War in Ukraine: Russia advances again, Putin's threats, the call to strengthen Europe's defense… Update on the situation

The war continues in eastern Ukraine, particularly in the Donetsk region, where Russia regularly claims new advances. MAXPPP – Press service of 24 Mechanized brigade/HANDOUT

Every day, Midi Libre takes stock of the situation in Ukraine. This Sunday, December 22, 2024, discover the latest news about this conflict.

A new Russian advance

Russia is accelerating its advance in eastern Ukraine, seeking to gain as much territory as possible before US President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January, which could reshuffle the cards of the conflict if forced negotiations are held. On Sunday, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that troops had seized two more villages: Lozova in Kharkiv Oblast and Krasnoye, near the industrial city of Kurakhove in Donetsk Oblast. Moscow now says that nearly 200 Ukrainian towns, including almost all of Donetsk Oblast, have fallen this year.

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Vladimir Putin's Threats

And the president is still putting on more pressure. After a drone attack the day before on buildings in Kazan, a city in central Russia far from the front, Vladimir Putin promised more destruction in Ukraine this Sunday. “Anyone who tries to destroy something in our country, no matter how big, will face even greater destruction in their own country and will regret what they tried to do in our country,” he said during an official ceremony. kyiv has not yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

Russia, “a permanent threat”

Still far from the front, while the Russian president welcomed Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, one of the few European leaders he has remained close to, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo affirmed that Russia represents a “permanent threat” to the European Union, and stressed the need to increase defense spending and continue support for Ukraine. At a summit on security and immigration, attended by EU Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas and the Prime Ministers of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson, Italy, Giorgia Meloni and Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, he said: “The defence of Europe must be strengthened by all possible means, we must explore all financial options“.