Bloody fighting in Ukraine: Russia strikes back, Biden helps!

Bloody fighting in Ukraine: Russia strikes back, Biden helps!

Here are the dramatic developments on 1,031. Day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

On Saturday, December 21st, the situation in Ukraine and Russia was simmering like never before!

The front lines are glowing! Ukraine struck with US-backed missiles on Friday in a devastating attack on the city of Rylsk in Russia's Kursk region. The result? Six lives were wiped out! President Joe Biden recently gave Ukraine permission to deploy these powerful weapons deeper into Russian territory. A dangerous game that further inflames tensions!

But that wasn't all! Hours earlier, a Russian airstrike hit the capital Kyiv, claiming at least one other life. A building housing the embassies of Albania, Argentina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Palestine and Portugal was damaged. Moscow justified this attack as retaliation for a Ukrainian strike on Rostov with Western missiles. A vicious circle of violence!

Economic turmoil

As the fighting rages, the Russian economy remains under pressure. Russia's central bank has kept interest rates at a record high of 21 percent, despite runaway inflation fueled by massive war spending and severe labor shortages. Business owners are sounding the alarm and criticizing the Kremlin for the catastrophic impact of high borrowing costs on the economy.

On the other hand, Ukraine is receiving much-needed support! The International Monetary Fund approved $1.1 billion in budget support on Friday, bringing the total funding provided since March 2023 to $9.8 billion. A ray of hope in the midst of chaos!

Political tensions

The political reactions are equally shocking! Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, strongly condemned the Russian attack on Kyiv. “Another despicable attack by Russia on Kyiv,” she wrote on X. “Putin’s disregard for international law reaches new heights.” The international community is watching with concern!

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is calling for a change of strategy from European leaders on Ukraine as Russia advances on the front lines. In an interview with Hungarian state television, he spoke out in favor of a Christmas truce and the exchange of up to 1,000 prisoners of war. But Orban has repeatedly blocked or weakened EU measures to support Ukraine in the past.

And as tensions continue to escalate, Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz has announced that he will speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin again. After resuming contact last month, which was sharply criticized by Ukraine, Scholz wants to make it clear that Putin must stop his aggression and withdraw troops. A risky undertaking!

The situation remains tense and the world watches transfixed as events in this geopolitical tragedy continue to unfold!