1:20 a.m .: Russia will not “steal” Christmas, assures the mayor of kyiv while inaugurating a festive tree
Officials in the Ukrainian capital lit up a tree in the center of the city on Monday, saying they would not let Russia "steal" this Christmas from Ukrainian children.
The day began with a series of attacks on a set of critical infrastructure in Kyiv.
But at the end of the day, an artificial tree 12 meters high was installed in the center of the capital, symbolically decorated with doves of Peace.
6:22 p.m .: Kremlin calls EU wholesale gas price cap “unacceptable”
The Kremlin described as "unacceptable" the cap on the wholesale price of gas, approved by the energy ministers of the EU member states meeting in Brussels.
"It's a violation of the market process for price formation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.
"Any reference to a 'cap' (of prices) is unacceptable," he insisted.
5:41 p.m .: EU announces gas price cap agreement
EU member states have approved a mechanism to cap wholesale gas prices as soon as they exceed 180 euros/MWh on three consecutive days, according to a statement from the European Council.
This capping mechanism, adopted by the Twenty-Seven after several weeks of tough discussions, will only be activated at a price level at least 35 euros higher than the average international price of liquefied natural gas (LNG), specifies the communicated.
European energy ministers, meeting in Brussels, "have reached an important agreement which will protect citizens from soaring energy prices, with a realistic and effective mechanism, which includes the necessary guarantees for the security of the supply and stability of financial markets," said Czech Minister Jozef Sikela, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency.
4:37 p.m .: Russia claims destruction of four American-made missiles over its territory
The Russian army claimed to have shot down four American-made HARM missiles over its territory, in the sky of the Belgorod region bordering Ukraine, where Moscow has been carrying out an offensive since February.
“Four American HARM anti-radar missiles were shot down in the airspace of the Belgorod region,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in its daily report published on Telegram, without further details.
4:04 p.m .: Lukashenko calls for closer cooperation with Moscow
"Russia and Belarus are open to dialogue with other states, including Europeans," assured Alexander Lukashenko at the start of his meeting with Vladimir Putin, according to images broadcast on Russian television.
However, he called on Westerners to "listen to the voice of reason" and called for closer cooperation with Moscow in view of the current "difficult times".
Vladimir Poutine, him, evoked questions of economic cooperation between the two countries, before the retransmission is not interrupted.
This summit between the Russian and Belarusian heads of state comes at a time when the Ukrainian authorities say they fear, in the first months of 2023, the possibility of a Russian offensive on kyiv which would be launched from Belarusian territory, repeating the scenario of the beginning of the invasion, on February 24.
Adding to concerns, the Russian military said on Monday that it would take part in "tactical" maneuvers in Belarus, after the announcement in October of the formation of a joint force of several thousand men. .
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, however, denied that Vladimir Putin had gone to Belarus to convince Minsk to directly participate in the conflict in Ukraine, calling the allegations "stupid" and "baseless".
12:59 p.m .: Vladimir Putin visits Belarus, Ukraine fears joint offensive
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Belarus on Monday, for his first visit in three and a half years, in what the Kremlin described as an extensive "working visit", stoking fears in Ukraine that he is planning to pressure his ally to join a new offensive.
Belarus allowed its territory to be used as a launching pad for Moscow's February 24 invasion of Ukraine, but did not participate directly in the fighting.
“The protection of our border, both with Russia and with Belarus is our constant priority,” Ukrainian President Volodimyr Zelensky said after a meeting of the Ukrainian military high command on Sunday.
"We are preparing for all possible defense scenarios."
12:16 p.m .: Moscow says it shot down four American-made missiles near Ukraine
The Russian army said on Monday that it shot down four American-made HARM missiles over its territory, in the sky of the Belgorod region bordering Ukraine, where Moscow has been carrying out an offensive since February.
“Four American HARM anti-radar missiles were shot down in the airspace of the Belgorod region,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in its daily report published on Telegram, without further details.
11:20 a.m .: Russia announces naval maneuvers with China
Russia has announced that several of its warships will take part in exercises with the Chinese navy from this week, as Moscow and Beijing strengthen their ties amid the conflict in Ukraine.
In a statement, the Russian Ministry of Defense said that these maneuvers will take place between December 21 and 27 in the East China Sea and that joint exercises of missile firing, artillery and anti-submarine warfare navy are on the program.
11:18 a.m .: kyiv and 10 regions affected by power cuts after the Russian attack
After the Russian attack on Monday morning, electricity was cut in the capital and in 10 regions of Ukraine, announced the Ukrainian electricity operator Ukrenergo.
"All night, enemy drones were trying to hit energy sites", leading to "a difficult situation for the energy system" and "electricity cuts" in Kyiv and ten other regions of the country, the operator said on Telegram.
9:48 a.m.: In Kyiv, football fans watched the World Cup final
The World Cup final was followed as far as Ukraine, despite numerous power cuts.
A way of saying "no to war", says Elena Volochine, special envoy of France 24 in Ukraine.
"You have to change your mind a bit, because if you don't pick up what's going on at home, the nervous system can let go (...) You have to know how to have a good time", rejoices a football fan in a kyiv bar.
01:24
8:17 a.m .: the drones that targeted kyiv are Iranian, explains the special envoy of France 24 in Ukraine
The drones used by the Russians to attack kyiv in the early hours of Monday are Iranian, reports Elena Voloshin, France 24's special envoy to Ukraine.
The military administration of the capital city of kyiv said the Russian forces carried out barrages, using Iranian drones "Shahed" - used in the shelling of kyiv in recent weeks.
Ukrainian authorities say anti-aircraft defense systems have destroyed about fifteen of the 20 drones aimed at Ukraine's capital.
These attacks did not cause any victims in kyiv even according to the first information available, said the mayor, Vitali Klitschko, on Telegram messaging.
But new power cuts were announced during the day to mitigate these attacks.
03:07
4:52 a.m .: Drone attack on the Ukrainian capital according to the Kyiv military administration
The Ukrainian capital was hit by drone attacks on Monday morning, the Kyiv City Military Administration said.
"The enemy is attacking the capital," the administration wrote on Telegram.
"At this moment" nine "enemy" drones have already been shot down in Kyiv airspace," she added.
2:50 a.m.: London to deliver large quantities of artillery ammunition to Ukraine
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is due to announce the delivery of a large quantity of artillery ammunition to Ukraine on Monday during a meeting with leaders from Northern Europe, the Baltics and the Netherlands in Latvia.
With AFP and Reuters
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