Quick housekeeping note. After two days of feeling better and feeling as if I was back on the mend, this evening I feel munky funky again. Nowhere near as bad as last week, but I’m just going to run through some of the basics tonight so I can rack out.
Ukraine bringing Christmas cheer throughout all the land🎄
— Sofia (@sofiaukraini.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 5:36 PM
Russia unloaded on Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast and Kryvyi Rih, but I’m going to put those below the jump. The pics are blurred, but this way they’re not sitting on the front page.
Putin gave one of his annual marathon speeches today. President Zelenskyy had some thoughts.
Doumbass isn’t covering it. He is indeed a Dovboyob (Zelenskyy calls putin that in a Ukrainian version of his post).
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 1:03 PM
That is not quiet correct “Довбойоб” isn’t Dumbass
There is no English analog, but it’s closer to fucking moron, fucktard or dumbfuck lol.
What i like most about this, is that Zelenskyy took away putins news headlines with a word that also translates into russian 😅— Sofia (@sofiaukraini.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 5:19 PM
President Zelenskyy addressed the European Council today.
“There will be no ceasefire until Ukraine has security guarantees and a strong position.” – Zelenskyy’s first statements at the European Council.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 10:58 AM
Video below, English transcript after the jump.
Europe and America Can Push the War to an End, Fair and Reliable Peace – Speech by the President at the Meeting of the European Council
19 December 2024 – 15:36
Thank you very much!
Mr. President Costa!
Ursula, Madam President!
Dear leaders!
Thank you for inviting Ukraine to take part in the European Council’s work, especially now after the renewal of EU institutions.
And I’m also grateful to you, Mr. President, as you said already, but I’m grateful to you and to European Commissioners Kaja Kallas and Marta Kos for visiting Ukraine on the very first day of the new EU leadership’s term. And it was both symbolic and truly supportive.
Now is a good time to reflect on the year and what we’ve achieved together. Europe’s military support for Ukraine has strengthened our ability to defend against Russia, saving countless lives. Sanctions against Russia are growing, and this year saw important progress in targeting its shadow tanker fleet – we must stop Putin from using it to fund the war, and we must remove these old ships from European and international waters to prevent oil spills. We also need to pressure other parts of Russia’s economy and energy exports, including imposing sanctions on Rosatom – another tool of Russian aggression.
We’re united by growing economic cooperation, especially in developing our defense industries. We need to keep increasing weapons production and expanding Europe’s industrial capacity. And I’m grateful to all partners already investing in Ukraine’s defense manufacturing, including drones and artillery, and to those maintaining strong defense budgets. This will remain crucial next year – supplying weapons, boosting production, and strengthening sanctions on Russia to push them toward diplomacy. Europe must stay strong.
Our priority is air defense – fulfilling agreements with partners, including the United States, to provide Ukraine with the systems we need. We require 19 more systems to protect energy infrastructure, especially nuclear plants, from Russian missiles. These systems already stored at partner bases can save lives. I urge you to keep supporting us and help engage the White House to strengthen their commitment to improving Ukraine’s air defense. Thank you to everyone helping restore Ukraine’s energy and resilience. This, along with air defense, is the best response to Russia’s massive missile attacks.
I’m grateful to everyone working to protect geopolitical clarity and economic security for our continent. This is only possible through the inclusion of all European nations in EU and NATO, of course, structures. No democratic nation should be left out of a united Europe and the Alliance – this includes Ukraine, Moldova, and the Balkan countries. Unfortunately, Russian-controlled mafia in Georgia is working to pull the country under Putin’s influence and off the European path. The current government in Tbilisi refuses to engage with the EU. I urge you to put pressure, especially on Ivanishvili and his buddies, to ensure they gain no benefits from stealing Georgia’s European future and wasting decades of progress. We cannot afford to lose a single country in our Europe – if one falls, it brings us all closer to division and conflict. And it’s crucial to support the European choice of Moldova, and it’s not only about elections but about the prosperity of the people of Moldova – they have to feel the strength of Europe in the fight against poverty.
We in Ukraine are grateful for the opening of EU membership talks and hope to make as much progress as possible next year, under Poland and Denmark’s presidency. Our goal is to open all clusters within the next year.
And we’ve made strong progress in ensuring Ukraine’s financial stability. Thanks to your support, we feel more security for the next year. I’m grateful to everyone and every country with which we’ve established long-term support agreements – this is a great help. And we also need to be clear about frozen Russian assets – they must be used more actively to counter aggression.
