Morning headlines - December 21st 2021

Coronavirus and vaccines

• Vaccination in Romania: In the last 24 hours, more than 29.000 people got vaccinated. Totally, more than 7,89 million people got the vaccine, with more than 7,74 getting both doses and 1,89 of them getting the third dose.
• Coronavirus in Romania: In the last 24 hours, there were recorded 424 new SARS CoV-2 cases, 36 deaths, and in ICU there are now 527 people hospitalized.

Global political and military events

• Russia threatens with war if its demands are not respected. The deputy Russian foreign affairs minister, Sergey Ryabkov, has stated on Monday that Russia will take measured, including military actions, if its demands on security are not respected. Russia asked the United States, among others, to forbid NATO’s extension and not dislocate more soldiers and equipment in allied or partner countries close to the Russian borders. (Tass)
• The Joe Biden Administration presented its demands for Moscow. Jake Sullivan, the counselor of president Biden for National Security discussed, on Monday, with Yuri Ushakov, the foreign affairs counselor of president Putin, to whom he said that any dialogue with Russia must be based on reciprocity, must approach the West’s concerns on Russia’s actions and must take place in coordination with the European allies and partners. Also, he noted that any substantial progresses can be made only in an environment wherein tensions are decreased. (Mediafax).
• Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine are demanding new sanctions against Russia. The presidents of Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine on Monday called for new sanctions against Russia amid fears of a military invasion. "We call on the international community to intensify sanctions on the Russian Federation in the context of continued aggression against Ukraine, and once again urge the Kremlin to reduce tensions by withdrawing troops from Ukraine's borders and temporarily occupied territories", said Andrzej Duda, Gitanas Nauseda and Volodymyr Zelenski, in a joint statement (Mediafax)
• The Pentagon is taking action against extremists. Defense Department spokesman John Kirby said Monday that 100 U.S. soldiers have been involved in illegal extremist actions in the past year, and the Pentagon has approved an instruction that will reduce military personnel participation in such events. . (AP)
• India deploys S-400 missile systems on the border with China. The Indian military announced on Monday that it is deploying S-400 systems purchased from Russia in the Punjab region to deal with threats from China and Pakistan. (One India)

Romania's defense and security

• Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca will hold a press conference with NATO Secretary General. On Tuesday, the second day of his visit to Brussels, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca has meetings with several European officials, as well as with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister will meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, with whom he will hold a joint press conference. Later, Nicolae Ciuca will talk to the three executive vice-presidents of the European Commission: Frans Timmermans (field - European Green Pact), Margrethe Vestager (A Europe ready for the digital age) and Valdis Dombrovskis (An economy at the service of citizens). (Agerpres)
• Military ceremonies in memory of the heroes of the Revolution. Military ceremonies in memory of the heroes of the December 1989 Revolution will be held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at monuments and crosses dedicated to freedom fighters. (Press release)