EU leaders agreed on a plan to finance Ukraine through joint borrowing after 16 hours of negotiations. Politico named Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever as the main "winners" of the summit.
Representatives of "Plast" handed over the Bethlehem Fire to the chaplains of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The fire will be delivered to the soldiers in the combat zone as a symbol of support and home comfort.
The European Commission has published a report on the visa suspension mechanism, with a special focus on Georgia. Brussels will gradually begin to restrict privileges for Georgian citizens, starting with holders of diplomatic passports.
As of 4:00 PM on December 19, 52 combat engagements were recorded at the front. The enemy is showing the greatest assault activity in Donetsk Oblast, terrorizing the border areas of Sumy Oblast with artillery shelling.
In the Turkish province of Kocaeli, local residents discovered a crashed Orlan unmanned aerial vehicle. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident to determine its route and purpose of being in Turkish airspace.
Gas prices in Europe have fallen to pre-war levels, but European factories continue to close or relocate. Experts believe that relief came too late, and businesses have lost faith in stability on the continent.
The global oil market is experiencing an oversupply of "black gold," pushing oil prices down. A record 1.3 billion barrels of crude oil are in transit or awaiting buyers in the world's oceans.
Leading AI developers, including Microsoft, Google, and Nvidia, have entered into an agreement with the US government to participate in "Mission Genesis. " The Trump administration's project integrates AI into scientific research, energy, and manufacturing to strengthen the country's technological leadership.
Hubble helped NASA scientists understand where the planet, observed for years near the star Fomalhaut, disappeared to.
The General Staff released its evening report as of 10:00 PM on December 18, 2025, recording 183 combat engagements. The Russian army carried out 49 airstrikes, 2409 kamikaze drone attacks, and 3104 shellings.
The US has published 70 new photographs from Jeffrey Epstein's personal archive, including pictures with Bill Gates. This is part of a large array of data, comprising about 95,000 photographs, transferred to the Committee.
In the US, a package of regulatory measures has been introduced aimed at stopping the provision of gender-affirming medical care to minors.
In 2026, the Armed Forces of Ukraine will receive 200 "Bohdana" self-propelled artillery systems based on German Mercedes-Benz Zetros chassis. 750 million euros have been allocated for the implementation of the program from Germany's support package of 1.2 billion euros.
Trump's company announced a merger with thermonuclear technology developer TAE Technologies. The $6 billion deal aims to meet the energy needs of data centers serving artificial intelligence.
The Indian government has confirmed the recruitment of over 200 of its citizens by Russia to participate in the war against Ukraine. At least 26 Indians have died, and seven more are missing.
Boeing has selected defense startup Anduril Industries to develop missile engines for a new interceptor. This partnership is expected to accelerate missile production and reduce supply chain risks amid growing global demand for air defense systems.
US Secretary of State Rubio announced the imposition of restrictions against two ICC judges, Gocha Lordkipanidze and Erdenebalsuren Damdin. This decision was made under an executive order aimed at countering attempts by the court to prosecute citizens of states that are not members of the ICC.
Israel's Ministry of Defense announced an expansion of its contract with Germany for the supply of Arrow-3 missile defense components, increasing its value to $3. 1 billion.
The Russian government has ordered the country's railway to sell the "Moscow Towers" in the capital's "Moscow City" complex to pay off its debts.
A session of the Albanian Parliament turned into a large-scale clash: the opposition lit flares, threw bottles, and blocked the rostrum. The reason was a protest against election falsification and a demand for the resignation of the Deputy Prime Minister, who is under investigation.
The UN Human Rights Office accused the Sudanese group RSF of massacring over 1,000 civilians in the Zamzam camp in North Darfur. Militants used sexual violence and blocked food supplies, leading to starvation.
The European Commission and Belgium are negotiating the use of 210 billion euros of frozen Russian assets for Ukraine. Belgium seeks additional financial guarantees due to concerns about legal and financial risks.
The Ministerial Council of the Energy Community has allowed Ukraine to operate large combustion plants without complying with strict environmental emission standards until the end of 2028. This decision will support the energy system during the war and ensure supply stability.
A court in France has sentenced former anesthesiologist Frédéric Péchier to life in prison, finding him guilty of poisoning 30 patients, 12 of whom died. The doctor deliberately mixed substances that caused cardiac arrest to discredit colleagues or appear as a hero.
The 12th separate army aviation brigade reported the death of the Mi-24 helicopter crew. Fundraising has been opened to help the four families of the deceased pilots.
The State Emergency Service warns of deteriorating weather conditions on December 19. Dense fog is expected on the Left Bank, in the west, and in Zhytomyr region, limiting visibility to 200-500 meters.
Mass destruction of green spaces is taking place in Simferopol. The felled trees are being used as building materials and fuel for the needs of the Russian army at the front, as well as for clearing sites for commercial facilities.
Great Britain imposed sanctions against three Russian oil companies: PJSC Tatneft, PJSC Russneft, and PJSC NNK. This expansion of sanctions pressure is aimed at reducing Russia's revenue from energy exports, covering almost 60% of Russian oil exports to key markets.
North Korean hackers stole $2 billion in cryptocurrency in 2025, setting a new anti-record. This accounts for the lion's share of global crypto thefts, which totaled $3.4 billion.
In the first three quarters of 2025, tourism tax revenues increased by 35%, reaching 234. 3 million hryvnias. The largest revenues were provided by Kyiv, Lviv region, and Ivano-Frankivsk region.
