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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Trump administration has instructed US embassies to prioritize visa applications from foreigners planning to visit the country for investment or participation in major sporting events.
A delegation of 15 UN Security Council members visited Syria for the first time since 1945, meeting with interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa. The visit took place on the eve of the anniversary of the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime and aimed to build trust.
Ukrainian representatives will continue talks in the US with President Trump's team. The task is to get full information about what was said in Russia and what other pretexts Putin found to prolong the war.
President Zelenskyy met with candidates for the position of the new Head of the Presidential Office. A decision on the new head of the Office will be made soon.
Iran's national football team coach, Amir Ghalenoei, will attend the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington. This will happen despite the country's football federation announcing a boycott of the event due to the US refusing to issue visas to its members.
Trump helped the leaders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo sign a peace agreement and economic pacts. This will give the US access to the region's valuable minerals, although the implications for the 30-year conflict remain unclear.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that sanctions against the GRU underscore the need for vigilance against the constant threat from Russia. He emphasized that the moral responsibility for the GRU's actions lies with Putin.
Envoys of US President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian negotiators for the third time in two weeks to discuss a peace plan, while the Trump administration eased economic pressure on Russia. The US Treasury Department partially suspended sanctions against Lukoil gas stations outside Russia until April 29.
Ukraine has pushed back against hedge funds' demands regarding debt restructuring, stating that its proposal to exchange $3. 2 billion in GDP warrants is the best possible solution. The Ministry of Finance of Ukraine is confident in its proposal, which is intended to restore the sustainability of public debt.
EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius stated that the European Union must develop its own peace plan for Ukraine, without relying on US initiatives. This is due to the fact that Europe was "caught off guard" by a 28-point peace plan developed by American Trump negotiators together with the Russians without the participation of the EU.
Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko stated that the prosecutor's office does not work under pressure, commenting on the criminal proceedings against the NABU detective and his father. He emphasized that the change of pre-trial detention is not an acquittal, and the investigation continues.
President Zelenskyy held a phone conversation with President of the European Council António Costa, discussing the negotiation track and the planned meetings of the Ukrainian team with the American side. Ukraine expects meaningful work to achieve a lasting peace.
Four unknown military drones violated the no-fly zone near Dublin Airport, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's plane landed. The drones reached the aircraft's flight path a few minutes after its landing, and their origin is being investigated by the police.
On December 4, 2025, the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting expanded the list of banned Russian media services. Seven new services were added, and the number of blocked websites for three previously banned services was expanded, bringing the total to 56.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine reported that Russia and 11 other countries opposed the return of Ukrainian children, despite the adoption of a UN resolution. Only 1,850 children have been returned home after forced deportation.
Thanks to the efforts of Donald Trump's wife, Melania, seven children, previously illegally transported to Russia, were able to return to Ukraine.
Russian "war correspondents" are spreading narratives about "preparing an offensive on Chernihiv," but the aggressor has no real forces for this. This is part of Russia's pressure tactics on Ukraine and an attempt to prolong US efforts.
Lawmakers from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's party have submitted a bill that makes it harder to remove the president from office. The amendment comes four months before elections in which the opposition seeks to reverse Orban's consolidation of power.
Polish Prime Minister Tusk demands to classify the first item on the agenda of Friday's Sejm meeting. According to media reports, it will concern cryptocurrencies and a detected "Russian trace."
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine established a Temporary Investigative Commission to investigate the crimes of the Russian Federation against journalists and media workers. 272 people's deputies voted for the decision, Yevheniya Kravchuk reported.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz canceled a trip to Oslo to persuade Belgium to support a €165 billion "reparation loan" to Ukraine. The loan is proposed to be secured by frozen Russian state assets located in Belgium.
The OSCE is ready to deploy a new observer mission to Ukraine to monitor a future ceasefire. This mission would require the approval of all 57 member states, including Russia and Ukraine.
Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides stated his country's readiness to provide maximum assistance to Ukraine on its path to EU membership. Cyprus will support Ukraine during its presidency of the EU Council, which begins in 27 days.
