LIVE UPDATES: World Bank to Allocate Another $1.7 Billion in Support for Ukraine - Vice President

EU ambassadors approved a package to provide Ukraine with 18 billion euros ($19 billion) in 2023, the Czech Republic's Permanent Representation to the EU said in a statement.

"Ambassadors in principle unanimously approved a financial support package to provide #Ukraine with €18 billion in 2023," the representation said on Twitter. "#EU2022CZ keeps its promise to help Ukraine stand up to Russia and the EU remains united."

More than half of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) territory has been liberated from Ukrainian troops, acting DPR head Denis Pushilin told Sputnik.

"Slightly more than 50 percent of the Donetsk People's Republic's territory has been liberated... If we are talking about the population - this is what's the most important for us - then the figure is much higher," Pushilin said.

"The task is to liberate the entire territory of the DPR within the constitutional boundaries. Our units are doing their best for this to happen as soon as possible," he said.

The World Bank is planning to allocate another $1.7 billion to Ukraine before the end of 2022, Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Anna Bjerde said on Monday.

"By the end of 2022, we estimate that we will disburse another US$1.7 billion. The remainder will be disbursed early next year," Bjerde said in an interview with the Ukrinform news portal.

The official also said that more than 50% of all economic aid that had been provided to Ukraine since late February went through the World Bank.

The World Bank has already allocated $18 billion to Ukraine, according to the organization's chief, David Malpass.

On December 7, Ukraine's state-owned nuclear energy company Energoatom reported that Russian forces deployed several Grad MRLs on the territory of the ZNPP.

Earlier in the day, the White House said that US President Joe Biden had reiterated Washington’s support for Ukraine in a phone call with President Volodymyr Zelensky. The US leader also welcomed "Zelensky’s stated openness to a just peace based on fundamental principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter."

Ukrainian troops shelled the city of Gorlovka, located in the Donetsk region, overnight, the Donetsk People’s Republic’s (DPR) mission to the Joint Center for Control and Coordination of issues related to Ukraine's war crimes (JCCC) said.

According to DPR, the shelling occurred at 01:05 local time on Monday (22:05 GMT on Sunday). Ukrainian troops fired a total of five shells of 152 mm caliber at Gorlovka, the DPR mission to the JCCC said.

Later in the night, the Gagarin mine village was shelled by Ukrainian forces using 152 mm artillery.

Over the weekend, Ukrainian troops shelled the city of Donetsk using BM-21 "Grad" rockets and 155 mm artillery shells.