Ukraine
🇷🇺 Lavrov signals Russia’s readiness to use any means in Ukraine conflict, including hypersonic missiles, asserting no “strategic defeat” will be tolerated by Moscow.
🇫🇮 A Russian man is on trial in Finland for war crimes committed while leading a far-right paramilitary unit in eastern Ukraine a decade ago.
🇺🇸 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to confront each other over the war in Ukraine at the OSCE meeting in Malta on Thursday.
🇺🇦 As he nears 18, Kyiv native Roman Biletskyi leaves his family to escape Ukraine, seeking to avoid the possibility of fighting in the ongoing war.
🇺🇦 Ukrainian delegation meets with senior Trump advisers as Ukraine seeks support in its fight against Russian invaders.
🇫🇷 France’s government collapses as budget fails to pass, raising doubts about the country’s ability to support Ukraine despite President Macron’s commitments to aid Kyiv.
🇺🇦 Antony Blinken states Ukraine must recruit younger people into the military to effectively combat Russia in the ongoing conflict.
🇳🇱 NATO’s Mark Rutte criticizes arms firms for producing too little, charging too much, and delivering too slowly amid efforts to support Ukraine and strengthen defenses against Russia.
🇷🇴 Romanians vote in a presidential runoff where far-right NATO critic Calin Georgescu could defeat pro-European centrist Elena Lasconi. A Georgescu victory may isolate Romania from the West and weaken support for Ukraine.
🇺🇦 A top Ukrainian official visits the US to discuss support with Trump’s team. Trump has promised to end Russia’s war in Ukraine upon taking office.
🇱🇹 Lithuania’s foreign minister states that NATO members must provide guarantees to achieve peace in Ukraine.
🇺🇦 Ukraine is accepting soldiers previously declared AWOL to replenish its ranks as military forces dwindle.
🇷🇺 Russia states there are no grounds for negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. Comments on peace talks have increased since Donald Trump’s election victory in November.
🇱🇻 NATO members await the new U.S. administration’s decision regarding Ukraine’s invitation to join the alliance, as noted by Latvia’s foreign minister.
🇮🇹 Italy is set to approve a new military aid package for Ukraine, according to sources. This move reflects ongoing support from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s rightist government.
🇺🇦 Ukraine criticizes the 30-year-old nuclear disarmament deal that promised security assurances but failed to deliver. The country is now actively seeking an invitation to join NATO.
🇺🇦 NATO unlikely to extend a membership invitation to Ukraine at Tuesday’s meeting, according to diplomats. This comes as Kyiv seeks political support amidst ongoing battlefield struggles and the anticipation of Donald Trump’s potential return to the White House.
🇺🇸 The US will provide Ukraine with a $725 million weapons package, announced by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. This support comes as the Biden administration aims to strengthen Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression before leaving office.
🇬🇧 PM Keir Starmer states that increasing support for Ukraine is crucial for peace talks, acknowledging the possibility of a negotiated end to the war.
🇺🇦 Ukraine plans to deploy tens of thousands of uncrewed robotic ground vehicles next year for transporting ammunition and supplies to troops and evacuating wounded soldiers, according to a senior government minister.