Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Berlin refuses a unilateral withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the Donetsk region. This comes against the backdrop of a 28-point US plan that envisages Ukraine's renunciation of NATO and new elections.
A KMIS poll showed a significant drop in Ukrainians' trust in NATO and the US, while trust in the European Union and President Zelenskyy remains stable. Only 9% of citizens support elections during the war.
President Zelenskyy and Ukrainian negotiators will continue talks with the US delegation at 11:00 Berlin time. The main focus will be on security guarantees that the US can provide to Kyiv.
In Poznań, two men attacked a Ukrainian couple on a tram because they were speaking Ukrainian. City councilor Andrzej Prędki witnessed the incident and published a video, after which the police detained both attackers, who face up to 5 years in prison.
More than 57% of Ukrainians consider Russian strikes to be the cause of power outages, while 29% blame the Ukrainian authorities. The KIIS poll was conducted from November 26 to December 13, 2025.
Kaja Kallas emphasized the need for real troops and capabilities for Ukraine's security guarantees if the issue of NATO is not discussed. She stressed that these cannot be paper promises, but only tangible military capabilities.
The SBU and the National Police detained a 23-year-old unemployed man who was preparing an assassination attempt on a leading specialist of a defense plant in Zaporizhzhia. The Russian agent collected data on the official and tracked the locations of the Defense Forces for air strikes.
EU diplomacy chief Kallas said that EU leaders will discuss financing Ukraine at Thursday's meeting, where a reparation loan is the most likely option. This loan will be based on frozen Russian assets, avoiding the use of taxpayer money.
More than 430,000 consumers in Odesa region remain without electricity after a massive Russian attack. Due to new Russian strikes, there are power outages in Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions, where an energy worker was injured.
A KIIS poll showed that 72% of Ukrainians are ready for peace with a frozen front and security guarantees. Most Ukrainians reject the Russian peace plan and are ready to endure the war for as long as necessary.
EU diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas announced the expansion of sanctions against Russia's "shadow fleet", adding about 40 vessels to the list. This decision is aimed at depriving Russia of funds to finance the war.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb unexpectedly arrived at the Ukraine summit in Berlin. He met with American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner at the Adlon Hotel.
The adaptation of the Iranian-made drone with a Soviet air-to-air missile is aimed at hitting Ukrainian helicopters and aircraft that hunt Russian drones.
The occupied part of Donetsk region has lost its reserve water supply. The occupation authorities are draining water from barrels before the frosts, thus concealing the absence of solutions for stable water supply.
Representatives of the Trump administration held five-hour talks with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Berlin, which were described as "difficult. " The US is increasing pressure on Ukraine to conclude a peace agreement with Russia by the end of the year, but the parties have significant disagreements.
Over the past day, 158 combat engagements took place on the front line. The enemy launched 66 air strikes and carried out 4286 shellings, losing 980 servicemen and a significant amount of equipment.
On the night of December 15, Russia attacked Ukraine with 153 attack UAVs, including about 90 "Shaheds". 133 were neutralized, but hits were recorded in 10 locations.
In the Dnipropetrovsk region, due to enemy shelling, the contact network was de-energized, which led to train delays. Delays affect both long-distance and suburban routes, reaching up to 6 hours and 30 minutes.
Brent crude and US West Texas Intermediate oil futures rose amid supply disruptions linked to US-Venezuela tensions, which outweighed oversupply concerns.
On the night of December 15, drones attacked seven regions of Russia. As a result of the attack, a gas processing plant in Astrakhan was damaged, which produces a significant part of sulfur for the manufacture of explosives.
The European Union is facing a critical week as it tries to protect Ukraine from an unfavorable peace deal imposed by the US and Russia, and to save a multi-billion euro loan financing agreement for Ukraine. EU leaders will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and American officials in Berlin to discuss a peace deal, and will also fight for support for the lending plan among European governments.
During December 14, the Russian army lost at least 980 servicemen, two tanks, and two air defense systems. The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.22 to 15.12.25 amounted to about 1,189,470 personnel.
On the night of December 15, the Russian capital was attacked by drones; according to city authorities, Russian air defense shot down more than a dozen unmanned aerial vehicles. Residents of the Istra district and the Moscow region towns of Kashira and Kolomna heard explosions, and Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports temporarily suspended operations.
Stabilization measures continue in Odesa region after massive Russian strikes on energy infrastructure. All services are working 24/7, and almost 19,000 people have visited the invincibility points.
The water crisis has worsened in the temporarily occupied Donetsk region. Due to frosts, the "authorities" are draining the remaining water from reservoirs, and promise to resume delivery by tankers after the weather warms up.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb stated that a peace agreement for Ukraine is closer than at any time in the last four years. The US, Ukraine, and European countries are working on three key documents, including a 20-point peace plan, security guarantees, and a post-war reconstruction program.
Belgorod Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported a missile strike on the city on December 14, which damaged engineering facilities and shattered windows of buildings. Local residents report a strike on a thermal power plant, which led to power outages.
The General Assembly of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) has allowed Russian chess players to participate in international tournaments using their national flag and anthem. The decision was made on December 14, with 61 delegates voting in favor and 51 against.
On December 15, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Berlin. They will discuss economic issues and the progress of the peace process, after which EU and NATO leaders will join the discussions.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Jewish communities in Ukraine and all Jews on Hanukkah, wishing them peace, tranquility, and well-being. He emphasized the special significance of the holiday during wartime, symbolizing an unextinguishable light.
