Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Ukraine is trying to change the situation on the battlefield instead of preparing for negotiations. Lavrov also accused European countries of blocking peace efforts.
The European Union has called for the preservation of Somalia's unity and territorial integrity after Israel officially recognized the breakaway region of Somaliland as an independent state. This decision has provoked a strong reaction from African and Middle Eastern countries and international organizations.
Elections are underway in Kosovo, where Prime Minister Albin Kurti's party is seeking to win a majority to overcome a year-long political deadlock. This is the second vote this year, as Kurti's party failed to win a majority in February.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed decrees on synchronizing sanctions with Great Britain against 8 individuals and 40 legal entities involved in the deportation of children and the supply of components for Russian weapons. Ukraine also imposed sanctions against 8 military leaders of South Sudan in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has extended the provision of free medical services to Ukrainians until April 1, 2026. Ukrainian refugees will have access to the same list of services as Georgian citizens under state insurance.
Lithuania officially completed the procedure of withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention on December 27, which allows it to use and produce anti-personnel mines. The country plans to spend hundreds of millions of euros on the purchase and production of tens of thousands of units of ammunition.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. The main topics were preparations for a meeting with US President Donald Trump and the negotiation process for peace in Europe.
Ukraine has committed to reviewing the procedure for selecting the Prosecutor General in accordance with European practices, but this does not entail a competition. In economically developed European countries, the Prosecutor General is appointed by the government or the president.
Russia has almost doubled its exports of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to Central Asia and Afghanistan, reaching 1. 016 million metric tons from January to November 2025. This happened after the EU imposed restrictions on the import of Russian propane and butane in December 2024.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte believes that the European Union should not become completely independent from the United States in defense matters. He emphasized that the US expects Europe to take more responsibility and spend more on defense.
Ukraine completed the 2025 harvest, gathering 57. 6 million tons of grain and 17.3 million tons of oilseeds. The total grain production is expected to be around 60 million tons after the corn harvest.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated the need to normalize relations with the EU, expecting changes within the European Union. He believes that the difficult situation in the EU will force Brussels to seek closer cooperation with Tbilisi.
After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, China did not distance itself from Moscow, but turned the Russian Federation into its raw material appendage. The head of the CPD, Andriy Kovalenko, noted that Russia is an instrument of strategic pressure for China.
China may be interested in the continuation of the war, as it weakens Russia and exhausts Europe. This allows Beijing to draw individual European countries into its dependence through investments.
Russia views the US 20-point peace plan as a starting point, demanding more restrictions on Ukraine's military forces and guarantees regarding NATO. Ukraine and the US have disagreements on territorial issues and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, but negotiations are nearing completion.
The European Union, France, and Germany have condemned US visa bans imposed on five European citizens, including former EU Commissioner Thierry Breton. The restrictions are related to their activities in combating online disinformation and hate speech, which Washington considers censorship of free speech.
Ukraine and the US have disagreements on territorial issues and the status of the Zaporizhzhia NPP in peace talks. Zelenskyy reported on the state of affairs regarding elections and EU accession.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has for the first time unveiled 20 points of a "basic document on ending the war. "
The proportion of Russian citizens who consider it necessary to continue hostilities against Ukraine has decreased to 25%, which is the lowest figure since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. These are the data from the December survey by the "Levada Center", cited by the Head of the Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council, Andriy Kovalenko.
President Zelenskyy stated that new direct support programs for Ukrainian citizens will be implemented in 2026. Almost 18 million Ukrainians have applied for this year's winter support.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a conversation with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. They discussed the decision on 90 billion euros in financial aid to Ukraine for 2026-2027, adopted on December 19.
In 2025, assets dependent on the end of the war showed rapid growth, but investors are acting cautiously due to risks to the Ukrainian economy. US activation in the peace process and a loan from the EU stimulated optimism, but large funds remain skeptical about the terms of the agreement.
On December 19, the European Union approved €90 billion in funding for Ukraine, which the country will repay after receiving reparations from Russia. Journalists found out how this process took place.
Switzerland has deported about 100 Ukrainian refugees, including the large Bohachuk family from Kharkiv, who were denied protection status S due to their previous stay in Lithuania. The Swiss migration service is demanding that they urgently leave the country, despite two years of living in Geneva and the children's adaptation to local schools.
Banks in a number of countries around the world have begun to massively block accounts of Russians and tighten checks on their transactions. This is happening after Russia was included in the list of high-risk countries by the European Commission.
Large-scale schemes for illegal border crossing by conscripts have been exposed in four regions of Ukraine. The organizers transported men to Moldova and Hungary for tens of thousands of dollars, and also issued fictitious disability documents.
A Politico columnist predicts that the Russian-Ukrainian war will end next year on terms extremely unfavorable to Ukraine. This is due to the EU's inability to agree on the use of frozen Russian assets and insufficient funding.
Donald Trump has once again expressed his desire for the US to control Greenland, citing its importance for national security. This comes after the appointment of Jeff Landry as a special envoy to the island.
As of early December 2025, official delegations led by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy have made over 50 foreign visits. The accounting of expenses for their organization is not kept separately, and information about the preparation of visits is restricted.
The Kremlin's repeated violation of international law necessitates providing Ukraine with reliable security guarantees to prevent a resurgence of Russian aggression. Russia claims its readiness to legally formalize its intention not to attack EU and NATO countries, but its actions demonstrate the worthlessness of such promises.
