"Russia still pursues its original maximalist demands, including territorial claims to control Ukraine's eastern regions, and continues to oppose the prospect of Ukraine ever joining Nato or ever hosting western troops as part of security guarantees. Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly address yesterday that reliable security guarantees are the only real foundation for peace, as he warned that Russia could test it any peace settlement through strikes or hybrid operations of some kind."
"In the meantime, Russia continues its strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, with an energy facility in the soutern Black Sea region of Odesa hit overnight, even as the country continues to be gripped by cold temperatures. Elsewhere, we will be looking at the ongoing discussion on how to improve European competitiveness ahead of this Thursday's informal EU summit on the issue, the latest on the EU-US trade deal which was briefly put on hold, and other topics from across the continent."
Sergei Lavrov said there was no reason to be enthusiastic about US pressure on Europe and Ukraine, noting that talks on peace remain distant. Russia maintains maximalist territorial demands, seeking control over Ukraine's eastern regions and opposing any Ukrainian Nato membership or hosting of western troops as security guarantees. Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that reliable security guarantees are the only foundation for peace and warned that Russia could test any settlement through strikes or hybrid operations. Russia continues strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, including an overnight hit near Odesa, while cold temperatures grip the country. European competitiveness and an EU-US trade deal are also under discussion.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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