Germany is introducing a 10-year ban on naturalization for individuals who forge German language certificates. This decision will be made on December 3rd, following police raids that uncovered the sale of language certificates on the black market.
In New Zealand, a man swallowed a Fabergé pendant worth 33,000 New Zealand dollars in a store. Police are waiting for the jewelry to pass naturally, and the suspect will appear in court on December 8.
Donald Trump stated that Ukraine and Russia had the opportunity to reach agreements on ending the war earlier, but "in their wisdom chose not to. " He believes that the best time to conclude a peace agreement was when he spoke about the absence of maps.
The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution demanding that the Russian Federation immediately return all illegally deported Ukrainian children. The document was supported by 91 countries, 57 abstained, and 12 opposed it.
Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and US President's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, will meet with Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov, in Miami on December 4 to continue discussions on the American "peace plan" for Ukraine.
Pope Francis, who died in April 2025, provided funding in his will for the purchase of ambulances for Ukraine.
As part of the next waves of "Winter Support" payments, over 2. 2 million Ukrainians will receive UAH 1,000. Funding for those who applied via Diia on November 18-19 will take place on December 3, and for those who applied via Ukrposhta, funds will start arriving on December 6.
US President Donald Trump called the December 2 meeting between Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner with Vladimir Putin "very good. " The next steps after the meeting are currently unknown.
Ukrainian national diving team member Sofiia Lyskun has changed her citizenship. The athlete will now represent the aggressor country, Russia. Lyskun cited an incompetent approach to athlete training in Ukraine as the reason for her decision.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the draft law of the Ministry of Culture, which for the first time defines patronage activities, patrons, and recipients of assistance. The document also covers forms of support for culture, including the renewal of the material and technical base and the restoration of cultural heritage sites.
The National Bank of Ukraine has set new exchange rates for Wednesday, December 3. The dollar fell by 1 kopeck, the euro by 13 kopecks. The official dollar exchange rate is UAH 42.3342, the euro is UAH 49.1839.
Over the past day, December 2, the Russian army lost 1,200 servicemen, 12 artillery systems, and 47 units of automotive equipment. The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.22 to 03.12.25 are estimated at 1,176,230 personnel.
On the night of December 3, drones attacked an oil depot in Russia's Tambov region, causing a fire. Russian authorities claimed to have destroyed 102 Ukrainian aircraft over seven regions, but the Tambov region was not mentioned in the report.
The Czech Ministry of Defense stated that the modernization of T-72 M4CZ tanks was ineffective due to problems with firing accuracy. The Czech army will replace them with Leopards, as continuing the modernization contract has been deemed impractical.
On Wednesday, December 3, cloudy weather with light rains is expected in Ukraine, with fog possible in Zakarpattia and the Carpathians. Air temperatures will range from +3° to +12°.
Shares of American Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency mining company backed by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, fell by almost 40%, losing about $1 billion in market capitalization. Eric Trump attributed the decline to investors' ability to lock in profits after the share lock-up period ended.
The Munich prosecutor's office is investigating a case involving businessmen who illegally sold 50 luxury cars to Russia for over 10 million euros. These cars, including an armored Mercedes, may have been intended for the Russian elite.
The former Duke of York, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, will most likely not receive more than $600,000 for early eviction from Royal Lodge. The Crown Estate concluded that compensation would not be paid due to the possible need for repairs.
The European Union has agreed on final rules that provide for a gradual cessation of Russian natural gas imports. A full embargo on supplies will come into force by the end of 2027 after approval by the EU Council and the European Parliament.
Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the head of the Russian Federation, stated that the issue of a New Year's truce with Ukraine has not been discussed yet. According to him, a completely different process is currently underway.
From January 2 to December 31, 2026, Lithuania is introducing compulsory basic military service, planning to conscript about 5,000 citizens. Conscripts will have various service options, including a 9-month compulsory service and shorter programs for specialists and students.
The family of American billionaire Michael Dell plans to transfer $6. 25 billion to investment accounts for 25 million children as part of a government program by the Donald Trump administration. The funds, amounting to $250 per child, will be used to support children under 10 years old from families with an income of up to $150,000 per year.
The European Commission is proposing a legal solution to avoid Belgium having to pay billions of euros if Hungary vetoes the extension of sanctions against Russia. This would allow €140 billion of frozen Russian assets to be used as a loan to Ukraine.
Germany is forming a new police unit of 130 officers to detect and neutralize drones. Over 100 million euros have been allocated for this purpose for 2025-2026.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy honored medics who are contributing to the implementation of advanced emergency medical care techniques at the front. This took place at a meeting with representatives of University College Dublin, who initiated the UCD Ukraine Trauma Project.
The SBU sentenced an FSB agent to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property for adjusting Russian airstrikes and artillery shelling in Donetsk region. The perpetrator was detained in Kirovohrad region, where she arrived under the guise of a displaced person to flee to the Russian Federation.
Pope Leo XIV emphasized the need for active European participation in developing a peace plan to resolve Russia's war against Ukraine. He noted that the initial US plan was modified thanks to European input, and stressed the importance of Italy's role in this process.
In the temporarily occupied Donetsk region, military-technical classes are being held for teenagers, teaching them how to use weapons, drones, and tactical actions. These activities are a systemic militarization that forms a controlled mobilization reserve for Russia's long-term goals.
China is introducing a 13% tax on contraceptives, including condoms, for the first time in 30 years to stimulate the birth rate. Tax breaks for parents for kindergarten and nursery services are also envisioned, which will come into effect in January.
Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov stated that a meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin is not currently being considered due to a lack of progress in negotiations. Putin conveyed a "friendly greeting" and a series of "political signals" to Trump, the content of which was not specified.
