US Vice President J. D. Vance stated that the failure to establish peace in Ukraine is his biggest disappointment in office. He noted that "this Russian-Ukrainian affair" has been a source of constant frustration for the entire White House, but "hope I."
US President Donald Trump plans to announce a transition to the second phase of the Palestinian-Israeli settlement by Christmas. He will also present a new governance structure for the Gaza Strip.
Ukraine faces the threat of demographic collapse due to war, population losses, and declining birth rates. It is estimated that by 2051, the population will shrink to 25 million, whereas before the full-scale invasion, it was 42 million.
On the night of December 5, drones attacked the city of Temryuk in Russia's Krasnodar Krai. Drones likely attacked the local seaport, causing fuel tanks to catch fire.
The leaders of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia have stated the need for a joint decision on dismantling railway connections with Russia and Belarus. The presidents of the Baltic countries discussed this issue and handed it over to the ministers for further consideration.
The "Phoenix" evacuation group of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine evacuated two residents from the city of Druzhkivka, Donetsk region. The situation in the region remains tense due to daily Russian attacks.
On December 4, the UNESCO Committee supported Ukraine's initiative, adding 19 Ukrainian cultural heritage sites to the International List under enhanced protection. The total number of Ukrainian sites on this list has increased to 46.
Fakes about "dangerous Ukrainian food" are spreading on the Polish segment of Facebook, calling for a boycott of products with code 482. The Center for Countering Disinformation notes that this is part of an anti-Ukrainian campaign aimed at undermining trust between nations.
Russians attacked the Chuhuiv community in Kharkiv region, hitting a non-operational industrial enterprise. The administrative building was damaged, a fire broke out, and there were no casualties.
The International Sambo Federation (FIAS) has allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under national flags and anthems starting from January 1, 2026. This decision applies to all age categories after the Executive Committee meetings in October and December 2025.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine advises buying live holiday trees only at official fairs. All legally harvested trees have special tags with a barcode that can be checked online.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever will hold talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. Belgium expresses concerns about legal aspects and potential risks for its taxpayers.
The Trump administration has instructed US embassies to prioritize visa applications from foreigners planning to visit the country for investment or participation in major sporting events.
In 2025, the State Food and Consumer Service identified 55 types of dangerous products, 28 of which were children's toys. Over 24,000 units of toys that did not meet safety requirements were found, some of which could cause toxic poisoning.
On December 4, 2025, 154 combat engagements took place at the front, the hottest spot being the Pokrovsk direction. Russian occupiers used 38 airstrikes, 119 guided aerial bombs, and 3,207 kamikaze drones.
Ukraine's reserves reached $54. 7 billion as of December 1, increasing by 10.6% in November. The growth was driven by receipts from partners, which offset the NBU's net sale of foreign currency and debt payments.
The Defense Forces of Ukraine struck one of Russia's largest chemical enterprises, "Nevinnomysskiy Azot" in the Stavropol Krai, and a concentration of enemy personnel at a training ground near Dokuchaievsk. The plant is a critically important component of the enemy's military-industrial complex, and enemy losses amounted to 60 servicemen killed and wounded.
A delegation of 15 UN Security Council members visited Syria for the first time since 1945, meeting with interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa. The visit took place on the eve of the anniversary of the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime and aimed to build trust.
Ukrainian representatives will continue talks in the US with President Trump's team. The task is to get full information about what was said in Russia and what other pretexts Putin found to prolong the war.
Versace Creative Director Dario Vitale is resigning eight months after his appointment. This comes two days after the Prada Group completed its acquisition of Versace for 1.375 billion euros in cash.
Weeks after Iraq recognized Yemen's Houthis and Hezbollah as terrorists, the authorities revoked the decision, citing a mistake.
President Zelenskyy met with candidates for the position of the new Head of the Presidential Office. A decision on the new head of the Office will be made soon.
Iran's national football team coach, Amir Ghalenoei, will attend the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington. This will happen despite the country's football federation announcing a boycott of the event due to the US refusing to issue visas to its members.
Trump helped the leaders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo sign a peace agreement and economic pacts. This will give the US access to the region's valuable minerals, although the implications for the 30-year conflict remain unclear.
NASA has recorded extensive "light pollution" in images from orbital observatories. Up to 96% of images from some space telescopes can be distorted by light from satellites in low Earth orbit.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that sanctions against the GRU underscore the need for vigilance against the constant threat from Russia. He emphasized that the moral responsibility for the GRU's actions lies with Putin.
Envoys of US President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian negotiators for the third time in two weeks to discuss a peace plan, while the Trump administration eased economic pressure on Russia. The US Treasury Department partially suspended sanctions against Lukoil gas stations outside Russia until April 29.
Ukraine has pushed back against hedge funds' demands regarding debt restructuring, stating that its proposal to exchange $3. 2 billion in GDP warrants is the best possible solution. The Ministry of Finance of Ukraine is confident in its proposal, which is intended to restore the sustainability of public debt.
The Netherlands, Spain and Ireland will boycott Eurovision 2026 due to Israel's permission to participate. This decision was made after members of the European Broadcasting Union voted for new rules protecting the integrity of the competition.
EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius stated that the European Union must develop its own peace plan for Ukraine, without relying on US initiatives. This is due to the fact that Europe was "caught off guard" by a 28-point peace plan developed by American Trump negotiators together with the Russians without the participation of the EU.
