United States
The United States has updated its National Security Strategy, which envisages restoring relations with Russia and ending the war in Ukraine. Expert Oleksandr Kraiev noted that the current US Administration's priority is to restore strategic relations with the Russian Federation.
The retail price of gasoline in Russia is 67. 1 rubles per liter, which is higher than the price in the US ($2.98 per gallon). This is due to the high share of taxes and fees in Russian pricing.
Russian special services plan to organize protest actions in Odesa, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, and Kyiv. Their goal is to destabilize the situation and put pressure on the Ukrainian leadership.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the leaders of Britain, France, and Germany held a meeting in London. Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of unity between Europe, Ukraine, and the USA.
President of the European Council António Costa criticized the new US national security strategy, accusing Washington of trying to influence political processes in the EU. He emphasized the need to strengthen Europe's defense capabilities and its readiness to take on a leadership role in NATO.
The US Congress has provided $800 million in aid to Ukraine in the defense budget for two years, allocating $400 million each for 2026 and 2027. The total US defense budget for 2026 will be $901 billion.
The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. This strengthens international pressure mechanisms and creates a political mandate for further action; Ukraine has returned 1,892 children, and over 20,000 reports of deportation are being processed.
People's Deputy Hanna Skorokhod attended an interrogation at NABU. She clarified that only ammunition, a phone, and documents were seized during the search, while money and weapons were not.
The issue of territory is the "most problematic" in negotiations to end the war, as Russia seeks full control over the occupied lands. Ukraine cannot agree to the terms of Washington and Moscow without agreeing on the details, while the US continues to exert pressure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that participants in peace initiative negotiations, mediated by the US, differ in opinions regarding the territorial issue. He emphasized that an agreement on the Ukrainian Donbas, including the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, has not yet been reached.
Statements about Russia's agreement to US President Donald Trump's peace plan are an illusion. Russia is buying time to continue offensive attempts on the front until spring.
A Russian LNG plant on the Baltic Sea coast has delivered gas to China for the first time since the introduction of US sanctions. The vessel Valera arrived at the Beihai import terminal, indicating strengthening energy cooperation between the countries.
Rustem Umerov and Andriy Hnatov held constructive talks with President Trump's representatives in the US. The Ukrainian team's task was to obtain full information about the conversation in Moscow and draft proposals for discussion with the President of Ukraine.
Brent crude futures rose to $63. 84 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude traded at $60.16. Investors are anticipating a Fed interest rate cut and monitoring geopolitical risks related to supplies from Russia and Venezuela.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council, stated that numerical superiority in personnel does not guarantee results in modern technological warfare. The effectiveness of drones, especially those with AI, will provide a "security wall" and become the basis of defense in the future.
UK Cabinet Minister Pat McFadden stated that the principle of negotiations between European leaders and the President of Ukraine in London is to give Kyiv the opportunity to decide its own future. These negotiations are a "turning point" for achieving a just peace and security guarantees for Ukraine.
US President Donald Trump expressed disappointment that Volodymyr Zelenskyy had not familiarized himself with the American "peace plan. " Trump discussed the situation with Putin and Ukrainian leaders, noting that Zelenskyy's team supports the document, but Zelenskyy himself "showed no interest."
Russia seized more than 500 square kilometers of territory in November, twice as much as last month. At the same time, with the onset of winter, analysts expect a slowdown in the Russian advance on the front.
Donald Trump Jr. stated that his father might withdraw from the negotiation process regarding the war in Ukraine if attempts to achieve peace are unsuccessful. He called Ukraine more corrupt than Russia, and Zelenskyy an outstanding marketer.
Russia positively assessed the wording in the updated US national security strategy regarding NATO non-expansion. However, the Kremlin will closely monitor the practical implementation of the document.
Strong magnetic storms with a K-index of 5 are expected on December 7 and 8. This can affect the health and well-being of people, especially those sensitive to solar fluctuations.
Czech President Petr Pavel stated that Russia's victory in the war against Ukraine would be a defeat for the entire West. He compared possible secret negotiations between Russia and the United States regarding Ukraine to the Munich Agreement of 1938.
FIFA has released the schedule for the 2026 World Cup group stage, highlighting matches with the highest expected temperatures, particularly in Inglewood and Philadelphia. Some teams, such as South Korea and Canada, will benefit from convenient logistics, playing consecutive matches in the same location.
At the Doha Forum, Syria's interim president accused Israel of fighting 'ghosts' in the Gaza Strip and seeking a conflict that has already ended.
Donald Trump called not to discuss his FIFA Peace Prize, stating that he earned it by working 26 hours a day, 8 days a week. The US President received the newly established award during the draw for the 2026 World Cup.
US President's Special Representative Kellogg stated that Russia and Ukraine together have lost over two million soldiers in the war. He emphasized the need to end the conflict.
In Bethlehem, on the West Bank, public Christmas celebrations have resumed with the lighting of a giant Christmas tree in Manger Square. The decision was made after the ceasefire, despite the ongoing suffering in Gaza, to revive the city's tourism-dependent economy.
In early December, China and Russia held the third round of joint anti-missile drills on Russian territory. The drills were not aimed at any third party.
The US Armed Forces are analyzing the use of autonomous weapon systems in the war in Ukraine to apply these developments in their own operations. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth emphasized that AI will play a key role in future wars, calling on allies to increase defense budgets.
European Union leaders will discuss the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine at a summit on December 18. Belgium has a special position on this issue, and the US is trying to block EU plans to use these assets.