🎁💸 Funds on freeze - Ukraine's Christmas unease

Congress has left for the holidays without approving new spending for Ukraine, reports the Washington Post, one of the leading US newspapers.

The newspaper says that the reasons are obvious - "many disproportionately vocal House Republicans are wary of continuing to send money, and so the party insists that it be paired with changes to immigration policy".

According to the report, the money will dry up by the new year, which makes it more difficult for Ukraine to win the battle.

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The authorities in Kiev intend to enlist Ukrainian men (aged 25-60) living abroad for military service next year, Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced in an interview with the Bild newspaper.

Initially, the authorities will ask them to report to the recruitment centers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This comes after earlier President Zelensky said that the military offered him to mobilize an additional 450-500 thousand people.

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❗️Suspension of Sputnik Armenia Radio's broadcasting is a concession to those who advocate severing allied relations between Russia and Armenia, the Russian Embassy said

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🇰🇵 North Korea will respond with a nuclear strike to any nuclear "provocations," the country's leader Kim Jong Un said, the state news agency KCNA reported.

"He said that the resolute military activity conducted by the company this time true to the Party's battle order was a demonstration of loyalty and strong stand of the DPRK's armed forces defending the sovereignty of the country and a clear explanation of the offensive counteraction mode and the evolution of the nuclear strategy and doctrine of the DPRK not to hesitate even a nuclear attack when the enemy provoke it with nukes," KCNA wrote.

Kim was "deeply impressed with the combat efficiency" of the missile department that showed "high mobility and rapid attack capability" in the launching drill, the report said.

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🇷🇺 Key statements of Chief of General Staff of the Ministry of Defense Valery Gerasimov at a briefing for foreign attaches:

▪️About 40 major exercises are held annually near Russia's western borders, the scenario of which is confrontation with the Russian Federation;

▪️At the same time, the West is striving to create new hot spots and support conflicts in the Balkans, Transnistria and Transcaucasia, Central Asia and Afghanistan;

▪️The main task of the Russian troops in the special operation zone this year was to repel the counteroffensive of the Ukrainian strike group,

▪️The Ukrainian forces, at the cost of colossal losses, were able to slightly advance in the Zaporozhye region, failing to overcome even the tactical zone of Russian defense;

▪️Russian troops are successfully conducting active defense during the special operation, expanding control zones.

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❗️Hamas' head told mediators that a hostage deal with Israel is possible only according to the "all for all" formula and after a ceasefire

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French Military Presence in Africa Waning?

France is expected to fully withdraw its military contingent from Niger by December 22 at the behest of the local government.

This withdrawal takes place years after Paris sent thousands of troops into West Africa, allegedly to combat Islamist militants.The following infographic by Sputnik shows in which African countries Paris still maintains troop contingents and where French troops were shown the door.

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🇵🇱 The Polish opposition skipped the meeting of the Sejm (lower house of the National Assembly) at which next year's budget was being considered.

Officially, the Law and Justice Party did not explain the reasons for its absence from the hall. In total, it has 194 out of 460 lawmakers.

The situation in parliament is happening amid the new government's attempt to change the leadership of state media, which caused a mass protest.

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❗️Lavrov on Germany's demand to confiscate Russian assets: Russia has something to confiscate in response

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Red Sea Operation could cost US pretty penny

The Houthis have carried out 100 drone and missile attacks since October 7, as per the US Department of Defense.

The Yemeni militants are in possession of a sizable and relatively advanced arsenal of drones and rockets which are cheaper than the US interceptors used to shoot them down.

As per the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft:

▪️ US missiles reportedly used to shoot down Houthi projectiles and drones include: the SM-2 ($2.1 million); SM-6 ($4.3 million); ESSM Sea Sparrows ($1.7 million); and Rolling Airframe missile ($905,000);

▪️ US ships cannot reload in the Red Sea and will have to return to port if the kinetic activity goes on much longer, which also means additional costs.

The costs related to the US-led Red Sea op could become much higher if Washington engages in an all-out war against the Houthis while sending military aid to Ukraine and Israel at the same time.

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WATCH LIVE: Putin holds a meeting of the Council for Strategic Development and National Projects

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❗️Angola, which is one of the twenty largest oil-producing countries, intends to withdraw from OPEC, a local news agency said

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