War in Ukraine: what to remember on the 300th day of the Russian invasion

Europe 1 with AFP 07:08, December 20, 2022

THE ESSENTIAL

Vladimir Putin assured Monday that Russia was not going to absorb Belarus, while advocating a strengthening of military ties with this allied country, following talks with President Alexander Lukashenko.

Shortly after a drone attack on kyiv, Vladimir Putin assured that Russia had "no interest in absorbing anyone. It just doesn't make sense".

A statement that the US State Department called "the height of irony coming from a leader who seeks in the present moment - exactly now - to violently absorb his other peaceful immediate neighbour".

The spokesman for American diplomacy Ned Price was referring here to Ukraine, which suffered a new assault from drones sent by Russia overnight from Sunday to Monday, depriving thousands of Ukrainians of electricity.

During a press conference with his Belarusian counterpart in Minsk, Vladimir Putin however announced an agreement, obtained by the two leaders during these "substantial" talks, to strengthen their cooperation in "all areas", particularly in the sector. of the defense.

These are "common measures to ensure the security" of the two countries, "mutual deliveries of weapons", as well as the joint manufacture of armaments, said Vladimir Putin.

Russia will also continue to train Belarusian servicemen to fly Soviet-designed Belarusian planes capable of carrying nuclear bombs, according to the same source.   

"Are we capable of protecting our independence on our own, without Russia? No!", Launched the Belarusian president for his part.

"Russia can do without us, and we cannot do without her," he said.

"And if anyone thinks he could separate us today, drive a wedge between us, they won't succeed," added Alexander Lukashenko.

Ned Price also felt he saw "the Lukashenko regime essentially ceding its sovereignty, ceding its independence, to Russia," according to a statement.

The main information: 

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Vladimir Putin assured Monday that Russia was not going to absorb Belarus, while advocating a strengthening of military ties with this allied country, following talks with President Alexander Lukashenko.

- Ukraine suffered a new assault from drones sent by Russia overnight from Sunday to Monday, depriving thousands of Ukrainians of electricity.

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 start of the invasion on February 24.

- Ukraine will follow IMF recommendations under an economic surveillance program with the institution, which could pave the way for aid as the country needs more than $40 billion, the IMF said Monday.

“Tactical” maneuvers

The 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 start of the invasion on February 24.

Adding to concerns, the Russian army said on Monday 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".

kyiv suffered in the night from Sunday to Monday a new massive assault by drones sent by Russia.

According to local authorities, 23 of these devices were seen in the sky of the capital, 18 of which were neutralized by anti-aircraft defense.

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Local authorities reported that "several infrastructures and houses" had been "damaged" and at least three people injured.

According to the national operator Ukrenergo, the power was cut in Kyiv and in 10 regions facing a "difficult" situation on the network after these strikes.

No water, no electricity

"I first heard an anti-aircraft warning siren screaming in the street. For the first time, it scared me," testified to AFP Natalia Dobrovolska, 68, who lives in a neighborhood from the west of Kyiv.

Igor, 35, who lives in the northwest of the capital, was also suddenly awakened: "Now we have almost no mobile network, no electricity and no water", says- he.

But kyiv officials have lit a tree in the city center, saying they won't let Russia "steal" this Christmas from Ukrainian children.

For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky assured that Moscow had received "a new batch" of 250 drones from Iran.

At a European summit in Riga, he demanded Norwegian NASAMS missile batteries, German Leopard tanks, Swedish Archer artillery systems and French Caesar guns.

Moscow, for its part, assured that it had shot down four American-made HARM anti-radar missiles over the Russian region of Belgorod, on the border, an area regularly targeted by Ukrainian forces.

Russia has also indicated that several of its warships will take part in maneuvers with the Chinese navy this week, amid efforts by Moscow and Beijing to consolidate their ties with the West.

Fears of an attack

Vladimir Putin's trip to Belarus is his first in that country in three years.

Mr. Lukashenko goes regularly to Russia, in particular to advance the project of a greater union between the two states.

This meeting also comes at a time when the Ukrainian army is monitoring the Belarusian border in particular, for fear of a possible attack on the capital in early 2023. If the troops from Minsk do not take a direct part in the Moscow war, the Russian army is using Belarusian territory to bomb neighboring Ukraine, according to kyiv.

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The Russian Ministry of Defense released images of maneuvers in Belarus on Monday showing soldiers with tanks and practicing artillery fire in a snow-covered landscape.

Ukraine clears way for IMF aid

On the economic side, Ukraine will follow the recommendations of the IMF under the terms of an economic surveillance program with the institution, which could pave the way for aid when the country needs more than 40 billion dollars, has indicated the IMF on Monday.

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund has reviewed Ukraine's Surveillance Program (PMB) "aimed at maintaining financial stability and catalyzing donor funding," the Fund said in a statement on Monday.

The Ukrainian authorities are committed to reforms concerning in particular the collection of taxes, the domestic debt market, transparency and the independence of the central bank.

They have four months to prove their progress, indicates the Fund.

This framework of measures monitored by the IMF "aims to pave the way for financing", indicated Gavin Gray, head of mission in Ukraine for the IMF, which can "come from many sources".

Ukraine's budget and operating needs are estimated at $40 billion to $57 billion for 2023, the official said.

Coping with the tensions of early 2023

Managing to follow the recommendations of the IMF aims to "give confidence to donors" when the country needs "grants and concessional financing", he added.

"Significant and predictable external financial support will be critical to the success of the 'Ukrainian' authorities' strategy, and prompt disbursements would help address tensions from the start of 2023," IMF Deputy Managing Director Gita Gopinath said in the communicated.

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The institution itself says it is open, after "solid implementation" of the PMB surveillance program, "to a possible full-fledged program supported by the IMF".

“It is too early” to indicate what amount this IMF program could reach, indicated Gavin Gray.

So far since the start of the war in Ukraine and the invasion of Russia in February 2022, the IMF has provided $2.7 billion in emergency aid to Kyiv.

The European Commission has just proposed aid of 18 billion euros in 2023 in the form of loans.