Sanctions
EU countries intend to accelerate a decision on immobilizing up to 210 billion euros of Russian sovereign assets. This will allow them to bypass Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban before next week's summit.
Oil prices remained stable on Wednesday after falling 1% in the previous session. Brent crude futures rose 0.1% to $62.01 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude rose 0.1% to $58.32 a barrel.
US Ambassador Tom Barrack said that Turkey must abandon the Russian S-400 air defense system. This is a condition for the country's return to the F-35 program.
Great Britain has expanded its sanctions list to include two individuals and five legal entities. Restrictions have been imposed against Russian ideologue Alexander Dugin, blogger Mikhail Zvinchuk, and organizations associated with them.
The provision that prohibited Kyiv from joining NATO was removed from the current peace plan, although the new version does not address this issue at all. At the same time, European officials predict that it may take a long time for the US, Russia, and Ukraine to resolve their differences.
President Zelenskyy announced that the US has expressed a desire to provide Ukraine with realistic security guarantees, voted on by Congress, as well as to supply weapons. These guarantees include sanctions, air defense, and provisions similar to Article 5.
Hungary's opposition is demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and early elections after the release of a video showing physical abuse at a state-run juvenile detention center in Budapest. This incident occurred amid accusations of sexual abuse and the organization of a prostitution ring by the facility's former director.
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent discussed the Reconstruction Investment Fund, expanding Ukraine's ability to purchase US LNG, and financial support. Alvarez & Marsal has been appointed as the Fund's investment advisor.
The High Anti-Corruption Court (VAKS) chose a preventive measure for MP Skorokhod in the form of bail of over UAH 3 million. This happened after she was exposed in a case involving $250,000 for resolving the issue of NSDC sanctions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome. They discussed defense support for Ukraine, strengthening air defense, and enhancing energy resilience, as well as further financial support.
The President of the European Council, António Costa, is confident that a decision on financing for Ukraine for 2026-2027 will be made at the December EU summit. He noted that the bloc is "very close to reaching a decision" amid the proposal of two options: a "reparations loan" or EU borrowing.
Mexico and the US will hold a meeting to resolve a dispute over water resource allocation. This comes amid Trump's threat to impose a 5% tariff on Mexican goods due to a violation of the 1944 treaty.
Russia is increasing oil exports, reaching the highest weekly shipments since February 2022, but unloading cargoes is becoming a problem. This has led to a 28% increase in the volume of Russian sea shipments since late August, and the surplus of oil at sea has reached a two-and-a-half-year high, limiting the Kremlin's revenues.
People's Deputy Anna Skorokhod announced that she had received a petition from NABU regarding the application of a preventive measure in the form of bail against her. The court hearing in the High Anti-Corruption Court is scheduled for today, 4:45 PM.
Prosecutors have sent an indictment to court against a 35-year-old former TV presenter of sanctioned channels. Already during Russia's full-scale invasion, he disseminated videos justifying the actions of the aggressor state through his own YouTube channel.
Mexico refused to expel more than two dozen Russian spies operating under diplomatic cover, despite their identification by the CIA. Russia has intensified its intelligence activities in Mexico since the invasion of Ukraine, leveraging its proximity to the US and weaker surveillance levels.
Next week's EU summit will feature "important discussions" where Ukraine and European security will be priority issues. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to participate, and the main priority of the meeting is to make decisions regarding financing Ukraine.
The European Union has launched an investigation into Google, suspecting abuse of its dominant position through the use of content for AI tools. The Commission will check whether Google distorts competition by imposing unfair terms on publishers and content creators.
The European Union may announce a decision on the confiscation of frozen Russian assets within two weeks. These funds, up to 100 billion pounds sterling, or over 130 billion US dollars, include 8 billion pounds sterling (over 10 billion dollars) in the United Kingdom and are intended to provide funding for aid to Ukraine.
Japan rejected the EU's proposal to use frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine. Tokyo refused to use $30 billion in frozen assets held on its territory to issue a loan to Ukraine.
Russian dictator Putin is trying to portray the Russian economy as capable of sustaining the war in Ukraine, likely to support cognitive warfare. He claimed GDP growth and low inflation, ignoring the connection between economic problems and the war.
G7 countries are ready to consider confiscating all frozen Russian assets to achieve a just peace in Ukraine. The Group of Seven will work on financial support for Ukraine, including the use of sovereign Russian assets.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa in Brussels. The issue of using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine's reconstruction or armament will be discussed.
The MP's assistant, exposed for inciting to offer a bribe for the application of NSDC sanctions, was chosen a preventive measure in the form of a bail of UAH 1. 514 million. He was also assigned a number of procedural obligations, including a ban on leaving Kyiv without permission.
Hungarian Prime Minister Orban stated that Turkey will guarantee the supply of Russian gas to Hungary. Hungary has already received 7.5 billion cubic meters of gas through the TurkStream pipeline this year.
Iraq's Ministry of Oil has proposed that American companies take over a controlling stake in the West Qurna-2 field, currently owned by the Russian firm Lukoil. This decision comes amid the Trump administration's favorable stance on the transfer of Russian global assets to American players.
NielsenIQ's Russian subsidiary is actively recruiting staff for high-risk markets, including occupied Ukrainian territories and Iran, as revealed by job postings on HH. ru. The company's internal research previously labeled occupied Ukrainian lands as "new Russian regions."
In November 2025, 123 tankers departed from Russian ports, which is 17 fewer than in October. Russian oil exports decreased to 14 million tons, which is 2 million tons less compared to the previous month.
Expert Alexander Gabuev predicts the exhaustion of the Kremlin's economic resources in 12-18 months if sanctions are strengthened. He notes that time is working against Putin, and further sanctions could shorten this period.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the leaders of Britain, France, and Germany held a meeting in London. Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of unity between Europe, Ukraine, and the USA.