Russian intelligence organized a campaign to intimidate Belgian politicians and Euroclear top managers to block the use of frozen Russian assets for the benefit of Ukraine. The attack targeted key Euroclear officials, where most of Russia's frozen assets are held.
On the night of December 18, Russian military attacked the energy infrastructure of Voznesensk. Due to the damage, water supply has been temporarily suspended in one of the city's microdistricts.
The US does not support EU initiatives to confiscate Russian sovereign assets, warning of possible consequences. They consider frozen assets a flexible leverage in future negotiations.
Estonia has begun the construction of the first five of 600 defensive bunkers on the border with the Russian Federation, which are to be built by the end of 2027. These structures are designed to protect soldiers from artillery shells and are part of the Baltic defense line against potential attacks.
On the evening of December 17, Russian drones attacked Cherkasy, Sumy, and Kryvyi Rih regions, causing infrastructure damage and destruction. As a result of the shelling, there are casualties, including two in Kryvyi Rih and one person in Sumy region.
A 20-year-old veteran who lost all his limbs in the war could not renew his bank card because he was unable to hold it for confirmation. NBU Governor Andriy Pyshnyi apologized and promised to personally deliver the card to the serviceman.
US President Donald Trump announced his intention to regain control over oil rights in Venezuela, which, according to him, were lost. He noted that Venezuela illegally seized land and oil rights from American companies.
On December 17, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree on the creation of a number of new military administrations in the Dnipropetrovsk region. This decision was made in pursuance of the law "On the Legal Regime of Martial Law."
Venezuelan authorities have instructed the navy to escort oil product tankers. This could escalate tensions with the United States amid Donald Trump's statements about blocking the country's oil industry.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy plans to meet with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on December 19. The meeting will discuss security issues and the implementation of agreements reached in Berlin and Helsinki.
The US presidential administration has temporarily suspended sanctions against several Russian banks involved in settlements in the civilian nuclear energy sector. Financial transactions are permitted until June 18, 2026, for projects initiated before November 21, 2024.
The National Bank of Ukraine set the official exchange rates for December 17, according to which the US dollar fell by 6 kopecks, to 42. 18 hryvnias. The euro and zloty exchange rates remained unchanged.
Israel denied entry to the West Bank to six Canadian parliamentarians due to alleged ties to a terrorist organization. The Canadian side protested and linked the incident to Canada's political decisions regarding Palestine.
The US Air Force plans to acquire two Boeing 747-8 aircraft at a total cost of approximately $400 million. They will be used for crew training and as a source of spare parts for the future presidential fleet.
On December 17, cloudy weather with clearings and no significant precipitation is forecast in Ukraine. Fog is expected in the morning in the northern, Cherkasy, Poltava, and Kharkiv regions.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenka stated that the end of Russia's war against Ukraine depends on the position of Donald Trump and the USA. He emphasized that Trump is ready to act as a guarantor of a peace agreement that will provide guarantees for Russia.
The annual Arctic study revealed significant changes: air temperature reached a 125-year high, and precipitation and atmospheric humidity increased. This led to a significant reduction in snow cover and glaciers, as well as accelerated permafrost thawing.
American lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill that provides for sanctions against the purchase or facilitation of imports of Russian oil. The document creates a legal framework for increasing sanctions pressure on Russia's oil revenues.
A new study questions the previous understanding of the internal structure of Uranus and Neptune, indicating their possible rocky composition. Scientists suggest that the cores of these planets may be more rocky than previously thought, which changes the classification of planets in the Solar System.
Vladimir Putin signed a law allowing occupation administrations to confiscate housing from Ukrainians who have left the occupied territories. Real estate can be transferred to residents who have lost their homes or used as official housing for officials.
Oil quotes rose after US President Donald Trump announced a blockade for all sanctioned tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. Brent quotes rose by 0.9% to $59.46 per barrel, and American WTI rose by 1% to $55.82.
Hungary has blocked the European Union's enlargement statement, preventing Ukraine from starting EU accession negotiations. 26 EU member states support Ukraine, but Hungary did not support a positive assessment of its efforts.
On December 16, US President Donald Trump ordered a complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuelan territorial waters. He accused Venezuela of stealing American assets and declared its government a "foreign terrorist organization."
The US and European allies have prepared two draft documents on supporting Ukraine after a potential "peace agreement," which were discussed with President Zelenskyy in Berlin. The documents outline general principles and detailed provisions for force interaction, and also envisage increasing the number of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to 800,000 servicemen.
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles said that Donald Trump doubts Vladimir Putin's desire for peace. Trump believes that Russia seeks full occupation of Ukraine.
The Latvian government will allocate 2. 42 million euros to strengthen the protection of Riga Airport from unauthorized drone flights. The project envisages the introduction of modern technologies for detecting, identifying, tracking and neutralizing drones.
A Care Space for veterans has opened in Bila Tserkva, providing medical, psychological, social, and legal support. The project was implemented by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs and the Ministry of Health with the support of IOM and the EU, as part of a national network.
US President Donald Trump has signed an order to tighten restrictions on the entry of foreign nationals into the United States. The restrictions apply to 5 new countries and individuals with Palestinian Authority travel documents, and are extended for 12 high-risk countries.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz estimates the EU's chances of reaching an agreement on using frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine's defense as "50-50. " EU leaders are expected to agree on the issue of using frozen Russian assets for a "reparation loan" to Ukraine at the summit on December 18-19.
Keir Starmer has initiated an urgent assessment of external influence on British politics amid preparations for legislative changes. This decision came in response to the conviction of Nathan Gill, who received funds for pro-Russian statements.
