Russian invasion

Negotiations
Analysis: No signs of the “Putinmobile” slowing down

Putin does not want a peace agreement, but the fact that the United States is begging and asking the country to engage in negotiations is appreciated in the Kremlin. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh writes in an analysis. Although it is slow and costs the Russian military dearly, Putin's soldiers are advancing in Ukraine.

On a larger scale, the war is increasingly starting to resemble one of the president's geopolitical dreams.

"Putin is winning militarily [...] and sees a Ukraine that is weakened by a lack of both soldiers and funding," he writes.

Steve Rosenberg on the BBC is also convinced that Putin is not ready to sign any peace agreement. The president seems convinced that he is winning the war and that it is not time to stop fighting. Rosenberg compares Putin to a car without brakes and a steering wheel.

“Nearly four years after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, there is still no sign that the Putinmobile is slowing down, turning around or stopping,” he says.

Sky News correspondent Deborah Haynes is on the ground in Ukraine, where few are surprised that yesterday’s meeting between Putin and the US delegation was not a success.

– Let’s be honest. Ukraine was not there so it was not on the cards that the meeting would end with any kind of decisive agreement, she says. 

The world’s response
Norway promises to buy weapons for Ukraine for $500 million

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide has promised to buy weapons for Ukraine for $500 million, Reuters reports.

Norway will buy the weapons, which are going to Kyiv, from the US.

The arms deal is part of a NATO program called PURL, Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List. According to Politico, 11 of the 32 NATO member states have sent five arms packages to Ukraine under the program.

Sanctions
Sources: Belgium furious at EU Ukraine plan

Belgium is disappointed by the proposal to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine presented by the European Commission. The country, which holds large parts of Russia's European assets, has previously been skeptical about using the money.

Now a senior Belgian source tells Reuters that the European Commission has not taken the country's concerns seriously enough.

- Belgium cannot accept being forced to shoulder the risks of such an operation alone, the source says.

According to Ursula von der Leyen, almost 1000 billion kronor will be used to support Ukraine. 

EU wants to send Russian money to Ukraine: “The only language Russia understands”

As expected, the EU will move forward with plans to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, writes The Guardian.

– Since it is the only language the Kremlin understands, we can turn up the pressure, says Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during a press conference.

The proposal has not been uncontroversial. Belgium, which controls large parts of Russian assets in Europe, has been the most vocal skeptic. At present, however, it seems that the proposal can be voted through despite the criticism.

The EU's plan is to use 90 billion euros, equivalent to almost 1,000 billion Swedish kronor, to cover two-thirds of the support it estimates Ukraine needs over the next two years. According to Ursula von der Leyen, the money will primarily go to purchasing weapons for Ukraine from European producers.

The proposal will be discussed at the summit in Brussels on December 18, writes SvD.

Foreign Minister supports proposal: “Most fair”

Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (M) supports the EU Commission’s proposal to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.

– Sweden’s line has been and continues to be that the most fair and reasonable thing is to take the frozen Russian assets, she tells TV4 Nyheterna.

The EU wants almost 1,000 billion kronor to be used to cover two-thirds of Ukraine’s needs in 2026 and 2027. The proposal will be discussed at the summit in Brussels on December 18. Belgium has so far been skeptical because large parts of Russia’s European assets are in the country.

– It is clear that Belgium must feel secure in a solution, the Foreign Minister tells SvD.