The President of Ukraine is seeking important accomplishments from Western allies.
On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his country’s desire for three successes from its partners in the West. These include the approval of two military aid packages from the United States and the European Union, as well as the initiation of negotiations to become a member of the European bloc.
Zelenskyy stated during a press conference in Kyiv that Ukraine is striving for three wins, with the first win being with the U.S. Congress. He acknowledged that this is a difficult challenge, but Ukraine is making every effort to achieve it.
President Joe Biden has put forth a plan to allocate billions of dollars in fresh aid to Ukraine, however, this allocation was not included in the temporary measure that Congress approved earlier this month.
While a faction of Republican legislators may be against providing further assistance to Ukraine, a majority of both Republicans and Democrats in Congress remain in favor of providing the aid.
On Monday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged lawmakers to approve President Biden’s most recent funding proposal for military assistance to Ukraine.
Blinken stated that assisting Ukraine in its defense is crucial in avoiding a bigger conflict in the area and discouraging potential aggression, ultimately ensuring the safety of all.
On November 24, 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics met in Kyiv amidst Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The meeting was documented by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Service and Reuters.
According to Zelenskyy, the second achievement we require from other countries is receiving assistance from the EU through a 50 billion-euro package. Additionally, the third goal is to initiate a conversation about our potential membership in the future.
The European Union has declared a package of 50 billion euros for Ukraine; however, it has yet to be approved and is being met with resistance from Hungary. The Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban, has expressed his opposition to starting negotiations for EU membership with Kyiv.
During a shared press conference in Kyiv, Zelenskyy stated that he and Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics are optimistic about the eventual approval of the EU’s aid package for Ukraine.
Moldova sanctions
The Foreign Ministry of Russia, located in Moscow, stated on Friday that it sees Moldova’s choice to align with the EU’s sanctions as an unfriendly action.
The ministry stated that they view this as another hostile action from the Moldovan leaders, who are completely involved in the ‘collective West’s’ anti-Russian efforts.
According to the statement, the goal is to completely ruin the relationship between Russia and Moldova.
Ukrainian state border guard soldiers take a break in Sumy region, Ukraine, on November 24, 2023. As the Russian invasion of Ukraine enters its second year, the border between the two countries is now marked by military positions instead of regular crossing points.
The parliament of Moldova approved sanctions against Russia on Friday as part of their effort to eventually become a member of the European Union.
Russian crackdown
The Russian Justice Ministry announced on Friday that Mikhail Kasyanov, a former Prime Minister of Russia and current critic of the Kremlin, has been included on a list of foreign agents.
Kasyanov held the position of prime minister during the initial four-year term of Putin’s presidency, but was dismissed in 2004.
Afterwards, he rose to prominence as a leading figure in the opposition. Upon his departure from the nation in 2022, he denounced Russia’s incursion into Ukraine.
The legislation of foreign agents has been applied to target individuals in opposition and non-affiliated news outlets. This law mandates that those identified as foreign agents must clearly disclose the source of their published information.
Battlefield
The Russian military announced that their missile defense systems successfully intercepted 13 Ukrainian drones over Crimea and three more over the Volgograd region on Friday morning.
There was no response from Ukrainian authorities regarding the Russian statement.
On Friday, Ukrainian officials reported that Russian forces were ramping up their assaults on the eastern city of Avdiivka in Ukraine.
Since mid-October, Russia has been attempting to seize the city in a violent conflict that has been compared to the struggle for the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. After several months of fierce combat, Russia was able to take control of Bakhmut.
The town is located on the front line, about five kilometers away from Donetsk. Donetsk is the capital of the region, which is under Russian control. Moscow has claimed to have annexed this region, along with three others, from Ukraine.
On November 22, 2023, members of the 12th Special Forces Brigade Azov from the National Guard of Ukraine were getting ready to use a LH-70 howitzer to shoot at Russian soldiers at a location near the front line.
The British Ministry of Defense reported on Friday in their daily intelligence briefing on the war that Russia is still experiencing high numbers of casualties due to long-range precision attacks from Ukraine, even in areas outside of the front line.
According to the ministry, a truck convoy located 23 kilometers away from the front line in the village of Hladkivka, Kherson oblast, was likely targeted on November 10 resulting in the death of over 70 Russian troops. The ministry also reported another strike on November 19 in Kumachove, 60 kilometers behind the front lines, which potentially caused casualties in the double digits during an award ceremony or concert.
According to the update, Ukraine has also experienced casualties, as a Russian missile killed 19 members of a Ukrainian brigade during a medal ceremony on November 3.
The sources for this report include The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and Reuters.
Source: voanews.com
