EU member countries reach compromise on gas price cap
French President Emmanuel Macron (C-L), President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyenââ (Rear 2nd R), Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon (Rear), President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis (L), Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz (2nd L), and European Council President Charles Michel (3rd L) attend day two of the European Union (EU) leaders summit at the European Council headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on October 21, 2022.
Dursun Aydemir | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
European Union ministers finalized a long-awaited deal to implement a natural gas price cap that they hope will help households and businesses better weather excessive price surges.
EU member countries had failed to overcome their differences at previous emergency meetings, but several EU leaders said last week that fixing a maximum ceiling to pay for gas was likely to be achieved this time.
After talks in Brussels on Monday, the Czech presidency of the European Council, which represents member countries, said a deal was reached. Details of the agreement have yet to be unveiled.
Since it could not find a consensus on the divisive topic, the Czech presidency opted for a "qualified majority" as the voting rule to get the political agreement. Under EU rules, a qualified majority requires that 55% of member countries, or 17 out of the 27, vote in favor of a proposal. Such a vote also requires that those nations represent at least 65% of the bloc's population.
— Associated Press
Putin arrives in Belarus for talks with Lukashenko
MINSK, BELARUS - DECEMBER 19: (RUSSIA OUT) Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko (R) seen during the welcoming ceremony at the Palace of Independence on December 19, 2022, in Minsk, Belarus.
Contributor | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in Minsk for talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Russian state media reported Monday afternoon.
The meeting, Putin's first to the Belarusian capital since 2019, comes amid increasing fears that Moscow may be pushing its ally to increase its military involvement in the war.
Speaking to Russian news agencies earlier Monday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called Belarus Russia's "number one ally," but said that suggestions that Moscow wanted to pressure Minsk into joining the conflict were "stupid and unfounded fabrications."
—Karen Gilchrist
UK's Rishi Sunak in Latvia for meeting with allies to discuss Ukraine
U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is in the Latvian capital of Riga to meet with other members of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), a U.K.-led alliance of European militaries that share tactical knowledge and conduct joint training exercises to increase interoperability.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (L) attends a bilateral meeting with Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (R) at the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) countries leaders' meeting in Riga, Latvia December 19, 2022.
Henry Nicholls | AFP | Getty Images
He is set to announce a new artillery package for Ukraine and urge other member nations to continue their support for Ukraine. He will meet British troops in neighboring Estonia later in the day.
Ahead of the visit, Sunak said in a statement: "From the Arctic Circle to the Isle of Wight, the U.K. and our European allies have been in lockstep in our response to the invasion of Ukraine, and we remain steadfast in our ambition for peace in Europe once again ... I know this Joint Expeditionary Force summit will only underline our close friendships and unwavering support for Ukraine."
The JEF includes the U.K., Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden.
— Natasha Turak
Kremlin dismisses reports that Belarus is to join conflict
The Kremlin on Monday rejected suggestions that President Vladimir Putin's visit to Belarus signals a ramping up of Minsk's involvement in the war.
Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the government via a video link at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Russia, December 14, 2022.
Sputnik | Reuters
Russia's RIA Novosti news agency reported Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying the reports were "groundless" and "stupid," hours before Putin was due to arrive in the Belarusian capital.
Putin's visit Monday afternoon marks his first to the ex-Soviet ally in more than three years, and comes as Belarus' defense ministry said it had finalized a series of inspections of its armed forces' military preparedness.
—Karen Gilchrist
Zelenskyy asks West for weapons systems
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday called on Western leaders meeting in Latvia to provide a wide range of weapons systems in Kyiv's ongoing war with Russia, Reuters reported.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is displayed on a screen as he speaks via video link during a Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) plenary session in Riga, Latvia December 19, 2022.
Henry Nicholls | Afp | Getty Images
"I ask you to increase the possibility of supplying air defense systems to our country, and to help speed up the relevant decisions to be taken by our partners," Zelenskyy asked during his speech via video link to the leaders meeting in Riga.
Western allies, including Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden, are meeting in the Baltic nation for the British-led grouping Monday.
—Karen Gilchrist
Belarus says military checks completed ahead of Putin visit
Belarus' defense ministry said Monday it had finalized a series of inspections of its armed forces' military preparedness, signaling a potential shift to a more active role in the conflict, Reuters reported.
Russian ally Belarus, which acted as a staging post for Moscow to launch its invasion of Ukraine in February, has been undertaking a string of military maneuvers over recent weeks.
It comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin heads for Minsk Monday, heightening fears that he may pressure his ex-Soviet ally to join a new offensive on Ukraine.
—Karen Gilchrist
Russian ruble dips to six-month low
Loading chart...
The Russian ruble plunged to a more than six-month low against the dollar Monday, as low oil prices and mounting sanctions fears threatened to hit the country's export revenues.
The rouble was 2.4% weaker against the dollar, trading at 66.22 as of around 9:00 GMT Monday. The dip marks the rouble's lowest level since May 30.
—Karen Gilchrist
'Fairly serious' damage caused by Russian drone attack
This photograph shows an object of a critical power infrastructure as it burns after a drone attack to Kyiv, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Sergei Supinsky | AFP | Getty Images
A Russian drone attack caused "fairly serious" damage in the Kyiv region Monday, Governor Oleksiy Kubela said, according to Reuters.
Three areas in the region were left without power supply, the governor said, after Russia unleashed 35 "kamikaze" drones on Ukraine in the early hours of Monday morning.
The assault, which took out critical infrastructure, marks Moscow's third air attack on Ukraine's capital in six days, Reuters reported.
—Karen Gilchrist
Read CNBC's previous live coverage here:
World - Latest - Google News
December 20, 2022 at 12:15AM
https://ift.tt/ZaM5Ok0
Ukraine war live updates: Russian drone attack takes out power supplies in Kyiv; Ruble tumbles - CNBC
World - Latest - Google News
https://ift.tt/LnPXuEK
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Ukraine war live updates: Russian drone attack takes out power supplies in Kyiv; Ruble tumbles - CNBC"
Post a Comment