• 10:43 a.m .: Erdogan urges Putin for a “unilateral ceasefire”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday urged his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to enforce a "unilateral ceasefire" in Ukraine.

"Calls for peace and negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv should be backed by a unilateral ceasefire," Turkey's head of state told Vladimir Putin in a phone call, according to a statement released. by the Turkish Presidency.

  • 10:30 am: what are the reactions in Ukraine after the announcement of the delivery of French tanks to kyiv?

French President Emmanuel Macron announced to his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday that France would deliver AMX-10 RC "light battle tanks" to Ukraine.

01:58

Delivery of French tanks to kyiv: what are the reactions in Ukraine?

© AFP

  • 10:11 am: More than 800 Russian soldiers killed in one day, according to Ukraine

The Ukrainian military estimated that more than 800 Russian soldiers had been killed over the past day, mostly in clashes in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine.

The fighting is concentrated in the Bakhmout sector, where Russian forces unsuccessfully attacked the towns of Avdiivka and Kupyansk, the Ukrainian army said in its daily update.

Russia also lost a plane, a helicopter and three tanks during this last day, it is specified.

  • 9:50 a.m.: Russian Patriarch Kirill calls for ceasefire in Ukraine for Orthodox Christmas

Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Kirill called on Moscow and kyiv for a ceasefire in Ukraine on the occasion of the Orthodox Christmas holiday.

"I, Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, address all parties involved in the fratricidal conflict to call on them to establish a ceasefire and seal a Christmas truce from 12 p.m. on January 6 at 12 a.m. on January 7," he said in a message posted on the church's website.

  • 9:23 am: Ukraine's economy fell 30.4% in 2022

Ukraine's gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 30.4% in 2022 according to a preliminary estimate, a smaller drop than expected, said Economy Minister Yulia Sviridenko.

This fall is the largest suffered by the Ukrainian economy since the country's independence in 1991, said the minister, due to the Russian invasion which began last February.

  • 7 a.m.: on the northern border of Ukraine, the fear of a new invasion from Belarus

The Russians are threatening a new ground attack in northern Ukraine from Belarus.

Opposite, Ukraine is preparing to repel a potential offensive.

03:05

  • 6 a.m.: Critics mount in Russia after deadly Makiivka strike

Critics mount in Russia after the New Year's Eve strike against Russian soldiers in Makiivka, eastern Ukraine, whose death toll is 89, according to Moscow, which blamed the use of telephones worn by the military.

In Russia, the announcement of the heavier toll did not fail to arouse new criticism of the military command, already castigated Monday and Tuesday for its "incompetence" by correspondents and commentators.

Many Russians demanded, on social networks, a transparent investigation into the circumstances of the strike.

The Ukrainian general staff confirmed having carried out this strike and the strategic communications department of the Ukrainian army claimed a much heavier toll in the Russian ranks, amounting to 400 dead and 300 wounded.

This assertion, however, has not been confirmed by the staff.

The United States has not commented on these figures either.

But John Kirby, spokesman for the US National Security Council, said there is "no lamentation from the (US) administration. This is war. (Ukrainians) have been invaded and they fight back and defend themselves,” he said in a press interview on Wednesday.

"Russian soldiers on their territory are a legitimate target of military action for Ukraine, period," he added.

With Reuters and AFP

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