Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine has lasted 1418 days, matching the duration of the German-Soviet War. The Russian army has not achieved its strategic goals, losing control over significant territories.
In Erkrath, unknown individuals attempted to set fire to a transformer at a power substation, but the attack failed. The substation continued to operate without interruption.
Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner played tennis during a blackout that affected 45,000 households. The opposition is calling for his resignation, but Wegner states that he was in contact and restored power ahead of schedule.
Germany could have a presence in a NATO country bordering Ukraine a year after any future ceasefire, Merz says.
A summit of Ukraine's allies is taking place in Paris, where EU leaders may prepare a joint statement on security guarantees. Progress is expected in defining the guarantees that allies can provide, as well as discussing a peace plan.
German law enforcement has been unable to apprehend left-wing radicals since 2011, who caused a blackout in Berlin on January 4. The group Vulcan, involved in a series of crimes, calls for the destruction of modern infrastructure associated with fossil fuels.
A large-scale power outage in the southwestern part of Berlin left 45,000 households and more than 2,000 commercial facilities without electricity. The cause of the outage was the arson of vital power lines by the left-wing extremist group "Vulkangruppe."
A massive power outage affected approximately 50,000 households and 2,000 businesses in Berlin due to a fire on a cable-stayed bridge. Police are treating the incident as deliberate arson, with full power restoration expected by January 8.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that "peace is on the horizon" after leaders' talks on Ukraine. The US is ready to participate in security guarantees for Ukraine, including the presence of American troops.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced another round of coordination in the "Berlin format" with the participation of European and Canadian partners. He emphasized the advancement of the peace process and the need for transparency and honesty from all parties, including Russia.
According to a US official, "Trump is ready to present US-backed security guarantees to Congress," calling the package the "platinum standard" of what Washington can offer Ukraine.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council, reacted to the death of RDK commander Denis Kapustin. Kovalenko noted that the real Russian opposition is fighting against Putin's regime, unlike those who hold rallies and forums in Europe.
President Zelenskyy discussed with his Finnish counterpart Stubb preparations for talks in the US, including a 20-point document and a recovery plan. The Ukrainian and American teams have made significant progress in developing security guarantees and an economic development strategy.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that only Russian dictator Vladimir Putin can immediately end the war, despite joint efforts for a ceasefire. He also emphasized the importance of negotiations in Berlin and the coordination of positions among European partners, the US, and Ukraine.
Tesla demonstrated its humanoid robot Optimus at a Christmas market in Berlin, where it handed out popcorn. Although Tesla did not comment on whether the robot was operating autonomously, Elon Musk predicts that the company's future lies in self-driving "robotaxis" and humanoid robots.
Special envoy of the Kremlin chief Kirill Dmitriev went to Miami to meet with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
The German government plans to expand the functions of the Federal Intelligence Service, allowing it to carry out cyberattacks and sabotage operations abroad. This comes amid growing hybrid threats and the activity of foreign intelligence services.
German Chancellor's advisor on Ukraine, Günther Sautter, is heading to Florida for talks between the US and Russia. The talks concern a peaceful settlement of the war, where the US's 20-point plan will be discussed.
Negotiations between the US and Russia on a peaceful settlement of the war in Ukraine are planned in Miami, where the Russian side will be represented by Putin's special envoy Kirill Dmitriev. The meeting will take place after consultations in Berlin, where security guarantees for Kyiv and possible territorial concessions were discussed.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Brussels. The leaders discussed the coordination of positions regarding the negotiation process with Donald Trump's team and the importance of involving Europe to guarantee Ukraine's sovereignty.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy named three fundamental things in security guarantees from the US, including legally binding guarantees, an analogue of NATO Article 5, and a response to Russian aggression. He also mentioned details regarding weapons and the size of the Ukrainian army, which are not yet being disclosed.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the issue of using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine's needs depends on the political will of partners. The President noted that these funds could be directed to support the Ukrainian army and defense production.
At Thursday's EU summit, leaders will try to persuade Belgium to agree to the use of frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine. This is the EU's last chance to greenlight a proposal to raise 210 billion euros from Russian assets.
This weekend, American and Russian officials will meet in Miami to discuss ways to end the war in Ukraine. The Trump administration is increasing pressure on Kyiv regarding territorial concessions.
Ukrzaliznytsia announced the start of the winter season on children's railways in Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro, and Rivne. For the first time in 75 years, winter routes will depart in Lviv and Rivne.
Vladimir Putin stated that Russia would achieve its military goals in Ukraine by force or diplomatically, calling European leaders "piglets. " He accused the previous US administration of provoking the conflict and threatened to liberate "historical lands" on the battlefield.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said that using frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine is a “far from easy” task. She emphasized the need for a strong legal basis and avoiding open-ended commitments for countries.
The US is considering new sanctions against Russia's energy sector, including its "shadow fleet" of tankers, if Putin rejects a peace deal with Ukraine. These measures could be announced as early as this week, as discussed by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent with European ambassadors.
The US and European allies have prepared two draft documents on supporting Ukraine after a potential "peace agreement," which were discussed with President Zelenskyy in Berlin. The documents outline general principles and detailed provisions for force interaction, and also envisage increasing the number of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to 800,000 servicemen.
Belgium opposed the European Commission's proposals to unblock a €210 billion loan for Ukraine, financed by frozen Russian assets. This dashes the EU's hopes for a deal before the leaders' summit, as Belgium considers the guarantees provided insufficient.
