Germany

Estonia will provide Ukraine with another military aid package of 0. 25% of GDP in the first half of 2025. The Estonian Foreign Minister confirmed that support for the country continues to grow.

The President of Ukraine will take part in the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 21. The event will also be attended by Donald Trump, Ursula von der Leyen and other world leaders.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Umerov meets with his German counterpart Pistorius in Kyiv. Ukraine will receive 60 new missiles for the IRIS-T air defense system and discussed the supply of artillery shells.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tähkna said that Ukraine's full membership in the EU and NATO would ensure the stability of the whole of Europe. He emphasized the need for investment in Ukraine's defense industry and economy.

The President of Ukraine discussed with the German Defense Minister the importance of all political forces supporting Ukraine. Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine is defending not only itself but also European values.

The President of Ukraine reported on more than 100 brigades on the battlefield that need to update their military equipment on a daily basis. Zelenskyy emphasized the priority of technical equipment and training for the military.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that the creation of a separate European defense alliance would require 8-10% of GDP and 15-20 years. Instead, he promised to deepen cooperation between NATO and the EU.

The Cabinet of Ministers has authorized foreign companies to modernize military equipment for the Armed Forces. The new rules establish clear terms of cooperation and apply to defense procurement contracts.

The German police have launched an investigation into possible Russian espionage after detecting drones over military facilities in Bavaria. The incidents were recorded in Manching and Neuburg an der Donau.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius handed over the first RCH 155 wheeled howitzer to the Ambassador of Ukraine. By the end of the year, Ukraine will receive 5 more such systems, and a total of 54 howitzers are planned to be delivered.

The Flixbus bus overturned on the A11 motorway near the German-Polish border, two people were killed. Among the victims are citizens of Ukraine and Germany, four people suffered serious injuries.

Thomas B. , a 54-year-old BND worker, was found dead in his apartment in Islamabad after two days of absence. Traces of blood were found on the body, although the official cause of death has not yet been determined.

At its congress in Saxony, the far-right Alternative for Germany party did not include a condemnation of Russian aggression in its program. 69% of the delegates voted against this initiative.

Boris Pistorius denied information that the Chancellor had blocked a €3 billion military aid package. The minister confirmed that the new aid package is being agreed upon by the government.

A Ukrainian delegation headed by Minister Matviy Bidnyi held a meeting in Turin to discuss cooperation in the field of student sports. They discussed preparations for the 2025 Universiade and the development of sports infrastructure.

Croatia's incumbent president, Zoran Milanovic, won the second round of elections with 74. 68% of the vote. His opponent Dragan Primorac received only 25.32% of the vote.

German Foreign Minister Baerbock spoke out against reducing the financing of arms deliveries to Ukraine from €7 billion. She also criticized Russia's use of a "shadow fleet" in the Baltic Sea.

Poland's Defense Minister supports the initiative to increase NATO defense spending to 5% of GDP. Warsaw already allocates 4.7% of GDP to defense and calls on other countries to reach this goal within 10 years.

The Norwegian government has presented a crisis and war preparedness plan with more than 100 measures. The plan includes increasing the number of conscripts, building shelters, and strengthening cybersecurity.

Dmytro Pidruchnyi took 4th place in the sprint and 6th place in the pursuit at the World Cup. At both award ceremonies, the athletes displayed the Ukrainian flag.

Olaf Scholz of the SPD and Alice Weidel of the AfD have become official candidates for the post of German Chancellor. Scholz promises social reforms, while Weidel proposes radical changes in the economy and migration policy.

Germany is creating a fourth division within the Army to protect critical infrastructure. The new unit will include 6 terror defense regiments with a total of 6,000 personnel.

Germany is conducting a rescue operation of the Eventin tanker from the Russian “shadow fleet” that ran aground off the northern coast. The vessel was carrying 100,000 tons of oil and lost its ability to maneuver due to an engine failure.

The damaged Russian tanker Eventin with almost 100,000 tons of oil ran aground off the island of Rügen. Zelensky called the vessel an “oil bomb” and called for the Russian tanker fleet to be stopped.

Russia uses more than 1,000 vessels to circumvent sanctions, which is 17% of the world's oil tanker fleet. The shadow fleet has brought Russia more profit than Ukraine has received in international aid since the beginning of the war.

British scientists have found that a wife's higher income increases the risk of mental disorders in a couple by 8%. This especially affects men, increasing the likelihood of mental problems by 11%.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer plans to visit Ukraine in the coming weeks. He will discuss with Zelenskyy the possibility of deploying international peacekeepers after the war ends.

The tanker Eventin with 99,000 tons of Russian oil lost control off the island of Rügen in the Baltic Sea. The vessel is part of Russia's “shadow fleet” used to circumvent sanctions.

The German Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry prepared a plan for additional military assistance to Ukraine worth 3 billion euros. Chancellor Scholz did not approve the initiative, explaining that there is sufficient funding for 2025.

Sebastian Kaleta criticized the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's reaction to candidate Navrotsky's statement on Ukraine's accession to the EU and NATO. He called for the Ukrainian ambassador to be summoned because of “interference in the electoral process.