And on diplomacy, of course, America and Europe must be at the table when the time comes. Like Ukraine, EU should enter talks from a strong position, and Europe’s strength is unity.
We need coordinated efforts for lasting peace – not just a pause in fighting, which Putin wants to buy time. We must push Moscow towards real, lasting and guaranteed peace.
And we all understand that in January, President Trump will intensify efforts to end the war. It’s up to us whether Europe supports him with a strong, united voice.
It is essential for us to work, and work together to ensure that China, India, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and other partners from the Global South not only respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity but also use their influence on Russia when needed. We ask Europe to pay greater attention to the role of these countries, as they can push Russia to respect the principle of territorial integrity, aligning with their own interests and bringing peace closer.
It’s also crucial for Europe to make a significant contribution to security guarantees. We support France’s initiative for a military contingent in Ukraine as part of these guarantees and call-on other partners to join this effort, it will help bring the war to an end.
Europe and America can push the war to an end, fair and reliable peace. For the United States to apply full pressure, Europe needs a clear position. What will make Russia recognize the need for peace?
First: geopolitical clarity for Ukraine and Europe – inviting Ukraine to join NATO.
Second: clear progress on Ukraine’s EU membership.
Third: boosting our defense with promised weapons and air defense systems, and urgent equipping brigades.
Fourth: more investments in weapons production in Ukraine and Europe to boost capacity.
Fifth: maintaining and increasing sanctions on Russia until full, lasting peace is achieved.
Sixth: using frozen Russian assets more actively to support peace efforts.
Seventh: social resilience – helping Ukraine rebuild schools, hospitals, energy infrastructure to ensure normal life. This proves Russia’s war is failing.
Thank you so much, Mr. President, for the invitation! Thank you everybody for your support!
Glory to Ukraine!
The cost:
Today I learned that someone I knew was killed on the frontlines. For a year, he held the line for Ukraine, facing death so we could live. Now, his death feels like a wound the world cannot see.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 12:47 PM
Georgia:
The legitimate President of Georgia rejected the idea of going into exile in what echoes the “I need ammunition, not a ride.” She said “I do not want that. Once everything is finished, what is the use of being supported? I need to be supported now, in my country, together with my population.”
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 6:49 AM
#GeorgiaProtests
Day 22
22:50
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 1:57 PM
Day 22: December 19 – #Tbilisi
Protest marches and daily #GeorgiaProtests continue, with protesters across the country demanding free and fair parliamentary elections, the release of all detainees connected to the protests, and the dropping of all charges against them.
— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) December 19, 2024 at 12:25 PM
December 19 – #Batumi
As #GeorgiaProtests continue through the cold days in this #BlackSea city, a father and son brought hot tea for the protesters.
“He’s been asking me for days to bring him to the rally, but it was raining before,” the father explains, trying to convey his son’s excitement
— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) December 19, 2024 at 2:22 PM
December 19 – #Tbilisi
“We protect the life”, Doctors joined the #GeorgiaProtests with marching and calling for:
“1. New elections
2. Free hostages of the regime “— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) December 19, 2024 at 1:15 PM
🗣️ “The New Year will bring victory, peace, and freedom! Let’s welcome it together!” wrote #Georgia’s President, Salome Zourabichvili, about the public event organized by citizens on social media, which they have dubbed the “Magical New Year’s Eve Protest.”
#GeorgiaProtests— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) December 19, 2024 at 10:06 AM
Protest marches continue in Georgia. This time, it’s a march of Gurians—people from the Guria region in western Georgia. Their demands: parliamentary re-elections and the release of all those arrested during the protests.
#GeorgiaProtests
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 10:36 AM
March of Gurians blocked Rustaveli ave today.
#GeorgiaProtests
Day 22— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 10:42 AM
More American flags at today’s protest than usual. Just now the US imposed the Magnitsky sanctions on the illegitimate Minister of Internal Affairs and one other police official.
The same happened when the US first imposed travel bans in May. #terrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 1:04 PM
Breaking: The U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned Minister of Internal Affairs Vakhtang Gomelauri and Deputy Head of the Special Tasks Department, Mirza Kezevadze.
