Ukraine urges Orthodox Church to distance itself from Moscow - 'says Putin is Satan'

Created: 2022-12-27Updated: 2022-12-27 10:52 p.m

By: Linus Prien, Bedrettin Bölükbasi, Franziska Schwarz

Ukraine demands a clear edge from the Orthodox Church against Russia and especially Vladimir Putin.

News ticker on diplomacy in the Ukraine war.

• Kiev

  demands on the

  church

  : According to Ukraine, Putin should be declared Satan

• Putin

  signs

  oil export ban

  : countries with a price cap are affected - including the EU

• Lavrov

  warns: Ukraine wants to "draw NATO members deeper into the maelstrom of the conflict"

• This 

  news ticker 

  on the diplomatic situation in the 

  Ukraine war

   is constantly updated.

Update from December 27, 10:30 p.m .:

The Ukrainian leadership is urging the Orthodox Church to distance itself from Moscow in the dispute over their whereabouts in the world-famous Kiev Cave Monastery.

"If you have no relations with Russia, then officially renounce, say that (Vladimir) Putin is Satan," Secretary of the National Security Council Oleksiy Danilov demanded of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church on television.

Moscow Patriarch Kirill is also a devil, added Danilov.

Until May, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was subordinate to the Moscow Patriarchate.

At that time, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church officially broke with Moscow and condemned Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine ordered by Kremlin chief Putin.

However, the Ukrainian authorities continue to suspect the church of collaborating with Moscow.

The organization's premises were searched several times.

The church's lease for the Cave Monastery in Kyiv was terminated at the turn of the year.

The head of the cave monastery, Pavel Lebed, then turned to the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj with criticism and a request to stay.

Update from December 27, 5:35 p.m .:

From February 1, Russia will ban the sale of oil to countries that have decided to cap oil prices in response to the Russian offensive in Ukraine.

"Supply of Russian oil and Russian oil products to foreign legal entities and other private individuals is prohibited" when they apply the price cap, said a decree signed by President Vladimir Putin.

The EU, the G7 countries and Australia, for example, would be affected. At the beginning of December, they agreed on a price cap of 60 dollars (56.52 euros) for Russian crude oil transported by sea.

No more Russian oil for countries with a price cap: Vladimir Putin is taking action.

© IMAGO / ITAR-TASS

Update from December 27, 4:15 p.m.:

Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko sees the energy supply in Ukraine in a “very difficult” situation.

On the Ukrainian state broadcaster, according to CNN, the minister warned of "maximum damage to the energy system" on New Year's Eve.

Also on December 31, according to Halushchenko, Russian troops would try to target Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

Energy planning is extremely difficult because one cannot know the extent of future shelling and the damage it will cause to the energy system, the minister said.

Ukraine-News: Russian statements on negotiations according to Kyiv "attempt to buy time"

Update from December 27, 2:20 p.m .:

Russia’s government has recently repeatedly emphasized its own willingness to negotiate.

According to Ukrainian presidential adviser Alexander Rodnianskyj, Moscow is trying to buy time with such statements, which is why statements from the Kremlin cannot be trusted.

"The blitzkrieg went terribly wrong and they know it," he told US broadcaster CNN, adding: "So they need more time to regroup and rebuild their troops." According to Rodnyanskyj, the Kremlin also wants the world to do so bring to stop supplying military equipment to Ukraine.

"We must not fall into the trap," warned the Ukrainian.

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Ukraine-News: FDP foreign politician new German ambassador in Russia?

Update from December 27, 12:50 p.m .: Being the

German ambassador to Russia is currently a difficult task.

The traffic light coalition now allegedly wants to appoint a prominent FDP politician to Putin.

Group Vice Alexander Graf Lambsdorff is said to take over the task.

Ukraine News: SPD General Kühnert opposes negotiations with Russia “in the current situation”

Update from December 27, 10:55 a.m .:

SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert spoke out against peace negotiations with Russia “in the current situation”.

"The moment when Ukraine will negotiate its peace will come," said Kühnert on Tuesday in the ZDF "Morgenmagazin".

He explained: "But it has prerequisites: namely the territorial integrity of this country and that Russia realizes that it cannot achieve its war goals."

Kühnert also emphasized that Ukraine was also receiving military support with the aim of being able to negotiate a just peace for itself later on.

at Christmas

that diplomacy in Germany was "reflexively rejected".

However, diplomacy does not mean “negotiating with Putin unconditionally or even over the heads of Ukraine.”

Kühnert also confirmed on ZDF that he would “not go it alone” when supplying weapons to Ukraine.

