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Ukrainian President Zelenksy: "Previous U.S. Sanctions Threats Were BS; I Asked for Preventive Measures"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy has revealed that he asked the United States for preventive sanctions against Russia before the full-scale invasion, dismissing earlier warnings as "bullshit." In an interview with American podcaster Lex Friedman, Zelenksy stated his disapproval of simply threatening sanctions in response to an invasion.

"All I asked for, first and foremost from the United States, is if you’re certain, if you have evidence, if he [Putin] tells you he’s going to invade, and it scares you, just give me two things: strengthen us with weapons, but above all, strengthen us with preconditions to prevent any war. I’m not asking for weapons first; I’m asking for sanctions," Zelenksy told Friedman. "Don’t say, ‘If he comes, if he crosses the border, if he starts killing, then we’ll impose sanctions.’ That’s bullshit, excuse my language."

Friedman, who understands Russian, acknowledged understanding Zelenksy’s point without translation. He then asked if the President felt that Ukraine had not received adequate support. Zelenksy responded, "I think not. We didn’t receive help… If we consider words as help, then we received a lot of it, even too much, because there were too many words."

Zelensky’s comments shed light on the diplomatic efforts leading up to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, highlighting the persistent call for tougher actions to deter aggression. The interview underscores the urgent need for international cooperation and decisive action in the face of mounting geopolitical tensions.

Headline: EU Ensures Gas Supplies After Ukraine Halts Russian Transits; E Commissioner Hails European Infrastructure’s Flexibility

In a significant shift in European gas dynamics, the European Union (EU) has successfully rerouted supplies to member states following Ukraine’s decision to halt Russian gas transits. The EU’s robust gas infrastructure and strategic planning have ensured a seamless transition, with no disruptions reported in 2025.

On January 2, the EU’s Coordinating Group on Gas held an emergency meeting, confirming that alternative routes through Germany and Italy, coupled with gas withdrawals from storage facilities, have adequately replaced Russian gas previously transported via Ukraine. The European Commission (EC) praised the European gas infrastructure’s adaptability, stating its capability to accommodate non-Russian gas sources.

The EC also highlighted the region’s enhanced energy security, bolstered by new liquefied natural gas (LNG) import capacities commissioned since 2022. Gas storage levels in the EU currently stand at 72%, slightly above the average of 69% for this time of year. The EC continues to monitor and coordinate with member states and market participants to safeguard supplies and prevent market speculation.

Ukraine’s decision to halt Russian gas transits from January 1 has drawn mixed reactions from EU leaders. While President Vladimir Zelensky has ruled out any reconsideration of the transit agreement with Gazprom, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has criticized Ukraine’s actions and threatened to cut electricity supplies.

The EU’s successful navigation of this energy transition underscores the resilience and adaptability of its integrated gas market. As the geopolitical landscape continues to evolve, the EU’s commitment to diversifying gas supplies and strengthening its energy security remains steadfast.

Headline: Gazprom Halts Gas Supplies to Moldova‘s Transnistria Region over Unpaid Bills; Ukraine‘s Transit Uncertainty Looms

Subheading: The decision by Russia’s Gazprom to halt gas supplies to Moldova’s breakaway Transnistria region could jeopardize energy security in the country and add pressure to its negotiations with Ukraine on gas transit. The move comes as Moldova faces its worst energy crisis in decades and relies heavily on Russian gas supplies.

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Russian energy giant Gazprom announced it would stop gas supplies to Moldova’s Transnistria region starting January 1, 2025, citing unpaid bills. The company accused Moldovan state-owned gas firm Moldovagaz of repeatedly failing to fulfill its payment obligations under the current contract.

"We regret to inform that Moldovagaz has repeatedly failed to meet its payment obligations, which is a significant breach of the contract," Gazprom spokesperson Sergei Kupriyanov said. "As a result, we have decided to temporarily limit supplies to zero cubic meters per day starting January 1, 2025, at 08:00 Moscow time."

Gazprom reserved all its rights, including the option to unilaterally terminate the contract and seek compensation for damages and penalties, pending further negotiations with Moldovagaz. The company stated that the limitation would remain in effect until it informed Moldovagaz otherwise.

In response, interim Moldovagaz head Vadim Cheban acknowledged Gazprom’s decision. He noted that the entire Russian gas supply had been rerouted to Transnistria since December 2022, while gas for consumers on the right side of the Dniester River was purchased from regional and European markets. Cheban reassured the public that Moldovagaz had secured sufficient gas volumes to meet right-bank demand until the end of March 2025.

The current gas supply contract between Russia and Moldova expires in late October 2026. However, Gazprom has already restricted gas supplies to Moldova to just 5.7 million cubic meters per day, significantly less than the country’s winter consumption. The limited supplies were initially meant to target the Moldovan market but were later redirected to the energy-intensive Transnistria region.

The unfolding events coincide with Ukraine’s refusal to extend its gas transit agreement with Russia beyond January 1, 2025. In light of this, Moldova has imposed a 60-day state of emergency in its energy sector. However, the alternative gas supply route through the Trans localhosting (Trans年後) via Turkey is yet to materialize due to Russia’s claim of unpaid bills from the separatist Transnistrian region.

Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean has rejected Russia’s payment demands, arguing that Moldova does not recognize the debts incurred by the unrecognized state of Transnistria. Russia’s move to halt gas supplies further complicates the delicate energy situation in Moldova, with the country facing potential gas shortages amidst soaring domestic demand and increasing geopolitical tensions.