#TerrorinGeorgia
#GeorgiaProtests— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 12:22 PM
Violent individual policemen and those coercing people during the “elections” are now under American travel bans together with their family members! 🔥
“The Department of State is also taking further steps to impose visa restrictions on additional Georgian individuals and their family members, 1/2
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 1:29 PM
including law enforcement and security officials who were involved in the violence against protesters, and municipal government officials who abused their power to restrict fundamental freedoms, including the right to vote without coercion or intimidation. 2/2.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 1:29 PM
JUST IN: the United Kingdom sanctions several high-ranking Georgian officials and policemen under the Global Human Rights Regime. This includes the Minister of Internal Affairs Vakhtang Gomelauri! www.gov.uk/government/n…
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 8:49 AM
The EU’s new Vice President of the European Commission and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, provides the accurate context to the calls for President Zelenskyy to negotiate with Putin:
“There’s no point pushing Zelensky to talk when Putin doesn’t want to talk,” Kallas told the @henryjfoy.bsky.social. “We can’t talk about peacekeepers when there’s no peace. And why is there no peace? Because Russia does not want peace.” on.ft.com/4gdAWR3
— Christopher Miller (@christopherjm.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 2:16 AM
From The Financial Times:
Western capitals should stop suggesting peace talks to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and instead ensure their promises of security guarantees to Kyiv are not “empty”, the EU’s chief diplomat has warned.
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s high representative on foreign affairs, said it was pointless pressuring Zelenskyy to consider peace talks when Russian President Vladimir Putin showed no desire to stop the war.
The former Estonian prime minister spoke to the Financial Times ahead of an EU leaders’ summit on Thursday set to discuss how Europe can adapt its support to Kyiv after Donald Trump returns to the White House.
“There’s no point pushing Zelenskyy to talk when Putin doesn’t want to talk,” Kallas told the FT. “We can’t talk about peacekeepers when there’s no peace. And why is there no peace? Because Russia does not want peace.”
Trump has vowed to suspend US military aid to Ukraine and push Kyiv into ceasefire negotiations, pledges that have forced EU capitals to reckon with how they could sustain support to the country, and assess whether it is even possible without Washington’s backing.
“Supporting Ukraine now is much cheaper than enduring the war later. Russia hasn’t changed their goals,” Kallas said. “I mean, we need to be very honest with ourselves in this regard. What are we really doing right now?”
On Wednesday evening Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte hosted talks with Zelenskyy and a small group of senior EU leaders including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to discuss potential options for the future of European support to Ukraine.
Speaking ahead of that meeting, Rutte said talk of a peace deal only helped Putin. “If we now start to discuss amongst ourselves what a peace deal could look like, we make it so easy for the Russians,” he said.
“I think we would be very wise to put some lid on this and focus on the business at hand . . . to make sure that Ukraine has what it needs to prevent Putin from winning.”
Vice President Kallas’s remarks are even more important given the blood thirsty, over the top speech that Putin gave today. Such as this gem:
You should have skipped to hitler’s style ending instead
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 3:40 PM
I usually find it frustrating when putin attends press conferences, and Western media treats him seriously, as if he weren’t a psychotic maniac. However, he never fails to remind everyone that he is, indeed, a psychotic maniac, so at least there’s that.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 9:05 AM
Here’s Illia Ponomarenko’s take:
I have to admit I was wrong – Putin’s annual live TV shitshow turned out to be worth studying after all.
Today made it perfectly clear what Vladimir Putin is in late 2024.
This man is sick.
— Illia Ponomarenko (@ioponomarenko.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 5:41 PM
He genuinely relishes the mass bloodshed he has orchestrated and takes even greater delight in his impunity.
With a smirk and mannerisms, he savors the blood. He is nothing but a pathetic figure, drunk on absolute power, finding perverse joy in mass sadism to caress his wretched ego.
— Illia Ponomarenko (@ioponomarenko.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 5:41 PM
For him, the most devastating war in Europe since Adolf Hitler is nothing but an exciting game of toy soldiers.
He openly regresses into a childlike state, gushing with unrestrained enthusiasm about weapons of mass murder.
— Illia Ponomarenko (@ioponomarenko.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 5:41 PM
I don’t know how anyone can seriously talk about negotiations or, let alone, peace with a man who, with childlike straightforwardness, seriously proposed live on air that the West stage a competition between his new beloved ‘Wunderwaffe’ and Western missiles defense systems….
— Illia Ponomarenko (@ioponomarenko.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 5:41 PM
… in the sky over a 4-million European capital?
With every passing year, Putin spirals further into literal madness and detachment from reality, just like all tyrants eventually do.