The so-called ring exchange, in which Germany supplies tanks to other Eastern European countries, which in return give their tanks from Soviet stocks to Ukraine, works “and also helps very specifically and, above all, immediately,” he said.

Austria's Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP) was thinking aloud about possible negotiations with Russia.

Ukraine-News: Lavrov warns of an "uncontrolled development" in the war

Update from December 27, 9:15 a.m .:

The Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov issued a kind of ultimatum in the Ukraine war.

He called for the "amicable" fulfillment of Russia's demands for "demilitarization" and "denazification" in Ukraine.

In addition, security risks for Russia in the annexed regions would have to be eliminated.

"Otherwise the matter will be decided by the Russian army," threatened Vladimir Putin's foreign minister.

Russia warned "enemies in the West" against escalating the situation in Ukraine.

The risk of an "uncontrolled development of the situation" is very high.

At the same time, Lavrov repeated well-known allegations: according to him, the West wants to achieve a “victory against Russia on the battlefield” through Ukraine in order to significantly weaken “or even destroy” Russia.

The main actor is the United States, Lavrov said in an interview with the Russian state agency Tass.

He accused Washington of doing everything possible "to prolong the war and make it more violent."

At the same time, however, the West emphasizes that it wants to avoid a direct conflict with Russia.

Lavrov spoke of "hypocrisy" that NATO members had already "de facto" become part of the Ukraine war.

Lavrov also commented on relations with the EU and the US.

Relations with Europe, for example, are in the “historically worst state”, the relationship with the USA in an “extremely regrettable state”.

Normal communication with the government of US President Joe Biden is "impossible".

Lavrov accused the EU, the US and NATO of having declared a "hybrid war" against Russia.

Therefore, there will be no more "normal operation" with these players in the future.

Lavrov warns: Ukraine wants to "draw NATO members deeper into the maelstrom of the conflict"

Update from December 27, 6:37 a.m .:

Russia accuses Ukraine of wanting to draw NATO deeper into the war.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with the TASS agency published on Tuesday night: "The (Kiev) regime is trying on its behalf to draw the Americans and other NATO members deeper into the vortex of the conflict, in hoping to make a hasty collision with the Russian army inevitable.” He also recalled the impact of a rocket that hit Poland in mid-November.

According to Lavrov, the Ukrainian reaction was a provocation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tried to "pass the missile as a Russian missile," Lavrov said.

"It's good that Washington and Brussels had the wisdom at the time not to fall for it." However, this incident showed that nothing can stop Kyiv.

The West had recently assumed that the projectile was a Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile used to defend against Russian attacks.

Update from December 26, 7:45 p.m .:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hopes for India’s help in implementing his so-called peace formula.

He also thanks India for humanitarian aid and support at the United Nations, Zelenskyy tweeted Monday after a phone call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Selenskyj wants to specify his peace formula, which is intended to regulate a post-war order, at a peace summit.

As a prerequisite, however, Kyiv demands the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory.

India, the second most populous country in the world, is taking a neutral stance on Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine because of its close ties with the West and Russia.

The country does not support Western sanctions either and repeatedly advocates conflict resolution through dialogue.

Recently, India bought more relatively cheap oil from Russia.

New Delhi is also heavily dependent on Moscow for its military equipment and spare parts.

Contact between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping?

Russia's president plans talks with China's head of state

Update from December 26, 11:41 a.m .:

According to the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to speak to China’s head of state and party leader Xi Jinping by the turn of the year.

"In fact, such a contact is being prepared," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Monday, according to the Interfax news agency.

The 55-year-old did not want to reveal anything about the format of the talks - a telephone call or a personal meeting.

Relations between the two countries are considered good, despite the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

In contrast to the talks with Xi, the Kremlin says it is not seeking contact with the West.

Peskov denied that a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron was planned in the next few days.

There will also be no New Year's greetings to US President Joe Biden, Putin's spokesman assured.

Ukraine-News: Ukraine wants to remove Russia as a permanent member of the UN Security Council

Update from December 26, 9:57 a.m.:

Ukraine wants to request on Monday that Russia be removed as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

"Tomorrow we will officially state our position," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Ukrainian television late Sunday evening.

"We have a very simple question: does Russia have the right to remain a permanent member of the UN Security Council and to be in the United Nations at all?"

"We have a compelling and reasoned answer: No, it didn't," he added.

According to Kuleba, the issue is already being discussed in diplomatic circles.

The most powerful body of the United Nations consists of 15 members.

Its job is to deal with global crises, such as imposing sanctions, approving military action and approving amendments to the UN Charter.

In addition to Russia, the five permanent members with veto power include the USA, Great Britain, France and China.

