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.
For December 2, the NBU set the official dollar exchange rate at UAH 42. 34, which is 7 kopecks more than on Thursday. The official euro exchange rate is UAH 49.31, an increase of 42 kopecks.
Agents of the ATESH partisan movement report that servicemen of the 30th separate motorized rifle brigade of the Russian Armed Forces are searching the bodies of their fallen comrades, taking money, phones, and personal belongings. Due to huge losses, the brigade's personnel have been replaced three times, and looting has become a common practice.
In the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk region, stray dog attacks have become a daily occurrence due to the collapse of communal services. Dogs feed on the bodies of the dead, and the occupation authorities are not solving the problem.
On December 1, Russian troops lost 1,110 soldiers and 51 UAVs. The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.22 to 02.12.25 amount to over 1.1 million personnel.
On December 2, cloudy weather with light rains is expected in Ukraine, with wet snow in the Carpathians. The air temperature during the day will be 3-8°C, up to 12°C in the south.
In December, the Kremlin will intensify its disinformation campaign regarding negotiations on a diplomatic settlement of the war in Ukraine. The NSDC predicts that Russia will focus on discrediting the negotiation process between Ukraine and the United States, strengthening the narrative that "Ukraine is disrupting negotiations."
The Institute for the Study of War believes that the Kremlin is setting conditions to refrain from publicly discussing the results of the US-Russian meeting on December 2. This is likely due to a desire to conceal Russia's rejection of the US and Ukraine peace proposal.
On November 21, Donald Trump, in a phone conversation, gave Nicolas Maduro until November 28 to safely leave Venezuela. The next day, Trump announced the closure of the country's airspace.
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi stated that the widespread use of drones has significantly expanded the "kill zone" at the front. According to him, ground robotic systems are becoming a key element of future warfare.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council, stated that the Russians will try to increase pressure on the front in the coming weeks and accompany it with loud statements. This is being done for the Western audience and to raise the stakes in diplomacy.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that attacks on vessels of Russia's "shadow fleet" in the Black Sea are a sign of an "alarming escalation of the situation. " He emphasized that these incidents threaten navigation safety and human lives.
The occupation authorities in the temporarily occupied territories of the Kherson region solemnly presented the mother of a fallen soldier with a multicooker, a laptop, and a bouquet of flowers. This happened in front of cameras and with words about supporting "patriotic" projects.
Ukrainian drones damaged the pier of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal, which is the main source of Kazakh oil exports. Kazakhstan has activated a plan to redirect exports to alternative routes.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki stated that there can be no agreements with Russia, as Moscow acts on the basis of lies. He emphasized that historical events confirm the immutability of this position.
The black fungus found in Chornobyl survives on radiation, which could revolutionize the space industry. It could protect spacecraft crews and extraterrestrial colonies from cosmic rays.
US President's special envoy Steve Witkoff went to Russia to present Putin with an agreed-upon draft of a "peace plan" after a meeting in Florida. The Russian leader had previously stated his unwillingness to compromise and demanded the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the occupied territories.
The Italian government has approved the 12th package of military aid to Ukraine, which includes military materials, equipment, and machinery. The full list of aid is classified for security reasons.
Vladimir Putin announced his intention to create a security zone along the border with Ukraine. He also reported on the alleged successes of Russian troops at the front and control over several settlements.
