Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Europe

‘He can come to Kyiv’: Zelensky mocks Putin’s Moscow invitation

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky once again dismissed a proposal to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, suggesting the Russian leader should come to Ukraine instead.

West floats plan to send Bangladeshi or Saudi forces into Ukraine buffer zone: NBC

Kiev’s European backers want the US to oversee a buffer zone between Russia and Ukraine in the event of a peace accord, with troops from non-NATO countries such as Bangladesh or Saudi Arabia potentially deployed on the ground, NBC News reported Friday, citing anonymous sources.

US military officials involved in European plan to send 10,000 forces to Ukraine: WSJ

Top US military officials have been involved in drawing up a plan for “security guarantees” for Kiev advocated by Britain and France that includes a massive troop deployment to Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal has reported, citing a European diplomat.

Putin says western forces deployed to Ukraine would be ‘legitimate targets’

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Friday that any Western troops deployed to Ukraine amid the war would be considered “legitimate targets” by Moscow.

US cutting military funding to NATO countries bordering Russia: FT

The United States has started to phase out foreign funding programs for NATO countries bordering Russia in an effort to push its European allies to pay for their own security, Financial Times has reported.

Not for Russia to ‘decide’ if west can deploy forces to Ukraine: NATO

NATO chief Mark Rutte has stated that Russia did not have a veto on whether Western powers can deploy troops to Ukraine as part of security guarantees if a truce is reached.

Kiev refutes Putin-Zelensky meeting in Moscow

Kiev has rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal that he meet with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky in Moscow.

Pentagon chief: US seeking ‘deter’ Russia and China

The United States is seeking to restore deterrence against both Russia and China, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth has stated.

Trump warns Putin on Ukraine war

United States President Donald Trump has issued a thinly veiled threat to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the Ukraine war, warning of unspecified consequences if he is unhappy with Moscow’s next steps in the conflict.

Putin says ready to host Zelensky in Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated his readiness to host Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky in Moscow. Holding meetings for the sake of meetings is a “path to nowhere,” however, and such talks must be meaningful, he stressed.

Foreign peacekeepers ‘unacceptable’ in Ukraine: Russia

Moscow is not open to foreign peacekeeping troops securing a ceasefire or peace accord in Ukraine, Russian state media reported, citing Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova.

Erdogan says Putin, Zelensky not ready for face-to-face meeting

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated that neither Russian President Vladimir Putin nor Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is prepared to hold direct talks at this time, according to Reuters.

France issues arrest warrant for Bashar Assad over 2012 journalist killings in Syria

French judicial authorities have issued arrest warrants for ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and six other top former officials over the bombardment of a city in 2012 that killed two journalists, lawyers have stated.

EU defence spending to hit record 380bn Euros this year: Report

EU military spending is set to hit a fresh record of 381 billion euros in 2025, as the member states plough more money into warding off Russia, the bloc's defence agency announced Tuesday.

EU considers tighter rules to block Russian gas: Bloomberg

European Union countries are weighing new measures to close potential loopholes that could allow Russian gas to continue flowing into the bloc after a full ban takes effect by the end of 2027, Bloomberg has reported.

Kremlin says Putin and Trump did not agree on summit with Zelensky

No deal has been reached between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump on the former holding talks with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky or on a trilateral summit, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov has stated.

Belgium says to recognise Palestinian statehood, put sanctions on Israel

Belgium will recognise the State of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) later this month, Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Prevot has stated.

Spy agency claims about 2,000 North Korean soldiers killed in Russia deployment

Around 2,000 North Korean soldiers deployed to help Russia fight Ukraine are estimated to have been killed, South Korea's spy agency claimed Tuesday, according to a lawmaker.

US says ‘despicable’ Russian bombing campaign against Ukraine puts all sanctions options on table

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News that the Donald Trump administration is considering new sanctions on Russia after President Vladimir Putin intensified strikes on Ukraine despite recent peace talks.

European ‘war party’ hindering Ukraine peace process: Russia

A European “war party” is trying to sabotage the diplomatic process launched by the US and Russia to end the Ukraine conflict, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has claimed.

Putin defends Ukraine invasion at SCO, slams West

Russian President Vladimir Putin sought on Monday to defend his Ukraine offensive to Moscow's allies, slamming the West for triggering the three-and-a-half year war that has killed tens of thousands and devastated much of eastern Ukraine.

Europe drafting ‘precise plans’ for troop deployments to Ukraine with US backing: Top diplomat

European capitals are preparing “pretty precise plans” for potential troop deployments to Ukraine as part of postwar security guarantees, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the Financial Times (FT), adding that the measures would carry full U.S. support.

Ukraine plans strikes deep into Russia: Zelensky

Ukraine plans new strikes deep into Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated, after weeks of intensified attacks on Russian energy assets.

Top Russian general says military operation against Ukraine will continue

Russian forces will push their advantage and continue their offensive against Ukrainian troops, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov has stated.

US accuses Europe of prolonging Ukraine war: Axios

Senior White House officials have accused some European leaders of prolonging Russia's war in Ukraine, Axios has reported.

Latest news