Russia’s oil exports have plummeted as a result of Western sanctions. Russia delivered 54 percent less in the week after December 5th. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is on his first foreign visit since the beginning of the war – to the United States. what happened in the night
Russia’s oil exports suddenly plummet
Russian offshore oil exports have plummeted. This is reported by the American business news service Bloomberg. Accordingly, the slump coincides with the entry into force of the G7 and EU sanctions against Russia on December 5th.
According to Bloomberg, exports fell 54 percent in the week after December 5th. Russia delivered 1.86 million barrels of oil per day less. Exports to the three largest customer countries, China, India and Turkey, also fell for the first time in many weeks.
“Shipments to Europe have almost completely stopped. And exports to Asia are also slipping.” Bloomberg reports that repairs at a port are partly the reason for the slump. But ship owners also refused to transport supplies.
On December 5, an EU embargo on Russian oil (above water) came into effect. In addition, since then there has been a price cap of 60 dollars per barrel on Russian crude oil.
Reports in Washington about Zelenskyy’s visit and meeting with Biden
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is reportedly starting Wednesday on his first trip abroad since Russia’s war of aggression began in February. He is expected in the US capital Washington, where a meeting with US President Joe Biden is also planned in the White House. During the visit, the United States will also announce that it will deliver the Patriot air defense system to defend against Russian air attacks.
Several US media reported on Tuesday evening (local time) that Selenskyj wanted to speak personally to the US Congress this Wednesday and also meet Biden. There was initially no official confirmation of a visit to Washington. There was also no information from Kyiv about a planned trip. Zelenskyi has not left his country since the war began on February 24. For appearances on the political world stage – for example at the G7 summit in Elmau, Bavaria – he always had himself connected digitally from Ukraine.
In addition, according to media reports, the US government intends to announce the planned delivery of the Patriot air defense system during Zelenskyy’s possible visit to Washington. This was reported by several US media on Tuesday evening (local time), citing unnamed sources. The Patriot air defense system can repel aircraft, cruise missiles, drones or missiles even at a greater distance. It would complicate Russia’s missile and drone attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. With better Western weapons, Ukraine is increasingly becoming a “no-fly zone” for Russian aircraft, and missiles and drones are also being better intercepted.
Zelenskyy: Will liberate all parts of Ukraine
“We will do everything possible and impossible, expected and unexpected, so that our heroes have everything they need to win,” Zelenskyy said in his daily video address on Tuesday evening. The troops should achieve what “all Ukrainians expect”.
Selenskyj listed the areas to be liberated. “This is our Luhansk region, this is our southern Ukraine, this is our Crimea,” he said. “Ukraine will not leave anything of its own to the enemy.” Russia has annexed the areas in violation of international law and now regards them as an integral part of its national territory.
During his visit to the east of the country, he saw many badly damaged and destroyed villages on the way to the “Fortress Bakhmut”, which had only recently been liberated by Ukrainian troops. “Look at Russia’s offensive, what it leaves when it plants its flag somewhere,” Zelenskyy said. “Scorched earth, shattered lives… pain, ruins and graves – this is the so-called Russian Peace.”
Putin discusses situation in occupied Donetsk and Luhansk regions
On Tuesday in Moscow, Putin discussed the current situation at the front with the occupation chiefs he has appointed for the eastern Ukrainian regions of Luhansk and Donetsk. As the day before, Putin emphasized the extremely difficult situation in the two regions, as reported by the state news agency Tass. In the talks with the Donetsk occupation chief Denis Puschilin and his Lugansk colleague Leonid Paschetschin, Putin first wanted to deal with “vital issues” about the supply of water, heating and health services to the civilian population in the two occupied areas, it was said. “Only after that will we move on to security issues”
Fighting for the eastern Ukrainian frontline town of Bakhmut continues
After Zelenskyj’s visit to the frontline town of Bakhmut in the east of the country, heavy fighting broke out again in the area. “The enemy is continuing its efforts in offensive operations against Bakhmut and Avdiivka,” the general staff said in Kyiv on Tuesday evening. Among other things, tank attacks were reported from the region, as well as artillery raids and isolated Russian airstrikes.
North of it, Russian troops tried to reach better positions near Kupjansk. There, the Russian army used “its entire range” of artillery against at least 15 settlements, it said. The information from Kyiv could not initially be checked independently.
Media: Russia again moves troops to Ukraine border in Belarus
According to Ukrainian media reports, the Russian military has once again begun moving stronger troop formations to the border between Belarus and Ukraine. In addition to tanks, armored personnel carriers and transporters, various military equipment was also brought near the border, Ukrajinska Pravda and the Unian agency reported on Tuesday, citing the Belarusian hacker collective “Hajun Project”. The group follows all the actions of the Russian troops stationed there. However, the units that have been moved to the border are currently not strong enough for offensive actions, it said.
The Ukrainian military leadership has suspected for some time that Russia could again try to advance into Ukraine from Belarus. At the beginning of the war ten months ago, a Russian combat group advancing from Belarus had reached the outskirts of Kyiv, but was then forced to retreat by the defenders.
What will be important on Wednesday
Almost ten months after the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, Kremlin chief Putin wants to take stock this Wednesday and give an outlook. The Kremlin said Putin will chair an expanded Defense Ministry meeting, to which 15,000 commanders and other military leaders will be connected via video. It is about the results of this year and about tasks and goals for the coming year, it said.
Also Read: Ukraine Morning Update – POW Reveals Insanely High Wagner Mercenary Casualties
An explosion is said to have occurred on the Urengoy-Pomary-Uzhhorod gas pipeline west of the Russian city of Kazan. The pipeline carries gas from Russia to Europe via Ukraine. This is reported by the Reuters news agency. The cause is currently still unclear. Three people are said to have died in the explosion.
Moldova’s secret service fears that Russia could also attack the neighboring country after Ukraine in 2023. London reports that Putin is now sending circus people to Ukraine to boost troops’ morale. All information about the Ukraine war can be found in the news ticker.
