Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever blocked an EU plan to provide Ukraine with a 140 billion euro loan. He fears legal and financial retaliation from Russia.
India will pay about $2 billion to lease a nuclear submarine from Russia, concluding a decade of negotiations. The deal provides for the delivery of the vessel within two years, although the contract was signed in March 2019.
Spiegel reported that the Élysée Palace, in a statement to the German publication, denied that Macron had spoken of any betrayal.
Political scientist Oleh Posternak in an op-ed for UNN on the possible consequences of Andriy Yermak's resignation for NBU Governor Andriy Pyshnyi and Investment Capital Ukraine.
The NOC of Ukraine, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Skating Federation appealed to the IOC and ISU. They demand a review of the decision to allow Russian figure skaters to participate in the 2026 Winter Olympics due to their support for the war.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reaffirmed the country's unchanged position on respecting China's view on Taiwan, which sparked discussions among Chinese social media users. Her statement refers to the 1972 joint communiqué, despite previous statements about a possible threat to Japan in the event of a Chinese attack on Taiwan.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham announced the identification of 210 facilities in Russia where Ukrainian children from the occupied territories may be held. He emphasized that this is happening in 2025, not 1945, and called for it to be stopped.
President Zelenskyy announced preparations for meetings with the US after the American team's negotiations in Moscow and Washington. Rustem Umerov, Andriy Hnatov, and others will continue negotiations to advance Ukraine's peace plan.
Sanctions reportedly forced Lukoil to announce the sale of its foreign assets, and several buyers have approached US authorities for permission to negotiate with Lukoil, including oil giants Exxon Mobil and Chevron.
The European Union has added Russia to its list of high-risk countries for money laundering and as a sponsor of terrorism.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha announced significant progress on the issue of using frozen Russian assets. Ukraine hopes for a relevant decision to be adopted by the end of this year.
In six months, the state agency PlayCity updated gambling market rules, blocked over 2,500 online casinos, and collected over UAH 52 million in fines for illegal advertising. The lottery market was also relaunched, which will bring billions of hryvnias to the budget.
Kyiv's Pechersk Court заочно sentenced former Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov to 15 years in prison with confiscation of all property. He was found guilty of high treason and encroachment on the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen informed the US administration about plans to develop a reparation loan system for Ukraine. This initiative involves using frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine in 2026-2027, covering two-thirds of its needs amounting to 90 billion euros, with the possibility of providing 165 billion euros.
The European Commission is proposing a “reparation loan” of 165 billion euros to Ukraine, using frozen Russian state assets. This loan is part of a broader financial package worth up to 210 billion euros to support Ukraine.
Putin will pay a state visit to India on December 4-5 for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting takes place against the backdrop of India continuing to massively buy discounted Russian oil, despite warnings from Washington.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that "almost all" of Belgium's concerns regarding a "reparation loan" for Ukraine have been addressed. This concerns the use of frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine's needs.
The European Union proposes to cover two-thirds of Ukraine's financial needs, amounting to 90 billion euros, over the next two years. This will be done through EU borrowing or a reparations loan from frozen Russian assets.
Hungary and Slovakia will appeal to the EU's highest court to challenge the agreement to phase out Russian gas by September next year. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó stated that the new restrictions are unacceptable, as Hungary cannot ensure energy supply without Russian sources.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry believes that using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine would not contribute to peace negotiations. Beijing opposes unilateral sanctions that violate international law.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the EU pays Russia 1. 5 billion euros monthly for fossil fuels. She emphasized that this amount has significantly decreased since the beginning of the war, but is still too high.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that the peace process regarding Russia's war against Ukraine must continue. He named two ways to pressure the Russians if negotiations drag on or yield no results.
On the first night of winter, an explosion occurred on a section of the Druzhba oil pipeline in Russia. The attack was carried out near the settlement of Kazinskiye Vyselki, on the Taganrog-Lipetsk oil pipeline section.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine published data on the structure and enterprises that produce Iskander-M ballistic missiles. 13 participating companies were identified that are still not under sanctions.
Russia is struggling to deliver oil under US sanctions, which has led to a 21% increase in oil volumes at sea in three months. The average voyage time for the flagship ESPO crude to Chinese ports has increased to over 12 days.
The Munich prosecutor's office is investigating a case involving businessmen who illegally sold 50 luxury cars to Russia for over 10 million euros. These cars, including an armored Mercedes, may have been intended for the Russian elite.
The European Union has agreed on final rules that provide for a gradual cessation of Russian natural gas imports. A full embargo on supplies will come into force by the end of 2027 after approval by the EU Council and the European Parliament.
The European Commission is proposing a legal solution to avoid Belgium having to pay billions of euros if Hungary vetoes the extension of sanctions against Russia. This would allow €140 billion of frozen Russian assets to be used as a loan to Ukraine.
Russia will not compromise on territories, limiting the size of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and the recognition of occupied territory by the US and Europe, a Russian official states. Moscow is ready to be flexible on secondary issues, such as frozen assets.
The defense ministers of the European Union countries discussed further support for Ukraine and European defense, emphasizing the critical importance of making a decision on multi-year funding for Kyiv.
