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Latest Developments in Ukraine: Dec. 22
For full coverage of the crisis in Ukraine, visit Flashpoint Ukraine. The latest developments in Russia’s war on Ukraine. All times EST.   3:38 a.m.: Reuters reported that the rouble slumped to its weakest since late April past 72 against the dollar on Thursday as fears over the impact of sanctions on Russian oil and gas took the currency's losses this month to more than 15%.  By 0740 GMT, the rouble was down 1.8% against the dollar at 72.25, earlier hitting 72.3075, its weakest mark since April 29.  It also lost 1.6% to trade at 76.82 versus the euro , also a near eight-month low, and shed 2% against the yuan to a near seven-month low of 10.28.  The rouble is continuing its "unrestrained fall," said Veles Capital analysts. Should the rouble consolidate above the psychologically important levels of 70 per dollar, 75 to the euro and 10 per yuan, it could open up new downside horizons for the Russian currency, they said.  Falling export revenues in recent months have been exacerbated by a European Union oil embargo that began in December, when an oil price cap come into force as well. 3:05 a.m.: 2:30 a.m.: A year ago, the eastern Ukrainian village of Bogorodychne was home to more than 1,000 people. Now, Agence France-Presse finds that "in streets covered in debris and wrecked cars, even animals resemble ghosts — stray dogs endlessly circle around visitors without ever letting out a bark." In a new report, AFP interviews the few residents left of the once-Russian-occupied town. Ukrainian forces have retaken it, but rebuilding will be difficult. One man returned permanently. As winter begins, he uses bricks to trap heat in his one-room shelter. Another returned to his brother’s home only to find the corpse of the family’s beloved St. Bernard in the garage. 1:55 a.m.: 1:34 a.m.: 1:05 a.m.: Ukrainian Americans in Washington saw President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's U.S. visit as a promising sign that displayed strong relations between the countries but also urged more American assistance to defend against the Russian invasion. Reuters reported that dozens of pro-Ukrainian activists gathered near the White House on Wednesday afternoon as Zelenskyy visited Washington for his first publicly known foreign trip since Russia's invasion on February 24. The group called "U.S. Ukrainian Activists" then headed to the U.S. Capitol for Zelenskyy's address to the Congress. "In the long term, helping Ukraine will enable the U.S. to preserve national security," Catherine Pedersen, a board member of the U.S. Ukrainian Activists group, told Reuters. "It's that awkward situation where you are incredibly grateful for (U.S.) support, but there is need for more," she added. Another Ukrainian American, Oleksandra Kepple, a researcher at the University of Maryland, said the current U.S. assistance to Ukraine was not yet sufficient for Kyiv to win. "I obviously appreciate U.S. assistance. It's enough to survive but not yet enough to win," Kepple said. 12:30 a.m.: 12:02 a.m.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s speech before a joint meeting of U.S. Congress Wednesday night received a standing ovation. “Your money is not charity,” he said. “It is an investment in the global security and democracy that we handle in the most responsible way.” VOA’s Patsy Widakuswara has the full report on Zelenskyy’s busy day in D.C. Some information in this report came from Reuters and Agence France-Presse.

Full "Voice of America:News" article




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