State budget
The Cabinet of Ministers plans to consider Ihor Zelinskyi's candidacy for the position of head of the State Aviation Service, lobbied by Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba. This personnel decision raises serious questions given Zelinskyi's decisions made during his work in the leadership of the aviation regulator.
In 2025, with the support of the State Film Agency, the production of 46 film projects with a total cost of over UAH 562 million was completed, of which over UAH 319 million was state funding. Among them are 18 non-fiction, 17 feature films, 6 TV series, 4 non-fiction TV films, and 1 animated series.
Citizens of Ukraine who adopt children can receive social assistance from the state. Payments are made until the end of their studies, but no longer than 23 years, in the amount of the difference between 100% of the subsistence minimum and the average monthly total income of the family.
From January 1, 2026, the salaries of pedagogical and scientific-pedagogical staff will increase by 30%. The government has approved a resolution that provides for an increase in official salaries for all pedagogical and scientific-pedagogical staff of state and communal educational institutions.
Poland plans to complete the construction of a new complex of fortifications to protect against drones along its eastern borders within two years. The project, worth over 2 billion euros, will be financed by European funds and the Polish budget.
Ukraine and the United States are jointly working on a roadmap for prosperity until 2040, which includes the creation of several funds. President Zelenskyy estimates the necessary funds for reconstruction at 700-800 billion dollars.
According to the investigation, "Darnitsa" systematically inflated prices for medicines, which caused significant damage to the budget during the war.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced additional economic assistance to Ukraine totaling $2. 5 billion during a meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy. These funds will help Ukraine secure financing from the International Monetary Fund.
President Zelenskyy stated that China is not ready to join the peace process. He emphasized that China has increased imports of Russian energy resources, thus financing the war.
The head of the Swiss armed forces, Thomas Süssli, stated that the country is not ready for large-scale military threats and can only counter cyberattacks. Only a third of soldiers would be equipped in an emergency.
The Ministry of Defense has approved the concept of digital accounting and monitoring of fuel. Fuel storage and transfer tanks will be equipped with special sensors integrated with a digital accounting system.
Macron has promulgated a special law allowing state institutions to function at the beginning of 2026 without an adopted main budget. This decision was unanimously approved by parliament after an agreement could not be reached on the draft budget for the next year.
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.
The State Tax Service of Ukraine will carry out regulatory and technical work from December 31, 2025, to January 2, 2026. During this period, there may be restrictions on the operation of electronic services, in particular, for accepting tax invoices.
The historic FBI headquarters building in Washington will be decommissioned, and employees will move to a facility previously occupied by the disbanded U. S. Agency for International Development. This decision, announced by FBI Director Kash Patel on December 26, will save taxpayer money and better meet the Bureau's needs.
The Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine reports that the Russian financial system is entering a phase of controlled chaos, losing transparency and control. Starting from 2027, Russian financial companies will publish only depersonalized data on ownership structure, and regular income declarations for civil servants will be abolished.
The National Bank of Ukraine has published the working schedule of the electronic payment system and the banking system for the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026. The EPS will operate 24/7, but with restrictions for the State Treasury on December 31, 2025, and January 1, 2026.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine will gradually increase educators' salaries by 50% during 2026. The government also changed the procedure for providing subventions for the construction of school shelters, financing facilities with 60% completion.
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak received a 15-year prison sentence and a $2. 82 billion fine in the case of embezzlement from the 1MDB fund. The new term will begin after the completion of his previous sentence in 2028.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Svyrydenko announced that contracts for goods and services from the "Weapons of Victory" list will be concluded for the full production cycle.
As of December 26, 2025, 97% of local budgets in Ukraine have been approved, which provides a financial basis for communities for 2026. Budgets in 55 communities still need to be approved for stable funding of educational, medical, and social institutions.
ARMA sold the vessel USKO MFU through Prozorro. Sales for UAH 2.48 million. The new owner will pay UAH 4.42 million in customs duties, which will bring UAH 6.9 million to the budget.
Civilians released from Russian captivity will receive a one-time cash payment of 50,000 hryvnias. To do this, an application must be submitted to the Ministry of Reintegration with a certificate from the Joint Center.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is introducing state financial support for enterprises of the defense-industrial complex under financial leasing agreements. The program provides for a reduction in the lessor's remuneration for critically important defense industry enterprises, providing access to transport and equipment at reduced rates.
The Japanese government has planned a record defense budget of over 9 trillion yen ($58 billion) to strengthen its defense capabilities amid tensions with China. The country is also developing long-range missiles and the SHIELD drone system to protect its coast.
Western sanctions have reshaped India's oil trade, reducing its reliance on Russian oil. Imports from Russia decreased by 17.8% in January-October 2025, while imports from the US increased by 83.3% and from the UAE by 8.7%.
India is investing hundreds of millions of dollars in a network of roads, tunnels, and airfields along its disputed border with China. This is a response to the bloody clashes of 2020, which exposed the Indian army's logistical vulnerabilities.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy heard a report from Pavlo Palisa on strengthening front-line positions and the army. The head of state announced the strengthening of combat units and the drone component, and also signed decrees on awarding Ukrainian soldiers with state awards.
The former head of a communal enterprise in Tiachiv region has been notified of suspicion of abuse of office. He purchased two trucks at inflated prices, which led to an overpayment of over UAH 1.17 million.
The Ministry of Defense has launched a pilot project using photo and video recording during the acceptance of rear property for the needs of the Armed Forces. This will ensure the objectivity of procedures and create an evidence base to minimize corruption risks.