Biden confirms Zelenskiy will visit Washington on Wednesday
We now have official confirmation that Zelenskiy will visit Washington today, in his first foreign visit since the war broke out.
US president Joe Biden has released a statement saying that Zelenskiy will go to the White House before addressing a joint session of Congress “demonstrating the strong, bipartisan support for Ukraine”.
Key events
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Here are some of the latest images we have received from Ukraine.
Summary of the day so far
It’s nearly 1:30pm in Kyiv. Here’s where we stand:
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has confirmed he is on his way to the US, his first foreign trip since the war broke out 300 days ago. The US president, Joe Biden, released a statement saying that Zelenskiy will go to the White House on Wednesday before addressing a joint session of Congress “demonstrating the strong, bipartisan support for Ukraine”. A senior US administration official denied that Biden will pressure Zelenskiy to seek a diplomatic end to the war.
Biden will announce “a significant new package of security assistance to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression”, he said in a statement. The package will be worth nearly $2bn, including a Patriot missile battery. The US will, in a third country, train Ukrainian forces in how to operate the Patriot system, it has been reported.
Zelenskiy’s visit to the US is “extremely significant” and will disprove Russian attempts to show that US-Ukrainian relations are “cooling”, Kyiv’s presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said. The Ukrainian president’s trip and meeting with his US counterpart will provide an opportunity to explain the real situation in Ukraine, what weapons Kyiv needs to fight Moscow, and why it needs them, Podolyak told Reuters.
The Kremlin has said nothing good will come of Zelenskiy’s trip to Washington and that Russia sees no chance of peace talks with Kyiv. In a call with reporters, the Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that continued western arms supplies to Ukraine would lead to a “deepening” of the conflict – something that could backfire on Kyiv, he warned.
Air raid alerts were heard across all parts of Ukraine on Wednesday, according to local officials. There was no immediate word of a new wave of Russian attacks.
Vladimir Putin is due to give an “important, substantive” speech at the board of Russia’s defence ministry shortly, the Kremlin said on Wednesday. The Russian leader was expected to set his military aims for 2023 in a meeting with defence officials, which will include a keynote message from Putin’s defence minister, Sergei Shoigu.
The former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has undertaken a surprise trip to Beijing and held talks with the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, during which he said they discussed the Ukraine conflict. Medvedev, now deputy chair of Russia’s security council, said he and Xi had discussed the two countries’ “no limits” strategic partnership, as well as Ukraine.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, will visit Russia on Thursday for discussions on the creation of a security zone around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, the Russian state-owned RIA Novosti news agency reported, citing Russia’s envoy to the international institutions in Vienna.
Hello, it’s Léonie Chao-Fong here to bring you all the latest from Ukraine. I’m on Twitter or you can email me.
Air raid alerts issued across Ukraine
Air raid alerts have been reported across all parts of Ukraine, according to local officials.
Air-raid alert throughout the whole territory of #Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/ZRYkRtqvcs
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) December 21, 2022
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Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s visit to the US is “extremely significant” and will disprove Russian attempts to show that US-Ukrainian relations are “cooling”, Kyiv’s presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said.
The Ukrainian president’s trip and meeting with his US counterpart will provide an opportunity to explain the real situation in Ukraine, what weapons Kyiv needs to fight Moscow, and why it needs them, Podolyak told Reuters.
He said:
Firstly, both the visit itself and the level of planned meetings unequivocally testify to the high degree of trust between the countries. Secondly, this finally puts an end to the attempts by the Russian side … to prove an allegedly growing cooling in our bilateral relations. This, of course, is not even close. The United States unequivocally supports Ukraine.
He added:
In my opinion, the visit will undoubtedly activate and optimise key areas of military cooperation, further mobilise bipartisan political support and more clearly paint a picture of the future if the war is not ended correctly.
Putin to deliver ‘important, substantive speech’ shortly
The Kremlin has said President Vladimir Putin is due to give an “important, substantive” speech at the board of Russia’s defence ministry shortly.
Earlier we reported that the Russian leader was expected to set his military aims for 2023 in a meeting with defence officials, which will include a keynote message from Putin’s defence minister, Sergei Shoigu.
Hello everyone. It’s Léonie Chao-Fong here again, taking over the live blog from Tom Ambrose to bring you all of today’s latest news from the Russia-Ukraine war. Feel free to drop me a message if you have anything to flag, you can reach me on Twitter or via email.
The Kremlin has said nothing good will come of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s trip to Washington on Wednesday and that Russia sees no chance of peace talks with Kyiv.
