Julia Shramko
The United States has approved an $11. 1 billion arms sale to Taiwan, the largest ever arms package for the island. The move comes amid increasing military pressure from China and includes HIMARS rocket systems, howitzers, and Javelin anti-tank missiles.
At Thursday's EU summit, leaders will try to persuade Belgium to agree to the use of frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine. This is the EU's last chance to greenlight a proposal to raise 210 billion euros from Russian assets.
Over the past day, 134 combat engagements took place on the front line, which is half as many as the day before. The greatest activity was observed in the Pokrovsk direction, where the Armed Forces of Ukraine repelled 38 enemy attacks.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed support for Venezuela, condemning unilateral pressure. This came after US President Donald Trump ordered the blocking of oil tankers to increase pressure on the South American country.
Russia launched 82 drones at Ukraine overnight, 63 of which were shot down or suppressed. 19 attack UAVs were recorded hitting 12 locations.
EU diplomats are trying to find a compromise on financial aid to Ukraine ahead of the bloc's leaders' summit. Options being considered include a loan based on frozen Russian assets or joint EU debt.
In Kryvyi Rih, four people were injured as a result of a UAV attack, two were hospitalized. Private and two-story houses, an administrative building, and a cultural institution were damaged. Nikopol region was shelled with MLRS and an FPV drone.
The first trailer for Steven Spielberg's film "Day of Disclosure" has been released. In it, a Kansas City TV presenter falls into a strange trance, and a mysterious man claims to know the truth.
Nearly a million Ukrainian children live in an "eternal lockdown," studying online due to the pandemic and war. This has led to a deterioration in psychological well-being but has also revealed a high level of resilience among young people.
The European Union has abandoned a complete ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035. Car manufacturers will be able to sell a limited number of such vehicles provided that emissions are offset by carbon credits.
Ursula von der Leyen criticized Donald Trump's attacks on Europe, calling for the continent's independence. She emphasized changes in the global economy and the need for its own path.
Norway has announced a new aid package for Ukraine worth 3. 2 billion Norwegian kroner (about 267 million euros). The funds will be used to purchase ammunition for F-16s and air defense systems within the framework of the JUMPSTART initiative.
European Council President António Costa stated that the EU will not impose a reparation loan for Ukraine at the leaders' summit if Belgium opposes it. This is a departure from his previous position, where he noted that the scheme only required a qualified majority.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said that using frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine is a “far from easy” task. She emphasized the need for a strong legal basis and avoiding open-ended commitments for countries.
The United Kingdom will officially issue an order to transfer £2. 5 billion from the sale of Chelsea FC for humanitarian purposes in Ukraine. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that this is Roman Abramovich's last chance to fulfill his obligations, otherwise legal action will be taken.
The French museum, the Louvre, partially reopened on Wednesday, despite an ongoing staff strike over wages and working conditions. Visitors will be able to see key masterpieces, such as the "Mona Lisa," amidst recent robbery incidents and infrastructure problems.
The Kremlin expects the US to provide information on the results of its work with Ukrainians and Europeans following reports of an expected discussion of proposals for peace talks. On December 16, President Zelenskyy announced an anticipated meeting between Ukraine and the US in Miami to discuss documents.
Donald Trump estimated the new White House ballroom, which could also host inaugurations, at up to $400 million. The project, funded by private donations, includes 5-inch glass windows and the demolition of the East Wing.
The European Parliament has finally approved a phased rejection of Russian gas imports by the end of 2027. The ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas on the EU spot market will come into effect at the beginning of 2026, and pipeline gas imports will cease by September 30, 2027.
A state-level emergency has been declared in Odesa region due to enemy attacks on energy infrastructure. Over 50,000 residents of the region were left without electricity for a long time.
As a result of the enemy attack on Zaporizhzhia and the district, 26 people were injured. More than 130 apartments were damaged in one of the city's locations.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the possibility of financial support for Ukraine through the issuance of joint EU debt, as an alternative to using frozen Russian sovereign assets. This comes ahead of a meeting of EU leaders where ways to finance Ukraine will be discussed amid its expected deficit of 135 billion euros by 2027.
As a result of the enemy attack on Zaporizhzhia and Zaporizhzhia district, 21 people were injured, including one child. The Russians used guided aerial bombs, destroying residential buildings and damaging an infrastructure facility and an educational institution.
The US is considering new sanctions against Russia's energy sector, including its "shadow fleet" of tankers, if Putin rejects a peace deal with Ukraine. These measures could be announced as early as this week, as discussed by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent with European ambassadors.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted bill No. 3195, which obliges members of the Cabinet of Ministers to report on their work upon dismissal. A written report becomes a mandatory condition for submitting a resignation letter.
Russian troops attacked Zaporizhzhia, hitting a residential building and one of the infrastructure facilities. The consequences are being clarified, the air raid alert continues.
Over the past day, Russian occupation forces' losses increased by 1,730 personnel, reaching approximately 1,192,350 servicemen. Thousands of military equipment units were also destroyed, including 11,427 tanks and 23,758 armored combat vehicles.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed the damage to the Slavyansk oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai and the Nikolaevskaya oil depot in Rostov Oblast. A field artillery depot in Luhansk Oblast and a drilling rig in the Caspian Sea were also hit.
Russia continues its attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, striking Dnipropetrovsk region overnight, where power has already been restored. In Odesa region, about 32,000 consumers remain without electricity, and approximately 400,000 consumers suffer from outages daily.
The European Commission is trying to persuade Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever to support a proposed loan to Ukraine, financed by immobilized Russian assets. De Wever expresses concerns about the risks to the Belgian economy if Russia tries to reclaim the assets.