Putin refuses to cap the price of a barrel of Russian oil and is looking for other buyers

20:00 UT. Emmanuel Macron is due to meet with the head of the IAEA and Vladimir Putin “soon”.

The French president announced that he will speak in an interview with Le Parisien “shortly” With Vladimir Putin, security issues around “civilian nuclear” After the first meeting on Sunday with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Ukraine.

(Re)see: Ukraine: What are the problems around the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant?

7:24 UT. Emmanuel Macron accuses Marine Le Pen of holding back “surrender speech”.

In an interview with a French newspaper parisian Emmanuel Macron accused the President of the Deputies of holding Marine Le Pen “surrender speech”, Since the beginning of the occupation of Ukraine, because “He is a friend of Russian power.”

Mr Macron argued that if Ms Le Pen did “location”, “This would be the isolation and marginalization of France and, above all, the reduction of Ukraine’s chances of resistance.”

7:06 UT. For Vladimir Zelensky, limiting the price of Russian oil is “not a serious decision”.

Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the restriction of the price of a barrel of Russian oil to 60 dollars after the agreement signed by the EU, G7 countries and Australia on Saturday. The president of Ukraine believes that this is a “serious decision”Kyiv offers twice as low price.

“Setting such a limit on Russian prices is not a serious decision, which is quite convenient for the budget of the terrorist state.”he said for his presidential services.

(Re)see: Russian oil price ceiling recorded

The price of a barrel of Russian oil (crude oil from the Urals) is currently hovering around $65, which means limited impact in the short term.

13:30 UT. Vladimir Putin will go to Donbas “on time”.

Vladimir Putin will go to Donbas “on time”The Russian president has not yet visited this region of eastern Ukraine, which he annexed at the end of September, the Kremlin assures.

“When the time comes, of course, there will be such a visit. This is the region of Russia.”This was said by Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the Russian president.

10:17 GMT. The Ukrainian authorities are calling on the population to “keep up” in the face of regular power outages.

The Ukrainian authorities called on the population to do so “catch” Russians are now experiencing power outages disrupting their daily lives after strikes in recent weeks have wreaked havoc on the national power grid.

“From Monday, I will ask Oblenergo (the operator) to revise the timetables for the region. There will probably be four-hour stops”Vitaly Kim, the Governor of Mykolaiv region (south), said this on Telegram.

He, a “Consumption is increasing” According to him, longer breaks should be required to free up the regional power grid.

“must save”he started the inhabitants of his region.

Russia has massively bombed Ukraine’s energy facilities since October, causing severe damage and power outages that affect millions of Ukrainians who are plunged into darkness and cold every day.

Battles are going on in the military field “difficult” because in the east of the country “The Russians had time to prepare” About the attacks in Kiev, the governor of the Luhansk region Sergey Gaidai told Ukrainian television.

“Ukrainian armed forces are slowly advancing towards Svatova-Kreminna, bypassing Russia (defense)”but noted without giving further details.

09:17 GMT. Russian oil prices are limited: Kyiv predicts that Moscow will lose its economy.

Kyiv has warned Russia that the oil price ceiling agreed by the European Union, the G7 and Australia to limit Moscow’s means of financing the conflict in Ukraine will destroy its economy.

“We always achieve our goal, and Russia’s economy will be destroyed, and it will pay and be held accountable for all its crimes.”Andriy Yermak, the head of the presidential office of Ukraine, said this on Telegram.

On Friday, December 2, the 27 countries of the European Union, the G7 and Australia reached an agreement after weeks of discussions. “The maximum price of crude oil of Russian origin transported by sea is USD 60”under the terms of a joint press release.

In this first official reaction from Kiev, Andrii Yermak noted on Saturday“However, in order to destroy (the Russian economy) faster, it was necessary to reduce (the upper price) to $30”.

The price of a barrel of Russian oil (crude oil from the Urals) is currently hovering around $65, which means limited impact in the short term.

US Finance Minister Janet Yellen welcomed this statement “is the culmination of months of efforts by our coalition”.

The agreement was made possible thanks to the consensus reached by the EU’s Twenty-Seven on Friday.