As the region braces for potential energy rationing, experts warn that Moldova must accelerate its efforts to find alternative gas supply sources and strengthen its energy diplomacy to ensure its long-term energy security and sovereignty. The escalating gas crisis also underscores the critical importance of diversified energy supply routes, enhanced regional cooperation, and robust international support for vulnerable energy-importing countries in Eastern Europe.

Russia Reports Wave of Ukrainian Drone Strikes; Train Services Disrupted in Voronezh

In an overnight operation, Russia claims that Ukrainian drones targeted several of its regions. According to Russian authorities, 56 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were downed across multiple areas.

The incident, reported by the Russian Ministry of Defense (MOD), involved 11 drones over the Belgorod region, 28 over Voronezh, and 17 over the Rostov region. While Russia maintains that all UAVs were intercepted, the strike coincides with recent claims of Ukrainian drone activity in the region.

In Voronezh, Governor Alexander Gu οικο claimed that falling drone debris caused power lines to be disrupted, leading to delays in several train services. This comes amidst tense relations between the two nations, with each side accusing the other of launching drone strikes.

Earlier this month, the governor of the Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, reported that Ukrainian drones purportedly attacked the Krasnogvardeisky district, injuring two locals and damaging local infrastructure.

As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues, drone strikes have emerged as a significant aspect of their ongoing tensions. The latest reported incident serves as a reminder of the volatile nature of the situation and its potential impact on civilian life and infrastructure.

Russia‘s Occupation in Ukraine: 600,000 Troops Remain, Casualties Soar

In a revealing recent interview, the spokesman of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, Andriy Yusov, has shared alarming figures regarding the Russian military presence and casualties in Ukraine. Here are the key details:

• Russian Troops on Occupied Territories: An estimated 600,000 Russian soldiers continue to remain on temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories, according to Yusov. Despite ongoing recruitment and mobilization efforts by Russia, the troop count has remained relatively stable.

• Rising Russian Casualties: Yusov highlighted the growing toll of Russian forces in Ukraine, stating, "Russian losses are colossal and have a tendency to increase." As of 26 December, the approximate total combat losses of the enemy forces were around 780,860 personnel.

• North Korea’s Involvement: In addition to its own forces, Russia has been drawing military support from North Korea. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently reported that the number of killed and wounded North Korean soldiers on the side of Russia in Kursk has surpassed 3,000.

Yusov emphasized that Russia’s ongoing mobilization efforts are primarily focused on replacing heavy troop losses, indicating a continuous strain on Russia’s military capabilities. Ukraine maintains a strong stance against Russia’s aggression, with the international community continuing to provide support in this ongoing conflict.

Ukraine Strikes Russian Repair Facility for ‘Shahed’ Drones inOrlovskaya Region

In a significant operation, the Defense Forces of Ukraine have targeted a protected facility belonging to the Russian military in the Orlovskaya region. The strike, carried out on December 26, has successfully disabled a crucial hub for the repair and maintenance of Iranian Shahed drones.

According to sources from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the precision strike destroyed a complex of reinforced concrete structures used for the storage, servicing, and repair of the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This operation is expected to significantly impede Russia‘s capability to launch air attacks using Shahed drones against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure.

Following the successful strike, the Ukrainian Armed Forces reiterated their commitment to continually identification and targeting of Russian military assets within enemy territory. They also emphasized their comprehensive intelligence on Russian military objectives.

This development comes amid a relentless wave of drone attacks by Ukraine on Russian territories, with over 50 such incidents reported just this month. Russia, in response, has claimed to have intercepted and shot down numerous Ukrainian drones.

The ongoing conflict has seen both sides deploying advanced military technology, including drones and counter-drone systems. The Ukrainian military’s ability to locate and strike key Russian assets demonstrates its evolving capacity to gather intelligence and execute precision strikes.

Headline: North Korean Soldiers Fighting in Ukraine Committing Suicide to Avoid Capture, U.S. Says

Subhead: porcelain: White House claims Kim Jong Un‘s troops are being used as ‘cannon fodder’ in Russia‘s war against Ukraine.

In an astonishing turn of events, the United States has revealed that soldiers from North Korea, fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine’s Kursk region, are resorting to suicide rather than risk capture by Ukraine’s defense forces. This revelation comes from John Kirby, the White House’s National Security Communications Advisor, during a briefing on Friday.

According to Kirby, both Russian and North Korean leaders view these soldiers as expendable, ordering them into hopeless attacks against Ukrainian defenses. The soldiers, he claims, are "brainwashed" and persist in their assaults even when their futility is apparent.

"North Korean soldiers are taking their own lives instead of being taken prisoner by Ukrainian forces," Kirby stated, likely due to fears of retribution against their families back home should they be captured.

Kirby also expressed hope that Russian forces are providing ample body bags for their North Korean counterparts, given the high number of casualties. Unconfirmed reports suggest that over a thousand North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded in the region over the past week alone.

This news aligns with recent announcements from South Korea’s intelligence agency, which confirmed that a wounded North Korean soldier had been taken prisoner by Ukrainian forces and later succumbed to his injuries.

The U.S. Department of Defense had previously predicted an increase in North Korean casualties in the Kursk region. Intriguingly, American intelligence services believe that North Korea initiated the deployment of its troops to Russia, rather than being coerced by Moscow.

This grim development highlights the desperate state of Russia’s war in Ukraine, now dependent on foreign troops apparently considered dispensable even by their own leaders. The international community continues to watch and react as the situation unfolds.