In a call with reporters, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that continued western arms supplies to Ukraine would lead to a “deepening” of the conflict – something that could backfire on Kyiv, he warned.
“The supply of weapons continues and the range of supplied weapons is expanding. All of this, of course, leads to an aggravation of the conflict. This does not bode well for Ukraine,” Peskov said.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, will visit Russia on Thursday for discussions on the creation of a security zone around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, the RIA Novosti news agency reported, citing Russia’s envoy to the international institutions in Vienna.
The plant, in Russian-occupied territory, has come under repeated shelling attacks that each side has blamed on the other, raising fears of a nuclear disaster.
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday it appeared no European countries were conducting a proper investigation into the series of explosions that ruptured the Nord Stream gas pipelines in September.
“After the explosions on Nord Stream – which, it appears nobody in the European Union is going to objectively investigate – Russia stopped gas transportation through the northern routes,” Lavrov said on Wednesday.
Russia has blamed Britain for the explosions – claims rejected by London – while investigators in Sweden and Denmark said they were the deliberate results of sabotage, though did not name any possible culprits.
Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has undertaken a surprise trip to Beijing and held talks with the Chinese president Xi Jinping during which he said they discussed the Ukraine conflict.
Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia’s security council, posted a video on his Telegram channel showing him meeting Xi, smiling for photos and a meeting between Chinese and Russian officials.
Medvedev said he and Xi had discussed the two countries’ “no limits” strategic partnership, as well as Ukraine. He did not provide further details, Reuters reported.
“We discussed cooperation between the two ruling parties of China and Russia … bilateral cooperation within our strategic partnership, including on the economy and industrial production. We also discussed international issues – including, of course, the conflict in Ukraine,” Medvedev said.
“The talks were useful,” he added.
A destroyed room in a school in Avdiivka on Tuesday in Donetsk, Ukraine.
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has published an open letter to Zelenskiy inviting him to address Congress in person on Wednesday.
In the letter, she writes that “the fight for Ukraine is the fight for democracy itself”.
Here is part of the letter:
Dear Mr. President:
It is with immense respect and admiration for your extraordinary leadership that I extend on behalf of bipartisan Congressional leadership an invitation to address a Joint Meeting of Congress on Wednesday, December 21, 2022.
America and the world are in awe of the heroism of the Ukrainian people. In the face of Putin’s horrific atrocities, Ukrainian freedom fighters have inspired the world with an iron will and an unbreakable spirit — fighting back against Russia’s brutal, unjustified invasion.
…
The fight for Ukraine is the fight for democracy itself. We look forward to hearing your inspiring message of unity, resilience and determination. Thank you for your leadership and consideration of this request.
David Smith
In a conference call with reporters on Tuesday, a senior administration official, who did not wish to be named, said Biden and Zelenskiy had discussed a potential visit when they spoke by phone on 11 December and the White House formally extended an invitation last Wednesday. Zelenskiy’s office accepted the invitation last Friday and the visit was confirmed on Sunday.
Biden will first welcome Zelenskiy at the White House for bilateral meetings with the US president’s national security team and cabinet. After a press conference, Zelenskiy will go to Capitol Hill and address a joint session of Congress. He will return home after just a few hours on the ground.
The senior administration official also denied that Biden will pressure Zelenskiy to seek a diplomatic end to the war. “The president is not coming with a message that is about pushing or prodding or poking Zelenskiy in any way. This is going to be a message of solidarity and support, coordination and alignment and making sure that we are very much putting Ukraine in the best possible position to defend its interests and secure its objectives.”
Biden to announce ‘significant’ new security package for Ukraine
The statement also says that during the visit, Biden will announce “a significant new package of security assistance to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression.”
It continues:
The visit will underscore the United States’ steadfast commitment to supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes, including through the provision of economic, humanitarian, and military assistance.
The package will be worth nearly $2bn, including a Patriot missile battery. The US will, in a third country, train Ukrainian forces in how to operate the Patriot system.
Zelenskiy on his way to US
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy has just confirmed that he is on his way to the US, in his first foreign trip since the war broke out 300 days ago.
Zelenskiy write on Twitter, “On my way to the US to strengthen resilience and defense capabilities of Ukraine. In particular, @POTUS and I will discuss cooperation between Ukraine and US and I will also have a speech at the Congress and a number of bilateral meetings.”
