Ukraine
The European Union proposes to cover two-thirds of Ukraine's financial needs, amounting to 90 billion euros, over the next two years. This will be done through EU borrowing or a reparations loan from frozen Russian assets.
Insurance for vessels heading to Black Sea ports has more than tripled after a series of Ukrainian attacks on Moscow-linked maritime targets. According to the broker Marsh, the cost of coverage for visiting Russian ports has increased by more than 250%.
President Zelenskyy discussed personnel reshuffle in the energy sector with Prime Minister Svyrydenko. Today, the powers of some supervisory board members of state energy companies are being terminated, and new members will be appointed in December.
The European Commission presented two solutions for financing Ukraine in 2026-2027: EU borrowing and a "reparations loan. "
The Chinese Foreign Ministry believes that using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine would not contribute to peace negotiations. Beijing opposes unilateral sanctions that violate international law.
The Saeima of Latvia has adopted amendments to the law on supporting citizens of Ukraine, reducing funding and revising the set of services. The changes will affect one-time employment benefits, travel benefits, and medical services.
The Verkhovna Rada has begun considering the draft law "On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2026". A vote on the document may take place 75 minutes after the discussion of reports by Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko and Budget Committee Chairwoman Roksolana Pidlasa.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the EU pays Russia 1. 5 billion euros monthly for fossil fuels. She emphasized that this amount has significantly decreased since the beginning of the war, but is still too high.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that the peace process regarding Russia's war against Ukraine must continue. He named two ways to pressure the Russians if negotiations drag on or yield no results.
ASTRA is aware of at least 132 aerial bombs (125 FABs and 7 UMPBs) and three missiles that have fallen from Russian planes in Russia and in the occupied territories of Ukraine since the beginning of 2025.
Norway, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, and Canada announced funding for support packages for American weapons for Ukraine totaling over a billion dollars. Canada and Great Britain are also providing additional practical assistance.
Festive retro steam trains will depart on St. Nicholas weekend — December 5, 6, 7. They will run in Kyiv and Lviv.
Statements by the Russian occupiers about full control of both banks of the Oskil River in Kupyansk do not correspond to reality. The Armed Forces of Ukraine have improved their tactical position in the city, and individual Russian groups remain only in the northern districts.
The Russian General Staff's report of a breakthrough in Lyman is a lie. Ukrainian troops repel up to 40 assaults daily, preventing the occupiers from entering the city.
Ukraine's foreign partners have coordinated further steps to restore the New Safe Confinement Arch over the destroyed 4th power unit of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, damaged by a Russian drone in February 2025. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is considering mechanisms to attract new donors.
In the 11 months of 2025, 24,261 couples used the "Online Marriage" service from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Digital Transformation. Digital Civil Registry Offices in Kyiv, Dnipro, and Lviv provide quick and remote marriage registration, including for military personnel through a simplified procedure.
On Wednesday, December 3, the air temperature in Ukraine will be +4+8 degrees, in the south up to +12. From December 4, an anticyclone from the east will affect the weather, no significant precipitation is expected.
The Verkhovna Rada Committee on Budget voted the State Budget for 2026 for the second reading. Proposed changes include an increase in the personal income tax percentage for local budgets and additional funds for arms procurement.
Rustem Umerov and Andriy Hnatov will hold meetings with national security advisors to European leaders in Brussels. They will inform about US contacts in Moscow and discuss the security architecture.
On the first night of winter, an explosion occurred on a section of the Druzhba oil pipeline in Russia. The attack was carried out near the settlement of Kazinskiye Vyselki, on the Taganrog-Lipetsk oil pipeline section.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council, reported on the failure of Russian attempts to occupy Huliaipole in the Zaporizhzhia direction. He noted that the Russians are unable to break through the front, despite heavy fighting.
Peskov stated that the wording about Putin's rejection of the US peace plan is incorrect, as a direct exchange of views took place for the first time. The Kremlin will adhere to the principle of silence for the productivity of negotiations.
The "3000 km across Ukraine" program from "Ukrzaliznytsia" activated over 30,000 Ukrainians in the first hour. The first thousand tickets from frontline regions have already been snapped up, with flights from Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv being the most in demand.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that the PURL initiative for American weapons for Ukraine may require at least $1 billion monthly next year. These funds will go to offensive and defensive means, including interceptors for air defense systems.
A record 3,339 amendments were submitted to the draft State Budget for 2026, and three more Ukrainian budgets would have been needed to accommodate them. Local budgets were left with 64% of personal income tax, and UAH 58 billion was allocated for teachers' salaries.
The shortage of flu vaccines at the beginning of the 2025-2026 epidemic season is due to the world's transition to trivalent vaccines. Ukraine received 236,667 doses of flu vaccines, but their quantity on the private market was less than usual.
As of December 3, 99% of the heating season has been launched in Ukraine in the residential and social sectors. This includes 70.5 thousand buildings and 24.5 thousand social facilities, including kindergartens, schools, and healthcare institutions.
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth named Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy as his dream dinner guests. He also shared his thoughts on a possible menu.
As a result of Russia's night attack on energy facilities, over 22,000 subscribers in Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions were left without power. Electricity consumption remains high, and blackout schedules are in effect around the clock throughout Ukraine.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced discussions on supporting Ukraine at the meeting of NATO foreign ministers. He emphasized the importance of strengthening Ukraine for future peace talks.