Orban says the EU is “not in a position” to start accession talks with Ukraine

Ukraine’s EU membership questioned by Orban, calls for notice against Ukrainian intelligence chief Ukraine says it intercepted 41 Russian drones overnight, Russia says it neutralized drones as they approached Moscow. Le Figaro This Thursday, December 14 takes on the war in Ukraine.

Viktor Orban says the EU is not in a position to start accession talks with Ukraine

Not the European Union”Not in position» Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán visited a European summit in Brussels on Thursday to open accession talks with Ukraine, a key move for kyiv.

«There is no reason to discuss anything because the conditions (required to start accession negotiations) are not met“, announced the nationalist leader, who also opposes 50 billion euros of budget support for Ukraine. Both of these decisions require the unanimity of member states.

«Extension is a legally extensive and merit-based process. We have imposed seven conditions, and in the Commission’s own assessment, three of the seven have not been met», Viktor Orban announced again. “So we are not in a position to start negotiations“, he continued. “When (the conditions) are fulfilled, we must return to this matter“, he said. “Some say it will be (likely) in March“, continued the Hungarian leader.

He has denied Ukraine 50 billion euros of new financial aid – in the form of grants and loans – for 2024-2027. “If you want money for a long time, a large amount, it should be done outside the budget» Common, he said.

Read moreEU support for Ukraine threatened by Viktor Orban

Ukraine intelligence chief wanted by Russia

Russian authorities added Kirill Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence (GUR), on Thursday, December 14, to a list of wanted persons, the organization believed to be responsible for several attacks against Russia.

The name of Kirill (Kyrilo in Ukrainian) Budanov, 37, now appears in the Russian Interior Ministry’s database of persons wanted for violations of criminal law. Authorities did not specify what charges he is facing.

Kirill Budanov, head of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s military intelligence department since 2020, was accused by Russian authorities of orchestrating the October 2022 attack, which partially destroyed a bridge connecting the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea linked via Moscow. .

In late November, Ukraine said it suspected Russia of heavy metal poisoning by Mariana Boutanova, the wife of Kirill Boutanova, who advises Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko. The Kremlin rejected the allegations, its spokesman Dmitry Peskov assured the press.Ukraine still blames Russia for everything».

Ukraine says it intercepted 41 of 42 drones launched by Russia overnight

Ukraine said it intercepted 41 of the 42 explosive drones launched overnight by Russia from Wednesday to Thursday over its border, highlighting increasing pressure from Moscow on the ground in recent days. “41 (exploding drones, editor’s note) “Shahad” destroyed“in”A total of 42 have been registered“, the Ukrainian Air Force said in a statement on Telegram.

According to this source, Russia fired “In the waves» Target from all three directions from its groundMainly Odessa», the largest Ukrainian port in the south of the country. According to the local military administration, 11 people, including three children, were injured and 11 buildings were damaged.

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the Russian military fired S-300 missiles towards the southern regions of Kherson and Mykolaiv, although it did not elaborate on the results of the strikes.

The latest spate of Russian drone strikes comes a day after a nighttime strike in Kyiv left 53 people injured, the highest death toll in the Ukrainian capital in months.

Russia claims to have neutralized nine drones headed towards Moscow

Russia said Thursday it had neutralized nine Ukrainian drones headed toward Moscow, hours before President Vladimir Putin took part in a question-and-answer session with journalists and citizens in the Russian capital.

«An attempt by the Kyiv regime to launch a terrorist attack by aerial drones against bases on the Russian border was foiled.», the Russian Defense Ministry pointed out in a press release. “Nine Ukrainian drones were destroyed or intercepted» Above the Kaluga region, 160 km from the Russian capital, and from Moscow, according to the same source.

For his part, the mayor of Moscow, Sergei Sobyan, clarified in a telegram that these two drones.Heading towards Moscow» Neutralized in the Naro-Fominsk district near the Russian capital. According to preliminary reports, debris falls from these dronesNo damage or injuries were caused“, he insisted.