Selenskyj criticizes the oil price ceiling
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticized the price cap for Russian oil that Western countries have set as too high. With the agreed upper limit of USD 60 per barrel (per 159 litres), too much money continues to flow into Russia’s budget and thus into the war against his country, Zelenskyj said in his daily video address on Saturday evening.
Selenskyj: “It is a pity that time is lost”
It is only a matter of time before the world has to resort to even tougher sanctions against Moscow, Zelenskyj said, also in view of the price cap on Russian oil. “It is a pity that this time is now lost.” The head of Ukraine’s presidential office, Andriy Yermak, had previously called for a price cap of $30 a barrel.
After lengthy negotiations, EU countries recently agreed on a price cap for Russian oil, and the G7 and Australia followed suit. The states want to force Russia to sell oil below market price to buyers in other states in the future. The goal is to dry up the Kremlin’s war chest. The agreement reached on Friday provides for an initial price cap of USD 60 per barrel.
Party leader Zelenskyj appoints conditions
After the French head of state Emmanuel Macron speculated to bring Russia to the negotiating table with security guarantees, Kiev also submitted its proposal for these guarantees. Ukraine is ready to start talks with Russia on four conditions, said David Arakhamiya, leader of Zelenskyy party “Servant of the People”. These are the complete withdrawal from Ukraine, reparations, punishment of all war criminals and the “voluntary surrender of all nuclear weapons”. “After that, we are ready to sit down at the negotiating table and talk about security guarantees,” Arachamija wrote on Telegram on Saturday night.
NASA: Russia has harvested Ukrainian wheat worth billions
According to the US space agency NASA, Russia has harvested wheat worth about a billion dollars (about 950 million euros) from Ukrainian fields this year. About 5.8 million tons of wheat have been harvested from fields in Ukraine not under the country’s control, said NASA Harvest, the US space agency’s food security and agriculture program. For the research, NASA Harvest uses satellite data and modeling together with several partner institutions.
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The scientists involved in the research project estimate that a total of about 26.6 million tons have been harvested on Ukrainian territory this year. While that’s less than last year’s record harvest of 33 million tons, it’s close to the average. However, the war prevented Ukraine from accessing 22 percent of the wheat in the eastern part of the country. In total, about 88 percent of the seed was harvested, which apparently was not the case in many frontline fields.
Russian Defense Minister Shoigu visits ally Belarus
Meanwhile, Russian Defense Minister Shoigu visited neighboring Belarus. During a meeting with the old authoritarian ruler Alexander Lukashenko, Shoigu thanked him for supporting the Russian soldiers stationed in Belarus. “They really feel at home here,” he told the Belarusian state news agency Belta.
Along with his counterpart Viktor Chrenin, Shoigu also signed a document on amendments to a security agreement between the two countries. Substantive details were initially unknown.
Lukashenko also reiterated that preparations were underway for the formation of a joint regional military unit of the Russian and Belarusian armed forces. The 68-year-old, who is often criticized as the “last dictator in Europe”, had already informed about similar plans in October. Belarus supports Russia’s war against Ukraine, for example by allowing Russian missiles to be launched from its territory.
Record arms deal: Estonia buys several rocket launchers from the US
Against the backdrop of Russia’s offensive war against Ukraine, Estonia is arming: in the largest arms deal in its history to date, the Baltic NATO member acquires six US Himar-type multiple rocket launchers. The purchase contract worth more than 200 million dollars (about 190 million euros) was signed on Friday, according to the Estonian Defense Investment Center in Tallinn.
Delivery of the first missile systems is scheduled for 2024. The war in Ukraine is seen as a direct threat to national security in Estonia, which borders Russia. (sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
