The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson denied the existence of a real “Christmas truce,” calling it a PR stunt by the Hungarian side. Ukraine has repeatedly asked Hungary to stop manipulating the war and Christmas.
The leader of the largest party in Bulgaria, GERB, Boyko Borisov, refused to support the signing of a security agreement with Ukraine. The interim government appealed for a mandate from parliament, but Borisov stated that the situation had changed and the agreement was no longer appropriate.
Due to the warming weather, electricity consumption in Ukraine decreased by 1. 8% compared to the previous day. Nevertheless, the power grid remains undercapacity and imports from 5 countries continue.
Viktor Orban told EU leaders that he was not ready to extend sanctions against Russia until after Trump's inauguration in the United States. At the EU summit, the Hungarian prime minister called on Europeans to “show strategic patience.
The USA allowed Turkey to make payments for gas through the sanctioned Gazprombank. A similar sanctions exemption was also granted to Hungary.
The President of Ukraine said that a serious plan to stop Putin is needed after Trump's inauguration. Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of a united position of the United States and Europe on this issue.
The Ukrainian president said that Orban's relations with Putin are too “warm” for effective negotiations. Zelenskyy emphasized that the Hungarian prime minister has no mandate for such talks.
Ukraine's power grid remains in a significant capacity deficit after 12 massive attacks. Electricity is imported from 5 countries with a total volume of 10,422 MWh.
Hungarian Prime Minister Orban called on Ukraine to respond to the proposal for a “Christmas truce. ” The OP responded that “no one needs a race against Putin” and emphasized the need for real peace.
Polish Justice Minister Adam Bodnar said that Hungary has gone too far in deviating from EU norms. Even a change of government in 2026 may not remedy the situation due to deep institutional changes.
Romanian border guards found the body of a 39-year-old man from Kyiv region in the Tisza River near the village of Bedevlia. The deceased was probably the victim of organizers of illegal border crossings.
U. S. Deputy Secretary of State Pyatt supports the termination of Russian gas transit through Ukraine after the contract expires. The EU is preparing for the end of the contract and plans to completely abandon Russian energy resources by 2027.
At the Ukrainian-Hungarian border, customs officers found 162 contraband Apple smartphones hidden in a Toyota Land Cruiser. The total value of the seized equipment exceeds UAH 7 million.
Ukraine still needs to rationalize electricity consumption throughout the day. Electricity imports from Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, and Moldova are projected to total almost 17 thousand MWh.
Gas companies from four EU countries warned the European Commission of the risks of stopping gas transit through Ukraine. Slovakia is negotiating with Gazprom, but the EC refuses to participate in the discussion.
The Ukrainian president criticized Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's intentions to influence Putin. Zelenskyy emphasized the strength of the Ukrainian army and said he would not allow such attempts.
Almost 400 settlements in 16 regions of Ukraine are without power due to the weather. Despite the absence of outage schedules, Ukrenergo urges to save electricity from 8:00 to 22:00.
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry called on Hungary to stop manipulating the topic of peace and Christmas, and to refrain from contacts with Russia. The ministry emphasizes that Hungary's actions impede Ukraine's defense capabilities.
Peter Szijjarto vetoed the inclusion of Patriarch Kirill in the EU sanctions list. The Hungarian minister also blocked the disbursement of 6.5 billion euros from the European Peace Fund.
The Ukrainian power grid remains in a significant power deficit after 12 massive attacks by Russia. To compensate for the deficit, electricity is imported from 5 countries in the total amount of 21,226 MWh.
Mike Volz, Trump's future national security adviser, has announced that he is looking for ways to end Russia's war against Ukraine. The team is working on options not for a temporary truce, but for a permanent end to the conflict.
Future Trump adviser Mike Volz said he was ready to consider Orban's peace proposals for Ukraine. Volz emphasized Trump's desire to end the war, but refused to comment on the details of future policy.
Two new rail routes from Kyiv to the capitals of Hungary and Slovakia were launched. The new connections should relieve congestion on the Warsaw route and improve logistics links with the EU.
The Hungarian Foreign Ministry called Kyiv's refusal to allow a phone call between Orban and Zelenskyy an “unprecedented gesture. ” Szijjártó said that Hungary had done more than others to peacefully resolve the conflict.
Following the December 13 Russian missile and drone attack, Ukraine has introduced blackout schedules. It is planned to import 15,898 MWh of electricity from Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, and Moldova.
The Office of the President of Ukraine stated that Orban's proposal for a “Christmas truce” was a PR stunt. The Hungarian prime minister did not have the authority to negotiate, and Russia used this to prepare new attacks.
Hungary and Bulgaria have agreed on a new solution to pay for Russian gas through Gazprombank, despite US sanctions. Peter Szijjarto said that a legal solution had been found that is not subject to restrictions.
The EBRD has provided a EUR 267 million loan to repair the M-06 highway connecting Kyiv with Ukraine's western border. The works are planned in Kyiv, Rivne and Zhytomyr regions with a focus on traffic safety.
As a result of the 12th massive missile and drone attack by the Russian Federation, power facilities in several regions of Ukraine were damaged. The weather left 198 settlements in 5 regions without electricity.
The EU Council has decided to abolish controls at the land borders with Bulgaria and Romania as of January 1, 2025. The countries have already been part of the Schengen area by air and sea since March 2024.
