December 27, 2022

*) Fighting continues for control of Donbass region - Zelenskyy Fighting for control of the Donbass region in Ukraine continues, according to the country’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In an address to the nation, he said the “situation in Donbass is difficult” and that Bakhmut, Kreminna and other areas now require “maximum strength and concentration.” Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov gave Ukraine an ultimatum to fulfil Moscow’s proposals or its army would decide the issue. The proposals include surrendering territory Russia controls. *) Serbian army ordered for combat readiness: defence minister Tensions between Kosovo and Serbia continue to escalate. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has ordered combat readiness for the armed forces and security services at the highest level. This is according to Defense Minister Milos Vucevic, who said the aim is to protect the territorial integrity of Serbia. Interior Minister Bratislav Gasic said Vucic also ordered security forces within the ministry to be at full combat readiness. *) Türkiye’s gas reserves in Black Sea now totalled $1T: Erdogan Türkiye’s president has announced the discovery of an additional 58 billion cubic metres of natural gas in the Black Sea. Following a Cabinet meeting, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Türkiye’s natural gas reserve in the Black Sea has now risen to 710 billion cubic metres – a market value of one trillion dollars. Erdogan said the newly discovered Caycuma-1 field will be connected to the Sakarya field and from there to the national grid. Last month, he said Türkiye is on track for the Sakarya gas field to go online in 2023. *) Dozens dead in major US winter storm Emergency crews in New York have been scrambling to rescue marooned residents from what authorities called the “blizzard of the century”. A relentless storm left at least 47 people dead across nine states and is causing US Christmas travel chaos. With more snow in the forecast and most of New York’s Buffalo city impassable, officials are