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U.S.-Russia Talks Leave Ukraine Peace Efforts Uncertain 
Germany is set to approve additional winter aid to Ukraine worth over $50 million as a result of Russia’s strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. The additional aid to be approved follows the over $160 million pledge by Berlin during the meeting in Bucharest.
Speaking at a donors’ conference in Paris on Tuesday, German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said that Berlin is set to approve over $50 million in additional winter aid to Ukraine. The additional aid comes as a result of continued Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, sending parts of the country without power.
Baerbock said Germany was working to provide generators, blankets, and heating fuel to Ukraine in time for the Christmas season, as many parts of Ukraine are still without adequate power. Baerbock told reporters that Moscow is trying to break the Ukrainian people and that it must not be allowed to happen.
Also on Tuesday, the British defense ministry said in its intelligence update the Kremlin’s confirmation that Russian leader Vladimir Putin will not be holding his annual press conference this year. The cancellation marks the first time in 10 years that Putin will not hold the event, as the public phone-in also did not happen this year.
The ministry said that the cancellation likely happened because of concerns about the growing criticism of the war inside Russia.
“Although questions are almost certainly usually vetted in advance, the cancellation is likely due to increasing concerns about the prevalence of anti-war feeling in Russia. Kremlin officials are almost certainly extremely sensitive about the possibility that any event attended by Putin could be hijacked by unsanctioned discussion about the ‘special military operation,’” said the ministry, referring to the term Russia has used for the nearly 10-month war.
On the ground, Ukrainian officials gave the all clear following the air raid sirens that were blasting across the country following warnings from Kyiv that Moscow may attempt a new wave of missile strikes. Officials noted that no new attacks were reported despite the air raid alerts.
Ukrainian media outlets said the air raid alerts were likely triggered by MiG fighter jets that took off from Ryazan, a town near the Ukrainian border, and were travelling to Belarus.