He has eyes, shall see.
— Illia Ponomarenko (@ioponomarenko.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 5:41 PM
Denmark:
Denmark will send Ukraine its 23rd military aid package worth €281M, including support for operating F-16 fighter jets.
Additionally, Denmark and Sweden will deliver 40 CV-90 infantry fighting vehicles.
www.fmn.dk/da/nyheder/2…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 12:16 PM
Kupiansk, Kharkiv Oblast:
A russian Iskander-M missile killed three civilians in Shevchenkove, Kupiansk district, Kharkiv Oblast. The world moves on, but for their families, time stands still in grief. With every life taken, war leaves behind an unbearable void that nothing can ever fill.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 11:51 AM
Kryvyi Rih:
Rescue teams have released images of the consequences of russian missile attack on the apartment building in Kryvyi Rih.
Three people were injured, two of whom, a 38-year-old man and a 14-year-old girl, were rescued from the rubble.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 6:25 PM
Kherson:
Kherson region, human safari goes on this morning:
A Russian drone attacked a store in a village (📸), dropping explosives and a car in the city by midday. Artillery attacks continue
💔1 man killed
💔1 man, 57, injured
💔4 women (40-60) injured1 📸 a car hit yesterday
— Zarina Zabrisky (@zarinazabrisky.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 4:05 AM
The Donetsk front:
A tank duel. A footage of a Russian T-90 being hit and later finished off by UAV operators from other units. This is The work of the tank crew from the 1st Separate Tank Siversk Brigade on the Donetsk front.
www.instagram.com/p/DDv8PKWI-3Q/— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 10:20 AM
Murmansk, Russia:
/1. Murmansk, Russia, locals post video of explosion. Two explosions reported somewhere near main naval base of Russia’s Northern Fleet
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 12:11 PM
/2. POV of the explosion in Murmansk
(68.9735880, 33.1154644)— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 12:11 PM
Novosibirsk, Siberia, Russia:
Partisans penetrated the territory of one of the Russian military units in Novosibirsk and set fire to several military fuel trucks.https://t.me/legionoffreedom/1397
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 6:47 AM
Rostov Oblast, Russia:
The Ukrainian General Staff has confirmed a strike on the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in the Rostov region last night.
The attack involved a combination of UAVs and Neptune missile systems. The refinery was the only refinery operating in Rostov region and it was used to support military activities.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 4:07 AM
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
A new video from Patron’s official TikTok!
@patron__dsns Ти: не знаєш, що подарувати другу на свята. Іграшка пес Патрон: існує :) #песпатрон
Here’s the machine translation of the caption:
You: you don’t know what to give a friend for the holidays. Toy dog Patron: exists:)#песпатрон
Open thread!
Adam L Silverman
Everyone is welcome.
I’m going to bed.
KatKapCC
I try to avoid listening to Putin speak as much as possible, but the few times I have heard him, he usually sounds (meaning literally the sound of his voice, since I don’t understand any Russian) rather bland and boring. And I wonder if that’s how he seems to get away with saying all the psychotic, hateful, batshit stuff he does. He doesn’t look or sound like a raving loon, so he can say raving-loon stuff and stupid people think he deserves seriousness.
But then…Trump does look and sound like a raving loon and they give him seriousness too. So I guess people just like raving loons.
Nukular Biskits
Quick run through myself, Adam. Been a long week.
As always, thanks!
bjacques
Thanks as always, Adam.
For all his bland bluster, Putin gives off a loser stink. I wonder if that could be conveyed to Trump somehow. And it’s not like he hasn’t underbussed his benefactors before.
Gin & Tonic
I am duly impressed by the ability to conduct clandestine operations in places as far-flung as Murmansk and Novosibirsk.
Jay
Thank you, Adam.
Jay
https://nitter.poast.org/Gerashchenko_en/status/1869804450690547804#m
Gin & Tonic
On Zelensky’s comment re Putin’s speech, it was amusing to see a host of English-speaking Ukrainians publicly working out possible translations of “dovboyob.” It’s a strong word.
Jay
https://xcancel.com/bayraktar_1love/status/1869886595756896700#m
Jay
https://xcancel.com/IAPonomarenko/status/1869751609770561873#m
Jay
https://xcancel.com/olex_scherba/status/1869343637139517532#m
Lacuna Synecdoche
Sofia via Adam @ Top:
I’ve always been partial to “fuckwit”.
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam