Ukraine takes centre stage at the US-Africa summit
Ukraine is the backdrop for the US-Africa Summit, which brings together the leaders of 49 African nations, many of whom have expressed frustration with paying the economic price for the war, which the UN says has worsened a global food crisis.
The coalition of countries opposing Russia’s invasion has proven resilient, but sustaining that has required diplomacy and compromise and will likely require more as the winter tests public support.
“(This winter) Ukrainians will suffer and Russia may just continue to make it harder,” said one senior European diplomat.
“It may be more and more difficult for Europeans to preserve their unity and continue to deliver weapons, cash and assistance to Ukraine”.
John Kirby, a spokesman for the White House National Security Council, predicted the allies would remain united but acknowledged the stresses ahead.
“We certainly recognise that with the coming of winter, and the way Mr Putin has weaponised energy specifically, there’s going to be enormous stress not just in Ukraine but throughout Europe,” he said.
EU ministers struggle to agree on price cap
EU energy ministers struggled to agree on a bloc-wide price cap in Brussels after months of infighting about whether the measure could ease Europe’s energy crisis.
Responding to repeated requests from some countries, the European Commission proposed a price cap last month as the latest EU response to Russia cutting gas deliveries to Europe this year, which led to energy price spikes.
“European citizens are in agony, European businesses are closing, and Europe has been needlessly debating,” Greek energy minister Konstantinos Skrekas said, calling for a swift deal on the cap.
Greece and other countries, including Belgium, Italy and Poland, say a cap would shield their economies from high energy prices, while Austria, Germany and the Netherlands fear it could divert much-needed gas from Europe and disrupt the functioning of energy markets.
“Everybody has to show some flexibility and everybody has to be able to propose some compromises,” EU energy commissioner Kadri Simson said.
No new talks on further prisoner exchanges, says Russian minister
Russian deputy foreign minister Sergey Ryabkov says he knows of no new scheduled talks with the United States over further prisoner exchanges, Russia’s Interfax news agency reported.
Ryabkov responded to comments by the US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, who told reporters on Monday that Washington expected an “engagement” with Moscow this week on the case of Paul Whelan, an American serving a 16-year sentence in Russia for espionage.
Interfax quoted Ryabkov as saying, “I don’t know what they have in mind. As the president has already said, we have a department dealing with this matter. According to my information, no contacts are expected on this subject through the lines that I know about.”
Last week, Russia and the US agreed on a prisoner swap involving the WNBA basketball player Brittney Griner for the Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
Is Russia using winter as a weapon? | The Stream
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said at the end of November that Russian President Vladimir Putin was using winter as a weapon of war because his forces are failing on the battlefield.
Al Jazeera’s The Stream speaks to experts on whether or not this is Russia’s latest tactic and what it means for the conflict more generally.
- 2h ago(15:25 GMT)
Turkey reaches deal over crude oil tankers
Turkey welcomes an agreement that allows the continuation of a new regulation requiring crude oil tankers to present an insurance confirmation letter before transiting Turkish straits.
The Turkish measures, which came into effect on December 1, require vessels to provide proof of insurance for the duration of transit through the Bosphorus or when calling at Turkish ports.
“It is pleasing that the talks we have been holding with our counterparts have concluded with the acceptance of our new regulations that will protect the Turkish straits and that maritime trade continues as ordinary,” the maritime authority said.
The regulation has caused shipping delays, with up to 20 tankers waiting at the same time in the Black Sea last week as they worked to present the necessary documents.
Which energy facilities has Russia targeted?
As Ukraine races to repair its energy infrastructure amid blackouts following Russian attacks on its power grid, more Western countries are pledging money to help with the harsh winter.
Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, the head of Ukrenergo, Ukraine’s national electricity transmission operator, has described the damage as “colossal”, with repairs taking from hours to weeks to years.
But which energy facilities are at risk?
Read more here.
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