War in Ukraine: Zelensky confident about American support, Russian attack on kyiv, … update on the situation

Volodymy Zelensky says he is confident of American support when Trump takes office. MAXPPP – IMAGO/PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE apaimages

Volodymyr Zelensky se dit confiant du soutien américain même avec l'arrivée de Trump. MAXPPP – IMAGO/PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE apaimages

Every day, Midi Libre takes stock of the situation in Ukraine. This Wednesday, January 1, 2025, discover the latest news about this conflict.

Russian gas no longer transits through Ukraine

Russian gas exports that transited through Ukraine stopped this Wednesday, marking the end of Russian domination over the European energy market, which has been forced to diversify its supplies since Moscow invaded Ukrainian territory in February 2022.

The sanctions targeting Russia did not prevent Russian gas from reaching Western Europe for almost three years, but kyiv's refusal to renew the transit contract that linked it to the Russian gas giant Gazprom until Wednesday put an end to this situation.

This stoppage had been largely anticipated by the European authorities and it should not have a significant impact on the prices paid by European consumers, unlike in 2022 when the drop in Russian gas deliveries caused significant tensions on the supply front.

The last countries that were still supplied with Russian gas, such as Austria and Slovakia, have since found alternatives. Hungary will continue to supply itself from Russia by having Russian gas transported via TurkStream, which operates two gas pipelines that cross the Black Sea.

In Transnistria, a Moldovan region dependent on Moscow, heating and hot water supplies were cut off on Wednesday morning due to a lack of supplies. In Brussels, the European Commission boasted of having anticipated the end of Russian gas supplies. “The European gas infrastructure is flexible enough to supply gas that does not originate from Russia,” said a spokesperson for the European executive.

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“It has been expanded with new LNG (liquefied natural gas) capacity,” he added. In a statement published on Wednesday, the Ukrainian Energy Ministry said that Russian gas was no longer transiting through Ukrainian territory. “This is a historic event”, said Minister German Galutchenko, citing “national security” as a reason for not renewing the transit agreement, according to comments reported by its services.

Moscow launches missile salvo on kyiv, killing one person and injuring six others

Russia launched a salvo of missiles on kyiv on Wednesday, killing one person and injuring six others and damaging several buildings in two separate districts of the Ukrainian capital, the authorities announced. The explosions were heard early in the morning of January 1, shortly after an alert from the Ukrainian air force signaling the approach of Russian drones towards the skies of kyiv.

The city's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, said that anti-aircraft forces were trying to repel an enemy attack and that two floors of a residential building were partially destroyed in the attack. Debris also damaged a building in another neighborhood, he said.

In a statement, the National Bank of Ukraine said that one of its buildings was damaged by debris from a drone shot down by air defenses. “Even on New Year's Day, Russia has only one concern: how to hurt Ukraine,” denounced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Instagram, where he posted photos showing a gutted and burning building.

The Ukrainian army says it has shot down 63 of the 111 drones launched by Moscow on Tuesday night towards Ukrainian territory. Forty-six others have been put out of action thanks to electronic jamming systems, it added

Zelensky confident US will stand with Ukraine against Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday night that no one would offer his country peace as a gift, but he said he believed the United States would stand with Ukraine in its fight against Russia's nearly three-year invasion.

In a 21-minute video offering Ukrainians New Year's greetings, the leader added that only a strong Ukraine could achieve peace and earn respect around the world.

“We know that peace will not be given to us as a gift, but we will do everything to stop Russia and end the war, which is what we want all”, said Volodymyr Zelensky, with the Ukrainian flag and images of the front lines and children in the background.

Referring to conversations he had with outgoing US President Joe Biden, President-elect Donald Trump, who will take office on January 20, and “all those who support us in the United States,” the Ukrainian president said he had “no doubt that the new American president wants and will be able to achieve peace and end (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's aggression.” Donald Trump understands that “one is impossible without the other,” Zelensky continued, “because this is not a street fight that needs to be pacified on both sides. It is a large-scale aggression by a deranged state against a civilized state.” “I believe that together with the United States, we are able to force Russia to a just peace,” he added.

While the Biden administration has provided kyiv with military aid on a scale unmatched by Western countries, some are concerned about Donald Trump's criticism of this aid and his campaign promise to end the conflict quickly – without explaining how. Volodymyr Zelensky has previously expressed optimism that Washington's support will continue in 2025.