President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine must be in a strong position, and Russia must understand that Ukraine will not capitulate. He emphasized the need to reduce the Russian economy through sanctions to force the Russian Federation to move to diplomacy.
Russia seeks the complete capture of Donbas and the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops, which Ukraine does not agree to. The US is looking for a compromise solution, and the Ukrainian delegation has departed for Washington to discuss a peace plan.
The Russian dictator confirmed his intention to seize territories that he considers "historical lands of Russia. " This primarily refers to the south and east of Ukraine.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's plane was damaged at Brussels airport, rendering it unairworthy. Fico also expressed support for Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, who did not attend the summit, protesting against the EU's unfair treatment of Serbia.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the approval of a 112 billion shekel ($34. 67 billion) deal to supply natural gas to Egypt. This agreement will help Egypt, which has spent billions on importing liquefied natural gas, to ease its energy crisis.
On the night of December 18, the tanker "Valeriy Gorchakov", part of Russia's "shadow fleet", was hit in the port of Rostov-on-Don. This tanker was spotted in the waters of the ports of Mariupol and Berdyansk; there are dead and wounded.
Traffic on Verkhovna Rada Boulevard to Budivelnykiv Street in Kyiv has been blocked due to a pipeline rupture. Emergency crews are working on site, and patrol officers are ensuring traffic safety.
The Warner Bros Discovery board of directors rejected Paramount Skydance's $108. 4 billion offer due to insufficient funding guarantees. This decision means support for Netflix's offer to acquire Warner Bros assets.
The High Anti-Corruption Court extended the term of procedural duties for former Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Chernyshov. This decision will be valid for two months, but not longer than the pre-trial investigation period.
The State Logistics Operator of the Ministry of Defense will for the first time purchase 150,000 DNA systems for servicemen for UAH 37. 8 million. This will allow for the identification of the deceased and missing, and the data will be stored in accordance with the law.
On December 17, a 600 mm cold water supply pipe was damaged in the Dniprovskyi district of Kyiv. An emergency team from Kyivvodokanal is working at the site of the rupture, and public transport is operating as usual.
Vladimir Putin claimed that the Russian army captured over 300 settlements in 2025 and accused the West of starting the war. Andrei Belousov stated that Russia allegedly captured Kupyansk, while Ukraine denied this.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a Law extending special rules for the operation of the state enterprise "Pivdenny Machine-Building Plant named after Makarov" in Dnipro. This decision suspends forced enforcement actions and seizures of the enterprise's funds until January 1, 2027.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a law on the legal status and medical care of foreign military personnel. The document provides for the issuance of temporary residence permits for the entire duration of their contract and after its termination, and also extends certain social guarantees to them.
Dmitry Peskov stated that the Kremlin would not agree to the presence of military personnel from EU countries on the territory of Ukraine, arguing that this could lead to the presence of NATO military personnel. He emphasized that Moscow's position on this issue is consistent and clear.
The head of the Center for Countering Disinformation, Andriy Kovalenko, stated that the Kremlin is trying to drag out time to force Ukraine to surrender.
In the Odesa region, over 4 days, energy workers restored the technical capability to supply power to 583. 7 thousand households. Despite this, 32.3 thousand consumers temporarily remain without power due to extensive damage to the energy system.
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov called for not putting pressure on entrepreneurs during the war, speaking out against the introduction of VAT for individual entrepreneurs with an annual income of more than UAH 1 million. He emphasized that small businesses are the foundation of the economy, and the Kharkiv City Council canceled local taxes to support more than 127,000 individual entrepreneurs operating in the city.
As a result of the attack by Ukrainian drones, the Russian submarine sustained significant damage, and a major overhaul could take a long time.
In Poland, the number of Ukrainians living in state-subsidized housing has sharply decreased. From November 1, the rules for resettling refugees from Ukraine changed, and the state stopped co-financing accommodation for those who have been living in Poland for a year or longer.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Putin will sooner or later agree to the deployment of peacekeepers in Ukraine. He also spoke about what, in his opinion, should be the West's reaction in the event of new Russian attacks.
European leaders support Ukraine, seeking to uphold international law and counter Russian aggression. They fear that a deal in Russia's favor could lead to a wider war on the continent.
On December 17, fog is expected on the roads of Kyiv region, Level I danger (yellow) has been announced. The patrol police urge drivers and pedestrians to observe traffic rules.
In Odesa, a man wanted for violating military registration rules attempted to inflict stab wounds on himself in the premises of the Kyiv District TCC and SP. He also aggressively threatened doctors and servicemen, preventing them from providing assistance.
Fog with visibility of 200-500 meters is expected during the night and morning of December 17 in the northern, central, and eastern regions of Ukraine, as well as in Kyiv. The State Emergency Service urges drivers to be careful due to complicated traffic conditions.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha signed the Convention on the Establishment of an International Commission for Claims Settlement for Ukraine. The document was also signed by 34 states and the EU.
Google is shutting down its reporting program that scanned the dark web for confidential information leaks. From January 15 next year, Google will no longer scan the dark web, and from February 16, 2026, the reports will be completely closed.
A 54-year-old resident of Donetsk prepared texts of speeches for local gauleiters and organized mass propaganda events in support of the Russian occupiers.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha named five reasons why this step must be taken now.
The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office will appeal the decision of the Appeals Chamber of the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) dated December 15, 2025, which overturns the verdict against two former investigators and an operative for bribery. The proceedings were closed due to the expiration of the pre-trial investigation period in accordance with the "Lozovyi amendments."
