NATO

Canada and Turkey have reached an agreement to resume Canadian exports of drone components to Turkey in exchange for greater transparency in their use. This happened after Ankara finalized the ratification of Sweden's accession to NATO.

Ukraine and Lithuania are identifying joint steps to increase the production of drones for the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The two countries plan to combine Lithuanian drone production technologies with Ukraine's ability to scale up production.

The US State Department has authorized a potential $23 billion sale of 40 new F-16 fighter jets and modernization kits for Turkey's existing F-16 fleet. This happened shortly after Turkey ratified Sweden's accession to NATO. At the same time, Greece will receive 40 F-35 fighter jets in order to balance relations between the two NATO allies.

Turkish Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee to Discuss Draft Law on Approval of Sweden's NATO Membership Next Week.

The Ukrainian ornament "cockerel from Borodianka" has become a symbol of resilience, decorating major Christmas trees around the world and raising funds for shelters in Ukrainian schools.

President Zelenskyy congratulated Ukrainian diplomats on their professional holiday, highlighted their achievements, and discussed future foreign policy goals, such as strengthening defense and integration with the EU.

NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg says Russia will not achieve its goals in Ukraine.

Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov expressed his readiness to cooperate with French companies in joint production of weapons or to purchase them directly.

The Pentagon's commitment to allocate the remaining $1 billion for Ukraine's defense includes support from Congress for additional funds, with a focus on urgent weapons needs. Pentagon spokesman Ryder said that support for Ukraine also helps to replenish U.S. defense stockpiles.

Between November and December 2023, the Ukrainian Armed Forces implemented seven more NATO standards, focusing on areas such as naval communications and fuel quality, bringing the total to 301 standards integrated into NATO interoperability.

Ukraine and Germany held another consultation on the bilateral agreement on security guarantees, during which Ukrainian officials thanked Germany for supporting Ukraine's integration into the EU. Further plans for communication on the legal framework of the agreement were discussed.

Estonia allocates €500,000 under the Tallinn Mechanism to help Ukraine with cyber defense, emphasizing the importance of cybersecurity in light of Russian aggression and cyber threats.

Finland has decided to send Ukraine the 21st package of military aid worth 106 million euros, the content of which is not disclosed for security reasons.

Hungarian Prime Minister Orban opposes Ukraine's accession to NATO to avoid a war with Russia, emphasizing that Hungary should not be obliged to send troops.

The Economist magazine named Greece the Country of the Year for its successful economic reforms and recovery from the debt crisis. The country continues to develop despite past difficulties.

Turkish President Erdogan has made Sweden's accession to NATO a condition for the United States to approve Turkey's request to buy F-16 fighter jets and called on Canada to end its arms embargo on Turkey.

Congressman Mike Quigley expressed confidence that aid to Ukraine will likely be approved in mid-January 2024, emphasizing that there is a contingency plan in case of delays, as it is very important to prevent further aggression by authoritarian states.

Ukraine launches joint arms production with NATO countries and seeks to increase production.

The Council of Permanent Representatives of the EU member states has approved the Cyber Solidarity Act, aimed at strengthening EU cooperation, awareness and response to digital security threats and incidents. It introduces a "European Cyber Shield" to identify threats and a mechanism for handling cybersecurity incidents.

U. S. Ambassador to NATO Julian Smith said that North Korea has sent more than a thousand containers of military equipment and ammunition to Russia, as seen on satellite images.

Ukraine has established the Tallinn mechanism on cybersecurity with 10 other countries to strengthen its cyber defense and resilience, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba announced. The group aims to coordinate with the EU and NATO and is open to new members.

ISW analyzed statements by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who emphasized ongoing military expansion and preparations to support the war in Ukraine. Shoigu repeated threats against NATO. as ISW notes, Russia's military growth is mostly a confirmation of existing troop levels, not new builds.

The United States is forming a new military pact with European countries, increasing the number of American soldiers and bases in Northern Europe.

Denmark has signed a defense agreement with the US to station US troops and equipment in Denmark, which is pending parliamentary approval, which could take a year. This agreement is in line with similar US agreements with Norway, Sweden and Finland.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine is procuring 1016 four-wheel drive off-road vehicles for the Armed Forces, with the tender process ending on December 27 and delivery due by March 15, 2024. The budget is approximately UAH 1.75 billion.

According to the President, if part of Ukraine is in NATO, Russian dictator Putin will start a war with NATO.

The Italian government supported the extension of military assistance to Ukraine until the end of 2024, which is pending approval by both houses of parliament.

Turkish President Erdogan said that the EU will slow down the accession process of Ukraine and Moldova, noting that Turkey has faced political delays in its own long-standing application to join the bloc.

Denmark and Sweden to jointly finance CV90 infantry fighting vehicles for Ukraine.

Russia is trying to convince the West that its aggression will not spread beyond the Ukrainian border. In this way, Moscow is trying to undermine international support for Ukraine.