Russian invasionRussian reactions

Vladimir Putin. Pavel Bednyakov / AP  

Russian invasionRussian reactions  

Putin: "Russia must increase its military capacity"  

Russian President Vladimir Putin promised in a speech about the country's military goals for 2023 to give the military forces whatever they might need in the fighting in Ukraine, writes Reuters.  

In the speech - delivered to defense chiefs in Moscow - he said there are no financial constraints from the government. 

- Russia will expand its military capacity.  

He also added that Russia will continue to improve the combat readiness of its nuclear forces.  

- Intercontinental ballistic robots will be prepared for field use in the near future.  

At the same time, he took the opportunity to thank the Russian soldiers for their efforts in Ukraine. 

Putin also said that the war is a "common tragedy" but that the blame cannot be placed on Moscow.  

Sergei Shoigu. Gavriil Grigorov / AP  

The Russian invasion Sweden's NATO application  

Russian Defense Minister: Baser response to Sweden's and Finland's NATO applications Russia will have to build new military bases in the western part of the country in response to Sweden and Finland's plans to join NATO. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said so in a speech on Wednesday, AP reports.  

He also said that Russia will need to expand its military forces from today's one million personnel to 1.5 million. 695,000 of them are to be voluntary contracted soldiers.  

Shojgu also said he wants to raise the age range for those who can be called up for compulsory military service to 21-30, from the current 18-27. 

Xi Jinping/Dmitry Medvedev. TT 

Russian invasionRussian reactions 

Medvedev visits China - discussed the Ukraine war 

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has surprised with a visit to China and talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, writes Reuters. The parties are said to have discussed, among other things, the war in Ukraine.  

- The talks were useful, he says in a statement. At the same time, Xi said during the talks that he hopes all parties to the conflict will show restraint and solve all security problems by political means, writes Sky News.  

China is Russia's most important ally and its support is considered crucial for President Vladimir Putin. 

Joe Biden/Volodymyr Zelensky. TT  

The Russian invasion. The outside world's response 

Analysis: Could be America's deepest dive into the war  

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi's visit to the United States and meeting with President Joe Biden is of enormous importance, writes CNN's Stephen Collinson in an analysis.  

Biden, according to the channel's sources, will announce another $1.8 billion aid package, with the coveted Patriot air defense system as part of it. 

"Giving Ukraine Patriot would mean the US's deepest dive into the conflict so far," he writes, adding that Biden has always designed packages to save Ukraine without risking escalating the conflict into a clash between NATO and Russia. 

The only question is how Russian President Vladimir Putin will respond to this, notes Collinson. 

DN's Karin Eriksson writes in an analysis that Zelenskyj must do more than thank and accept when he receives valuable gifts at Christmas time. He must also convince the politicians that the gifts are producing results, she writes, adding that opinion polls show that Americans are more generous when it feels like the war is going in the right direction. 

Zelensky/Biden/Putin. TT 

Russian invasionRussian reactions  

Kremlin on Zelenskyi's trip: Impossibility of peace talks  

There is no chance that there will be any peace talks after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi's trip to the United States, the Kremlin says according to Reuters. 

In a conversation with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says that if Western countries continue to supply Ukraine with weapons, it will lead to a "worsening" conflict.  

Zelenskyy is traveling to the United States today, where he will meet with President Joe Biden and address Congress. In connection with the visit, the US is expected to announce another support package for Ukraine.