Because the struggle enters its 689th day, these are the primary developments.
Right here is the state of affairs on Saturday, January 13, 2024.
Preventing
- Ukraine’s air drive mentioned Russia launched some 40 drones and missiles, together with hypersonic missiles.
- Ukraine’s floor forces commander advised the Reuters information company that Kyiv wanted extra army plane, similar to United States A-10 assault jets, to help the infantry, in addition to planes that would fireplace long-range cruise missiles.
- A senior Ukrainian presidential aide has mentioned he was assured that an amended invoice in search of to tighten Ukraine’s mobilisation legal guidelines could be handed within the coming days or perhaps weeks.
Politics and diplomacy
- British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak signed a brand new safety settlement with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s president, and introduced a rise in army funding for Kyiv. Sunak mentioned the UK would improve its help within the subsequent monetary yr to 2.5 billion kilos ($3.2bn), a rise of 200 million kilos ($255m) on the earlier two years.
- Zelenskyy mentioned he was extra optimistic now than he was final month that his nation would safe new monetary support from the US.
- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met senior Chinese language official Liu Jianchao and mentioned ties between North Korea and Russia in addition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in keeping with his workplace.
- France’s newly appointed overseas minister Stephane Sejourne will go to Ukraine on Saturday for his first official journey.
- The overseas ministers of Hungary and Ukraine will meet in western Ukraine on the finish of January, in keeping with a press release by the Hungarian authorities.
- Afghanistan and Mongolia raised their imports of Russian gas by about 28 p.c in 2023 to virtually six million tonnes, partially offsetting a decline in Russian provides to Europe, in keeping with merchants and business knowledge.
- The US imposed sanctions on three Russian entities and one particular person allegedly concerned within the switch and testing of North Korea’s ballistic missiles for alleged use by Moscow on Ukraine.
- The Russian overseas ministry referred to as a US plan to confiscate as much as $300bn in frozen Russian belongings to assist rebuild Ukraine “21st century piracy” and mentioned Moscow would retaliate harshly if it occurred.