholics are preparing to reform the church calendar, the representatives of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church said. This was discussed at a meeting of the heads of these churches – Metropolitan Yepyfanyy and Archbishop Svyatoslav Shevchuk.
Metropolitan Pavel, the vicar of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, said that as early as next Sunday (i.e. January 1), priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) may not be allowed into the two largest churches of the Lavra – the Refectory and Assumption Сhurches.
Steam trains have been spotted in Ukraine due to damage to the energy infrastructure.
Border guards will now be able to collect operational information about the situation on the border with Belarus and Poland – a modern tracking center was created in Ukraine, the State Border Service informed. “The center is equipped with modern means of computer, special equipment and video system. The center will receive information on the situation on the border with Poland and Belarus, for which the Volyn Border Guard Unit is responsible,” the statement reads.
Ukrainian oil and gas company Naftogaz ordered 450 million cubic meters of gas to safely pass the winter. The Naftogaz press service reported this. Ukraine will receive 350 million cubic meters of gas from the Norwegian oil and gas company Equinor and 100 million cubic meters of gas from sellers authorized by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
There is still a significant deficit of electricity in the energy system. This was reported by The Ukrainian electricity transmission system operator Ukrenergo. “All types of power generation are in order, but due to shelling and damage to equipment one of the power plants has stopped generating power,” the report said.
Western countries and their supporters
According to a YouGov poll, 45% of German citizens are against deliveries of German tanks to Ukraine. Only 33% of Germans agreed with the transfer of tanks to Kiev. 22% could not answer.
US Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, “Continuing our support for Ukraine is morally right, but it is not only that. It is also a direct investment in cold, hard, American interests.”
Details on sending new weapons to Ukraine became available. The White House is ready to transfer one Patriot battery to Kiev only after it manages to train Ukrainians to use the equipment. The US army employs up to 90 people to maintain one battery. They are usually trained for six months.
Training takes place at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, and Ukrainians may also be sent there. The USA expects that the Patriot battery will be delivered closer to the beginning of summer 2023. It will not be a new Patriot system, but one of the older versions taken from the army’s warehouses.