The finance ministers of the G7 countries agreed on this instrument designed to deprive Russia of financial opportunities in early September.

The mechanism will come into effect on Monday, December 5 “or soon”, show the G7 and Australia. Indeed, on Monday, the embargo of the EU on Russian oil transported by sea begins.

Thus, only Russian oil sold at or below $60 can continue to be delivered. Companies in excess of this limit will be prohibited from providing services that allow maritime transport (freight, insurance, etc.).

09:23 GMT. Spain has sent the first Hawk air defense missile system to Ukraine.

The American-made Raytheon system can be used against both aircraft and missiles, both of which have been used by Russia to attack Ukraine (power plants and homes).

Spain has promised to supply six of these units to Ukraine.

08:56 GMT. Despite the fact that the price of one barrel of oil is fixed at 60 dollars, Russia said that it will continue to find buyers.

A group of Western countries, including the EU, the G7 and Australia, agreed to the limit as they sought to limit Moscow’s income and ability to finance the ongoing war in Ukraine.

In response, President Vladimir Putin and Kremlin officials said they will not sell oil to countries that apply it. The Russian Embassy in the United States announced this policy on Saturday “redesigned” put it on the open market and insisted that oil would continue to be sold.

He said on Telegram: “Such measures will inevitably lead to increased uncertainty and higher costs for consumers of raw materials. We are sure that there will always be demand for Russian oil.”

(Re)see: Russia: Russian oil price ceiling recorded

08:02 GMT. According to the emergency service of Ukraine, more than 7,000 explosives were removed near Kherson.

There were a total of 7,042 explosive devices “withdrawn and neutralized” This was reported by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.

Work to clear the area of ​​mines and other explosives has been ongoing since Russia left the city last month. Ukrainian rescuers said they inspected about 700 hectares of open land, 60 km of railway line and 326 houses.

Authorities urge anyone returning to Kherson or the surrounding area to exercise extreme caution.

07:15 GMT. According to Great Britain, Russia is making serious military efforts to capture the city of Donetsk.

The British Ministry of Defense has released new information about Russia’s military efforts in Ukraine.

Russian troops continue to devote the bulk of their total firepower to a fortified front-line sector of about 15 km around the town of Bakhmut in Donetsk region, the British Ministry of Defense said.

In recent days, Russia has probably made small advances on the southern axis of this attack and is apparently planning to encircle the city.

“Russia has prioritized Bakhmut as its main offensive effort since early August 2022. Taking the city would have limited operational value, although it could allow Russia to threaten key urban areas such as Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.” the ministry announces.

Compared to these potential gains, the campaign has cost disproportionately, the ministry adds.

There is a real possibility that the capture of Bakhmut will become primarily a symbolic political goal for Russia.

23:44 UT. Latvia is investigating an independent TV channel it suspects of aiding Russian troops.

Latvia’s state security service has said it has begun investigating statements by the independent Russian TV channel Dozhd, which is suspected of aiding pro-Moscow troops in the war in Ukraine.

Dozhd, or TV Rain, is broadcast from Latvia after Russian authorities forced it to close its Moscow studio. The reason for this was that the TV channel deliberately spread false information about the actions of Russian troops in Ukraine.

The State Security Service said the host of the Dozhd news program expressed hope that the station had already helped provide basic equipment and facilities to many Russian soldiers.

“Statements (…) cast doubt on the TV channel that provides assistance to the soldiers of the Russian occupation forces”– said the press service of the state security service.

“No form of support for the Russian aggressor can be justified”he added that everyone who helps the Russian forces is brought to criminal responsibility.

Latvia, a former Soviet republic with a large Russian-speaking minority, has been one of the harshest critics of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

21:50 UT. The G7 and Australia agree to cap Russian oil prices at $60, the same level as the EU, according to a joint statement.

The G7 countries, along with Australia, agreed to cap Russian oil prices at $60 a barrel, following an agreement reached earlier in the day by the 27 countries of the European Union, a joint press release said.

An agreement in principle was already on the books, but was suspended by a decision by Warsaw, which gave the green light to the price on Friday, first within the EU, then with other G7 countries and Australia. The mechanism will come into force on Monday as the EU embargo on Russian oil by sea begins, the statement said.