Zelensky returns to Kyiv after concluding his first foreign visit since the war

Ukraine repels Russian attacks, and the Kremlin announces progress in disarming it

A residential building damaged by a Russian raid on the town of Bakhmut in Ukraine.

Reuters

The Ukrainian army announced that it had repelled Russian attacks near 19 residential areas, and destroyed three Russian air defense systems and a group of drones, while the Kremlin said that “great progress” had been made towards “disarming” Ukraine, to which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky returned after the end of the first Foreign visit since the outbreak of the war.

In detail, the Ukrainian defense forces repelled Russian attacks near 19 residential areas in Sumy, Kharkiv and Donetsk during the past 24 hours.

A statement issued by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on its page on the social networking site «Facebook» yesterday, said that the Russian forces launched six missile attacks and six air raids, especially on civilian targets in the Kharkiv region and the Dnepropetrovsk region, and also opened fire using the multiple missile system. zap, more than 70 times.

"In the directions of Polin and Polissya, there are no indications of the formation of offensive groups of Russian forces," the statement added.

"On Thursday, the Ukrainian Air Force launched eight strikes against groups of Russian military personnel, ammunition and military equipment, and destroyed three Russian air defense systems and a group of drones," the statement continued.

"The Russians killed four civilians in the Donetsk region, and seven people were wounded," Ukraine's national news agency quoted Pavlo Kirilenko, head of the Donetsk regional military district, as saying.

Kirilenko added that at the moment it is impossible to establish the exact number of victims in Mariupol and Volnovakha.

In Moscow, the Kremlin said yesterday that "significant progress" had been made towards "disarming" Ukraine, which is one of the goals announced by Russian President Putin when he launched his war on Kyiv 10 months ago.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reviewed the Russian military progress when asked during a press briefing about Putin's statements, who said the day before yesterday that Ukraine's defense capabilities are close to zero.

Peskov replied, "It can be said that there has been significant progress towards disarmament."

Peskov said that Russia had no knowledge of a Ukrainian peace plan, which the Wall Street Journal reported that Kyiv was preparing to present it in February.

He added that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has so far ignored the "facts" of the situation, referring to Russia's announcement to annex four Ukrainian regions it partially occupies.

For his part, the Ukrainian President published a video clip yesterday from his office after returning from the United States, where he paid an official visit.

The short video was posted on the Ukrainian president's social media, according to the Ukrainian News Agency.

“Good morning everyone, greetings to all of you,” Zelensky said.

Do you hear our phones ringing?

Phones ringing can be heard in the background throughout the video - I'm in my office.

We are working for victory.”

Zelensky's visit to Washington was his first foreign trip since the outbreak of the Russian war on his country last February.

In Moscow, the director of the North American Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Alexander Darchiev, said that there would be no serious negotiation on security guarantees without recognizing the reality on the ground, which was determined by Russia.

Darchiev said in a statement to Tass news agency, published yesterday: “Before the pumping of weapons and money to the Ukrainian president stops, and America and NATO military personnel and trainers are withdrawn, and before the reality on the ground that we have identified is recognized, it is too early to start any serious negotiations on security guarantees in what concerning Ukraine and the Euro-Atlantic region.

For his part, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken affirmed that the United States' commitment to stand by the government in Kyiv "no matter how long it takes" is the best way to "improve the prospects for a just and lasting peace."

On the other hand, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said yesterday that his country may reduce its oil production by between 500 and 700 thousand barrels per day, at the beginning of the new year, in response to the decisions of the Group of Seven major industrialized countries to impose a ceiling on Russian oil prices.

In statements to Russia 24 television network, Novak said, "We are ready to partially reduce our production early next year," adding that the rate of reduction will range between 5 to 6 percent of what Russia is pumping at the present time.

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