UPDATES: New Zealand to Provide $1.94 Million to ICRC for Humanitarian Aid to Ukraine

Earlier on Tuesday, US media reported that the Biden administration is finalizing plans to provide Ukraine with the Patriot system amid a series of Russian strikes on the country’s energy infrastructure and other targets.

On Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin said that Russia was not going to threaten the world with its nuclear weapons even though they were "more advanced and modern" than those of other nations, and that they were primarily a deterrent. Later on the same day, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said that Putin’s statements were "irresponsible" and "dangerous."

It is unclear how many missile launchers will be provided, but the system is expected to ship quickly once finalized, according to the report. Ukrainians will be trained to use the system at a US Army base in Germany, the report said.

The international conference on civilian resilience in Ukraine took place in Paris on Tuesday. According to French President Emmanuel Macron, the goal of the summit was to agree on financial support to help Kiev survive this winter. The next conference is expected to take place next year in London.

"We must make Russia understand that this project has failed, and for this, we must achieve negotiations," Crosetto added.

The French government will allocate an additional 76.5 million euros ($80 million) to support Ukraine with electricity provision during winter, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday.

"France has already allocated 151.5 million euros to Ukraine since the beginning of the year, we will add 48.5 million in the coming days for the goals set by this conference, 27 of which are for urgent needs to get through the winter, and the remaining sum will be distributed to help vulnerable populations. In addition, we will allocate an additional 76.5 million euros for assistance with the provision of electricity. Sixty-three generators more will be delivered complementing a hundred already delivered in November," Macron said at the conference "Standing with the Ukrainian people" in Paris.

The United Kingdom has unveiled a new package of sanctions against Russia over its actions in Ukraine, targeting senior commanders of the Russian armed forces, among others, the UK government said on Tuesday.

"The UK has today (13th December) announced a new package of 16 sanctions targeting senior Russian commanders for their involvement in the Russian military, and Iranian businessmen and officials involved in the production and/or supply of drones to the Kremlin," the government said in a statement.

The sanctions target 12 senior Russian military commanders, as well as three Iranian businessmen and an Iranian UAV components manufacturing company.

Ukraine needs 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion) for partial restoration of its heavily damaged or destroyed energy infrastructure, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday.

"Ukraine has withstood hundreds of Russian strikes on the energy sector. Now, most of our power plants have been damaged or destroyed by shelling, all hydroelectric power plants, thermal power plants. Superficial quick restoration of destroyed energy facilities only requires at least 1.5 billion euros," Zelensky said addressing the international conference on assistance to Ukraine in Paris.

He added that around 12 million people were left without power in Ukraine now.

The president also noted that Ukraine was in need of two gigawatts of energy imports from the European Union.

"At least until the end of this heating season, we need emergency support from the European energy system, meaning power supplies from EU members, in a volume of up to two gigawatts … This support might cost 800 million euros at current prices," Zelensky said.

The Donetsk People’s Republic will elect a new governor and parliament in September 2023, its acting governor told Sputnik in an interview.

“The race for parliamentary seats and the position of the head of the Donetsk People’s Republic will be held in September 2023, on the second Sunday [of the month],” Denis Pushilin said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree in October allowing the republic to join Russia alongside the neighboring Lugansk People’s Republic, the Zaporozhye and the Kherson regions.

Pushilin confirmed that he would run for the top job in the Donetsk People’s Republic administration in order to “fulfill the tasks I set myself when I took over as the leader of the Donetsk People’s Republic.”