Thursday, December 25, 2025

Europe

Zelensky discloses US-Ukraine plan to end Russian war, key questions remain

Kyiv won some concessions in the latest version of a US-led draft plan to end the Russian invasion, revealed by Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, though key questions remain over territory and whether Moscow could accept the new terms.

Ex-senior army officers call on UK to ‘cut all military collaboration with Israel’

Four senior former army officers have written to the UK prime minister urging a full arms embargo on Israel and a suspension of involvement with any Israel-linked defence firms.

Syria ministers discuss military collaboration with Putin in Russia: SANA

Syria’s foreign and defence ministers met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and held discussions on expanding “strategic cooperation in the military industries sector”, Syrian state media reported.

Pope calls for Christmas Day ceasefire, laments Russia’s rejection

Pope Leo XIV has urged a global truce on Christmas Day, expressing “great sadness” that “apparently Russia refuted a request” for one.

US slashed Ukraine aid by factor of 77 since 2024: Report

Over the past year, the amount of US aid to Ukraine has dropped by a whopping $45 billion, with Kiev’s European supporters so far unable to make up for the difference, ZN.UA media outlet has reported.

US allies dissatisfied with WH’s foreign policy shift: Survey

Public opinions in countries which are closely allied with Washington have shifted sharply against the US amid President Donald Trump’s ongoing foreign policy overhaul, according to a poll published by Politico.

Libyan army chief killed in plane crash near Ankara

The Libyan army’s chief of staff, Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, has died in a plane crash near the Turkish capital, shortly after the private jet he was travelling in took off from an airport in Turkey.

Two Americans killed fighting for Ukraine: Newsweek

Two American mercenaries have been killed while fighting for Ukraine against Russian soldiers in December, Newsweek has reported.

Ukraine says Russian aerial attacks cut power across the country

Several Ukrainian regions suffered power cuts in frigid winter weather on Tuesday, after Russia launched its latest deadly large-scale attack with drones and missiles, authorities said.

Russian diplomat says Iran has ‘inalienable right’ to maintain peaceful nuclear program

Russia’s Permanent Representative to international organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, has stressed that Iran has the right under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to continue its peaceful nuclear program.

Any US-Ukraine security guarantees will need congressional approval: Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that there are signs negotiators are “very close” to a finished peace proposal to end the Russia-Ukraine war, including U.S. security guarantees that will require congressional approval.

EU deplores China dairy duties as ‘unjustified’

Brussels hit back on Monday at Beijing’s decision to slap duties of up to 42.7 percent on some dairy products from the European Union, calling the move “unjustified.”

Global nuclear arms control under pressure in 2026: Report

The fragile global legal framework for nuclear weapons control faces further setbacks in 2026, eroding guardrails to avoid a nuclear crisis, according to a report by AFP.

Russia says US intelligence conclusions cited by Reuters ‘not true’

Moscow said on Monday that U.S. intelligence was wrong to believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to seize all of Ukraine and parts of Europe that were once part of the former Soviet Union.

Ukraine remains ‘fully committed to achieving a just and sustainable peace’: US

US special envoy Steve Witkoff has stated that Russia and Ukraine are committed to achieving peace amid negotiations on ending the ongoing war between the two countries.

Macron ‘betrayed’ Merz over Russia assets: FT

French President Emmanuel Macron “betrayed” Friedrich Merz by failing to back the German chancellor’s push to steal Russian assets frozen in the EU to fund Ukraine, the Financial Times reported.

Chances of peace not improved by European and Ukrainian changes to US proposals: Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin's top foreign policy aide has stated that he was sure the chances of peace in Ukraine were not improved by changes to U.S. proposals made by the Europeans and Ukraine, Interfax reported.

Zelensky says ‘strength’ to end war with Putin exists with Trump

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky once again called on American President Donald Trump to take an active role in negotiations to end Russia's war in Ukraine, as uncertainty continues to grow around the fate of ongoing U.S.-led peace negotiations.

US intelligence indicates Russia’s war aims in Ukraine are unchanged

U.S. intelligence reports continue to warn that Russian President Vladimir Putin intends to capture all of Ukraine and reclaim parts of Europe that belonged to the former Soviet empire, six sources familiar with U.S. intelligence have claimed, even as negotiators seek an end to the war that would leave Russia with far less territory.

Ukraine’s election format is not for Putin to decide: Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday stated that Moscow had no say in the organisation of elections in the country, after Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested halting strikes for Kyiv to hold a presidential ballot.

European taxpayers to foot €3bn yearly for Ukraine loan: Politico

EU taxpayers will have to pay €3 billion a year in borrowing costs to finance Kiev’s collapsing economy and military under a newly approved loan scheme, Politico has reported, citing senior bloc officials.

Ukraine claims it hit Russian patrol ship, oil platform in Caspian Sea

Ukraine's Special Operations Forces (SSO) carried out kamikaze drone strikes on a Russian patrol ship and an oil platform in the Caspian Sea on Friday, the SSO has reported on Saturday.

EU ‘will have to give back’ Russian assets: Putin

The EU will eventually have to return Russia’s sovereign assets frozen under Ukraine-related sanctions, President Vladimir Putin has stated. He warned the bloc against tapping the funds, saying the move would cause reputational damage and risk undermining the foundations of the modern financial system.

EU agrees on $105bn loan to support Ukraine against Russia

European Union leaders have agreed to provide an interest-free loan to Ukraine to meet its military and economic needs for the next two years, EU Council President Antonio Costa has stated.

EU kicks off summit on Russian fund plan for Ukraine

EU leaders kicked off a make-or-break summit Thursday on using frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine, with key player Belgium under pressure to drop its opposition.

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