The NATO Secretary General assures that arming kyiv puts the country in a more beneficial position to agree to the cessation of hostilities | Moscow shells eastern Ukraine after end of ceasefire.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has argued that the fastest path to a negotiated peace solution between Russia and Ukraine is to continue supporting kyiv with weapons to increase its power, which would benefit its position in a negotiation with Moscow.
“What the Ukrainians achieve at the negotiating table will depend on their strength on the battlefield. Guns are, in fact, the path to peace,” Stoltenberg said during a speech at the Folk och Försvar security conference in Sweden. On the ground, Russia has again bombarded eastern Ukraine, killing at least one person in Kharkov, local authorities have said.
The attacks on the Kremlin were carried out after the ceasefire announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin for Orthodox Christmas ended last midnight, although the measure was not respected either and hostilities continued during the supposed truce. Ukrainian authorities have also reported explosions in Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhia. In addition, the Russian-Belarusian regional military group – a contingent made up of units from both countries – has intensified its training after the increase in its number of troops and war material, according to the Belarusian Ministry of Defense.
By Javier G. Cuesta from Moscow. There was a time when the Russian elite washed their dirty laundry at home. Those who were outspoken critics of their rivals saw their political careers end with a bang on orders from above. Vladimir Putin was the guarantor of stability, and the tensions between the different factions that fluttered around the president were a matter that was resolved behind closed doors.
In addition, the Kremlin was concerned with keeping up appearances by giving a legal wrapper to all its actions, even the most repressive ones. At least that’s how it was until the war. Inflamed by his role in the offensive against Ukraine, one of Putin’s businessmen, the owner of the Wagner mercenary company, Yevgeny Prigozhin (Leningrad, 61), has dared to test the status quo with threats and accusations of public treason against other high officials.
The real power of Prigozhin, also founder of the troll and bot factory that carried out propaganda and destabilization against the West through social networks, is often exaggerated. Known as Putin’s chef for his catering company, he has two armies, one military and the other media, but he has not managed in four years to bring down a politician of relatively little weight like the governor of St. Petersburg, his archrival Alexander Beglov.
Despite supporting him in his election in 2019, the businessman has seen how the politician rejected the construction of several of his projects, and the confrontation ended when Prigozhin had his hands free thanks to the dependence on the Russian armed forces. of his mercenaries.
Zelensky claims that Ukrainian forces are holding their ground in the key cities of Bakhmut and Soledar:
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky has reported that Ukrainian forces are repelling constant attacks by the Russian army against the city of Bakhmut, in the eastern Donbas region, and are holding their positions in nearby Soledar under “very difficult” conditions. . During his usual evening speech, Zelenksi stated: “Bajmut is holding on despite everything. And although most of the city has been destroyed by Russian attacks, our soldiers are repelling their constant attempts to advance.” “Soledar is holding on, even though there is even more destruction and things are very difficult,” he added.
What Has Happened in The Last Hours
On the 319th day of the war started by Russia against Ukraine, these are the key data at 8:00 p.m. this Sunday, January 8:
Stoltenberg argues that sending arms to Ukraine is the fastest way to negotiate peace. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has stated that the “quickest path” to a negotiated peace solution between Russia and Ukraine is to continue supporting kyiv with weapons to enhance its strength on the battlefield, which would benefit its position in a negotiation with Moscow. “What the Ukrainians achieve at the negotiating table will depend on their strength on the battlefield. If we want a negotiated peace solution, the quickest path is to support them. Arms are indeed the path to peace,” As Stoltenberg pointed out during a speech at the Folk och Försvar security conference,
Killing of Ukrainian Soldiers
Russia claims it has killed more than 600 Ukrainian soldiers in a massive attack on the city of Kramatorsk, and Ukraine denies this. The Russian Defense Ministry has claimed that its army has killed more than 600 Ukrainian soldiers in a massive rocket attack on two buildings where Ukrainian forces temporarily reside in the eastern city of Kramatorsk. According to the same source, it is revenge for the Ukrainian attack on a Russian barracks in Makiivka in which at least 89 soldiers died earlier this year. The mayor of the city of Kramatorsk has denied the information on his official Facebook account, where he has assured that no one has died in an attack on several buildings in the town.
Moscow repatriates 50 Russian prisoners of war held by Ukraine. The Russian Defense Ministry has announced the repatriation of 50 Russian soldiers who had been taken prisoner during the fighting in Ukraine. “Fifty soldiers who were in mortal danger in captivity have been repatriated,” Defense reported in a statement. The release of the military was the result of negotiations between the two sides, without kyiv having informed for the moment about a possible exchange. The released Russian soldiers will be flown to Moscow for medical and psychological rehabilitation.
Belarus acknowledges that Moscow has sent more soldiers to its territory and affirms that the training has intensified. The so-called Russian-Belarusian regional military group – a contingent made up of different units from both countries – has intensified its training after the increase in its number of troops and war material, as reported by the Belarusian Ministry of Defense.
“The goal is to be ready to repel the aggressor on all fronts,” reported the ministerial television channel VoenTV. Defense has also reported that Russia and Belarus will conduct joint aviation drills between January 16 and February 1. According to the statement, the Russian air divisions have arrived in Belarus this Sunday. The drills will involve all airfields and training areas of the Belarusian air force and air defense.
This article is originally published on elpais.com
