Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with US President Joe Biden at the White House yesterday to discuss continuing support for Ukraine as talks on further aid continue to face political pushback in Congress.

During the visit, Biden announced an additional USD 200 million in further security aid for Kyiv repeating calls for Congress to “stand with Ukraine” and approve an additional USD 61 billion aid package currently held up in the Senate.

President Zelenskyy thanked the United States and other allies for supporting his country’s war effort against the Russian invasion, telling reporters that “Ukraine can win.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Zelenskyy met with US lawmakers, including US senators, in a closed-door gathering to persuade them to back the current security package. Republicans have pushed back against the plan, demanding that Biden pair the Ukraine aid with stricter border policies, according to news outlets.

Today is day 658 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Source: Polskie Radio, PAP

Organizers in Gdańsk and Gdynia will host special lectures and events today to commemorate the 42nd anniversary of the imposition of martial law in Poland.

Martial law, which lasted from 12 December 1981 to 22 July 1983, cost the lives of several dozen Poles and introduced curfews and travel restrictions across Poland.

The Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Gdańsk will host the discussion “Martial law. “A generational perspective” today starting at 13:15, followed by a meeting to discuss the book “Encyclopedia of Solidarity. Opposition in the Polish People’s Republic 1976-1989, volume five” at the historic BHP Hall at 16:00.

Members of the “Dignity” or “Godność” association will lay flowers at the monument of Pope John Paul II and Ronald Reagan in Park Reagana at 16:00 today and at 16:30 will do the same at the memorial to Anna Walentynowicz in Gdańsk Wrzeszcz.

A wreath-laying and candle-lighting ceremony is planned for 17:30 at the Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers in Gdańsk Stocznia, followed by a holy mass for the victims of martial law at the Basilica of Saint Bridget at 18:30.

In Gdynia, a mass will be held at 18:00 in the Redemptorist church on ul. Portowa followed by a ceremony at 19:00 at the Monument to the Victims of Communism at ul. Pułaskiego.

More information and a full schedule of today’s events is available HERE.

Source: Radio Gdańsk

Poland’s new government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk comfortably won a vote of confidence from parliament yesterday evening.

A total of 248 MPs backed Tusk’s Cabinet, with 201 lawmakers in opposition and no abstentions. The new government was formed after a block of parties led by Tusk’s liberal Civic Coalition (KO) stormed to power with a strong showing in Poland’s October 15 parliamentary elections.

Earlier in the day, the incoming prime minister delivered a major policy speech outlining his government’s priorities. Tusk vowed to raise public-sector pay and unblock EUR 59.8 billion in grants and loans from the European Union, frozen due to Warsaw’s dispute with Brussels over democratic standards.

He also pledged that, under his government, Poland would be “a strong link in NATO,” a stable ally for America, and regain its “rightful position” in the EU. Tusk, a former top EU official, also told deputies that his government would work to ensure that Poland’s EU partners “unequivocally support Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression.”

The new Cabinet was expected to be sworn into office during a ceremony at the presidential palace in Warsaw Wednesday morning, effectively ending eight years of rule by the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party.

Source: Polskie Radio

Residents of six districts of Gdynia are being warned to prepare for the cold after local utility company OPEC announced it would need to shut off hot water and heating for 24 hours to address a serious heating failure.

According to the District Thermal Energy Company (Okręgowe Przedsiębiorstwo Energetyki Cieplnej – OPEC) in Gdynia on December 13-14 (Wednesday-Thursday) there will be a 24-hour break in heat supply to six districts of Gdynia, including Pustki Cisowskie-Demptowo, Witomino, Mały and Duży Kack, Karwiny, and Dąbrowa.

The temporary disruption is caused by the need to replace a corroded section of the DN 600 network pipeline within Kartuska Street under the viaduct of the Tri-City Bypass.

Representatives of the OPEC have apologized for the planned outage, emphasizing that the repairs are necessary for the continued safe operation of the network during the heating season.

Source: Radio Gdańsk

Weather

Today will be mostly cloudy and cold, with very little chance of rain or snow and a light breeze coming from the east. Temperatures will stay close to freezing with a high of 2°C, or 35°F, dropping slightly overnight to a low of 0°C or 32°F. Similar weather is expected tomorrow, with a chance for more snow returning next week.

Elizabeth Peck/kł