Ukraine War: China asserts impartial position in Russia's war of aggression

Update from December 25, 6:40 p.m.:

According to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Beijing wants to further expand “strategic mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation” with Russia.

Nevertheless, China apparently wants to maintain its current position on the Ukraine war, as reported by the Associated Press news agency, citing a speech by Wang at a video conference in Beijing.

So far, China has followed the "fundamental principles of objectivity and impartiality," Wang said.

In addition, Beijing has "not favored any side or poured fuel on the fire" in order to achieve "selfish gains".

The Chinese government repeatedly calls for restraint and also calls for negotiations in Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

Russian fighter jets for Iran – Putin probably wants to supply Tehran with dozens of Su-35s

Update from December 25, 5:30 p.m .:

In the background of the Ukraine war, military cooperation between Russia and Iran is deepening.

For the delivery of Iranian kamikazed drones by Tehran, Moscow now apparently wants to provide something in return – in the form of combat aircraft.

The Israeli broadcaster Keshet12, citing Western intelligence sources, reported that Russia wants to deliver up to 24 Su-35 fighter jets to Iran, which were actually intended for Egypt.

However, since the USA had prevented the deal, Russia was already looking for a new buyer.

In addition, the head of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, David Barnea, spoke of information about Iran's plans to "deepen and expand" the supply of advanced weapons to Russia.

This is the first time that the Mossad chief has publicly referred to the military cooperation between the two countries, the Israeli news portal

reported .

Ukraine News: Putin spokesman Peskov is targeting Germany

Update from December 25, 2:36 p.m .:

Not only Vladimir Putin, but also Dmitri Peskov had his say in the program “Moscow.Kremlin.Putin” on the Russian TV channel Rossiya-1.

The Kremlin spokesman also targeted Germany in his remarks.

The background was Putin's trip to the Belarusian capital of Minsk and his visit to the ruler there on December 19, Alexander Lukashenko.

In view of the visit, Germany had expressed concern that Belarus could now join the Ukraine war as an official war party.

This hadn't happened.

Peskow now called the speculation “absolutely absurd”.

Russia and Belarus are the "closest allies" and their contact is nobody's business.

In addition, the contact is not directed against anyone, but is maintained for mutual benefit.

According to Tass, Peskow called the concerns from Germany stupid and unfounded.

The exchange between Lukashenko and Putin was about state relations in the areas of economy, culture, humanitarian exchange, security and defense.

Putin on Russia's Ukraine moves: "We're moving in the right direction"

Update from December 25, 1:44 p.m

.: More statements from the latest brief interview with Putin broadcast on Russian state TV: “I think we are moving in the right direction, we are protecting our national interests, the interests of our citizens, our people ", said the head of the Kremlin, according to the dpa.

Putin again stressed that Russia was ready to negotiate a solution to the Ukraine conflict - but added: "We don't reject negotiations, they do".

Putin started the war on February 24, 2022.

The Kremlin chief also responded to the question of whether a dangerous line had not been reached in the conflict with the West.

Putin rejected this.

There is no other choice, Russia has been trying to resolve the conflict peacefully since 2014.

Moscow sees the western states - above all the USA - as a warring party because of the arms deliveries to Kyiv.

Putin again accused the West of having brought about the overthrow of then-President Viktor Yanukovych in 2014.

Ukraine-News: US promises Kyiv Patriot air defense systems

First report from December 25th

: Moscow - With the Patriot anti-aircraft weapons, state and people could now be protected equally, Volodymyr Zelenskyj rejoiced after his recent visit to Washington.

The Patriot air defense system can repel aircraft, cruise missiles, drones and missiles even at a greater distance.

It is likely to complicate Russia's missile and drone attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. 

Putin nervous about Patriot deliveries?

Kremlin boss boasts on state TV

His adversary and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin reacted venomously to the announced US Patriot deliveries to Kyiv: Russia will "of course destroy 100 percent of the air defense systems in the Ukrainian war zone," he said on Christmas Day in an interview with the state broadcaster Rossiya 1.

Putin interview on Russian television: "West wants to tear apart"

Putin also accused the West of wanting to "tear apart" Russia.

"The core of it all is the policies of our geopolitical opponents aimed at tearing apart Russia, historic Russia," he said.

They had "always tried to 'divide and conquer'".

His goal is "something different - to unite the Russian people".

Putin justifies the Russian invasion of Ukraine with the concept of “historical Russia”, according to which Ukrainians and Russians are one people.

"We are acting in the right direction, we are protecting our national interests, the interests of our citizens, our people," Putin said.

He accused Kyiv and the West of not being ready for peace negotiations in the Ukraine conflict, unlike Moscow.