On December 20, temporary traffic restrictions will be introduced in the central part of Kyiv. This is due to the visit of foreign delegations, as reported by the State Guard Administration.
The European Commission has published a report on the visa suspension mechanism, with a special focus on Georgia. Brussels will gradually begin to restrict privileges for Georgian citizens, starting with holders of diplomatic passports.
Commander of NATO's Allied Maritime Command, Mike Utley, stated that the Alliance has an advantage over Russia but is not ready for prolonged hostilities. Member countries have recognized the problem and plan to invest in increasing resilience.
Professor Vadym Popko highlighted the role of artificial intelligence in Ukrainian diplomacy, referring to student works. Young people propose to institutionalize counter-disinformation and implement ethical AI mechanisms.
EU countries have offered additional guarantees to Belgium to support a plan to provide Ukraine with a 210 billion euro loan from frozen Russian assets. Unused loan funds will be the first line of defense if the EU has to compensate Russia for damages.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine must be in a strong position, and Russia must understand that Ukraine will not capitulate. He emphasized the need to reduce the Russian economy through sanctions to force the Russian Federation to move to diplomacy.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed support for Venezuela, condemning unilateral pressure. This came after US President Donald Trump ordered the blocking of oil tankers to increase pressure on the South American country.
EU diplomats are trying to find a compromise on financial aid to Ukraine ahead of the bloc's leaders' summit. Options being considered include a loan based on frozen Russian assets or joint EU debt.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski ironically reacted to Maria Zakharova's statement about "Poland being created by Lenin", comparing it to Putin's "charity" towards Ukraine.
Canada plans to open two new consulates in Greenland and Alaska as part of a strategy to strengthen its presence in the Arctic. Foreign Minister Anita Anand emphasized the growing strategic importance of the region, given the advancement of Russian infrastructure and the melting of polar ice.
Israel denied entry to the West Bank to six Canadian parliamentarians due to alleged ties to a terrorist organization. The Canadian side protested and linked the incident to Canada's political decisions regarding Palestine.
American lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill that provides for sanctions against the purchase or facilitation of imports of Russian oil. The document creates a legal framework for increasing sanctions pressure on Russia's oil revenues.
Hungary has blocked the European Union's enlargement statement, preventing Ukraine from starting EU accession negotiations. 26 EU member states support Ukraine, but Hungary did not support a positive assessment of its efforts.
US President Donald Trump has signed an order to tighten restrictions on the entry of foreign nationals into the United States. The restrictions apply to 5 new countries and individuals with Palestinian Authority travel documents, and are extended for 12 high-risk countries.
Kaja Kallas emphasized the need for real troops and capabilities for Ukraine's security guarantees if the issue of NATO is not discussed. She stressed that these cannot be paper promises, but only tangible military capabilities.
EU diplomacy chief Kallas said that EU leaders will discuss financing Ukraine at Thursday's meeting, where a reparation loan is the most likely option. This loan will be based on frozen Russian assets, avoiding the use of taxpayer money.
The European Union is facing a critical week as it tries to protect Ukraine from an unfavorable peace deal imposed by the US and Russia, and to save a multi-billion euro loan financing agreement for Ukraine. EU leaders will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and American officials in Berlin to discuss a peace deal, and will also fight for support for the lending plan among European governments.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is meeting in Berlin with US President's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The talks are taking place against the backdrop of an international peace summit.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer plans to appoint a new ambassador to the US due to escalating tensions with Washington. The decision is linked to political tensions, particularly due to differing approaches to the war in Ukraine.
The European Union has decided to indefinitely freeze Russian assets worth up to €210 billion. The funds will remain in the EU until Russia pays full reparations to Ukraine for the damage caused.
Rustem Umerov held closed-door meetings with FBI Director Kash Patel and his deputy Dan Bongino during a visit to Miami, raising concerns among Western officials. Ukraine's ambassador to Washington confirmed the meeting, noting that national security issues were discussed.
Personnel changes are expected in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Sergiy Kyslytsia will become the new head of the diplomatic department, and the current head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Andriy Sybiha, will take the post of ambassador to Poland.
As a result of the Russian strike on Fastiv on the night of December 6, 27 suburban train cars were destroyed, with damages estimated at UAH 300 million. The depot and station were destroyed, and UAH 100 million is needed for reconstruction.
Ukraine's Ambassador to Israel, Yevhen Korniychuk, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This happened after his criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statements about "close personal contact" with Vladimir Putin.
The U. S. State Department is reverting to the use of Times New Roman font in official communications, overturning the Biden administration's decision to switch to Calibri. This decision, made under Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is motivated by a return to professionalism and the cancellation of the "wasteful" DEIA program.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome. They discussed defense support for Ukraine, strengthening air defense, and enhancing energy resilience, as well as further financial support.
Russia has resumed the project of transferring water resources of the Ob River to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. This is a modernized version of the Soviet plan to "divert Siberian rivers," which was abandoned due to environmental risks.
Mexico refused to expel more than two dozen Russian spies operating under diplomatic cover, despite their identification by the CIA. Russia has intensified its intelligence activities in Mexico since the invasion of Ukraine, leveraging its proximity to the US and weaker surveillance levels.
The EU has agreed to exclude Poland from the solidarity mechanism of the new Migration Pact. This exempts Warsaw from the obligation to accept migrants or pay financial compensation.
Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the UK for meetings with E3 leaders. After that, he will hold a bilateral meeting with Starmer and participate in a phone call with the leaders of Finland, Italy, NATO, and the EU, and then head to Belgium.