On my way to the US to strengthen resilience and defense capabilities of 🇺🇦. In particular, @POTUS and I will discuss cooperation between 🇺🇦 and 🇺🇸. I will also have a speech at the Congress and a number of bilateral meetings.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 21, 2022
n”,”url”:”https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1605443014847086592?s=20&t=HUGQD5PNAi4EMQR1isbXGw”,”id”:”1605443014847086592″,”hasMedia”:false,”role”:”inline”,”isThirdPartyTracking”:false,”source”:”Twitter”,”elementId”:”5a122e50-9542-4465-a337-08d4e1add2e1″}}”>
On my way to the US to strengthen resilience and defense capabilities of 🇺🇦. In particular, @POTUS and I will discuss cooperation between 🇺🇦 and 🇺🇸. I will also have a speech at the Congress and a number of bilateral meetings.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 21, 2022
Biden confirms Zelenskiy will visit Washington on Wednesday
We now have official confirmation that Zelenskiy will visit Washington today, in his first foreign visit since the war broke out.
US president Joe Biden has released a statement saying that Zelenskiy will go to the White House before addressing a joint session of Congress “demonstrating the strong, bipartisan support for Ukraine”.
Putin to set 2023 military aims on Wednesday
Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to set his military aims for 2023 in a meeting on Wednesday, AFP reports, citing the Kremlin.
The meeting with defence officials will include a keynote message from defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.
Last week Shoigu visited troops involved in what it calls its special military operation in Ukraine after the defence ministry announced the formation of a “frontline creative brigade”, including vocalists and musicians, to raise morale.
The ministry said Shoigu “flew around the areas of troop deployment and checked the advanced positions of Russian units in the zone of the special military operation”, adding that he spoke with frontline troops. It is not clear where.
Zelenskiy expected to visit Washington
Lois Beckett
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, will travel to Washington on Wednesday where he is expected to visit the White House and the US Capitol, according several US media reports.
Zelenskiy is expected to meet congressional leadership and national security committee chiefs from the Republican and Democratic parties, and might address a joint session of Congress on Wednesday night, news outlets reported..
The trip, which would be Zelenskiy’s first known foreign visit since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February, could still be called off at the last minute due to security concerns. But if it goes ahead, the visit is set to include an address to Congress on Capitol Hill and a meeting with President Joe Biden. It comes as lawmakers are due to vote on a year-end spending package that includes about $45bn in emergency assistance to Ukraine and the US prepares to send Patriot surface-to-air missiles to the country to help stave off Russia’s invasion.
The latest tranche of US funding would be the biggest American infusion of assistance yet to Ukraine, above even President Joe Biden’s $37bn emergency request, and ensure that funding flows to the war effort for months to come.
Welcome and summary
Hello and welcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of the war in Ukraine.
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, will travel to Washington on Wednesday where he is expected to visit the White House and the US Capitol, according to several US media reports.
We’ll bring you the latest news on Zelenskiy’s visit as it happens – as well as updates from within Ukraine.
In the meantime, here are the key recent developments in the conflict:
President Zelenskiy visited the frontline city of Bakhmut on Tuesday. He met military representatives and handed out awards to soldiers, his office has said.
A blast ripped through the Urengoi-Pomary-Uzhhorod gas exporting pipeline that leads from Russia through Ukraine. Reuters reported that three people died in the incident.
Ukraine was warned to prepare for new Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure. Prime minister Denys Shmyhal said Moscow wanted Ukraine to spend Christmas and new year in darkness.
Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, said the situation in four areas of eastern Ukraine – Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson – that Moscow illegally annexed in September, was “extremely difficult”. Russia’s illegal annexation of the four territories, which together make up 15% of Ukraine, marked the largest forcible takeover of territory in Europe since the second world war and was condemned by Kyiv and its western allies as illegal. Russia has suffered acute setbacks in the areas, halting its ambitions.
The EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, on Tuesday condemned Iran’s support for Russia in its war in Ukraine and the ongoing repression of opposition in the country, but said the EU would continue to work with Iran on restoring the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. “Necessary meeting with Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian in Jordan amid deteriorating Iran-EU relations,” Borrell tweeted ahead of a regional conference being hosted by Jordan.
Ukraine is accelerating efforts to erase the vestiges of Soviet and Russian influence from its public spaces by pulling down monuments and renaming hundreds of streets to honour its own artists, poets, soldiers, independence leaders and others – including heroes of this year’s war. Since the war began, Ukraine’s leaders have shifted a campaign that once focused on dismantling its communist past into one of “de-Russification”.
China says Chinese-Russian naval drills beginning on Wednesday aim to “further deepen” cooperation between the two countries whose unofficial anti-western alliance has gained strength since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. The drills will be held off the coast of Zhejiang province south of Shanghai until next Tuesday, according to a brief notice posted Monday by China’s eastern theatre command under the ruling Communist party’s military wing, the People’s Liberation Army.
