Europe

Russia ceases gas supplies to EU via Ukraine

Russia has officially stopped gas transit through Ukraine as of 8am Moscow time on January 1, confirming the expected end of contracts that have been in place since 2019. Russian energy giant Gazprom has announced the halt after negotiations to extend the transit agreements with Ukrainian companies Naftogaz and the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine fell through.

US announces $2.5 billion security assistance package for Ukraine

United States President Joe Biden has announced a new security assistance package for Ukraine worth nearly $2.5 billion.

Ukraine can help restore stability, security in Syria after years of ‘Russian interference’: Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Kiev has a chance to contribute to restoring stability and security in Syria after years of Russian interference, emphasizing that this endeavour will also bolster Ukraine’s own pursuit of peace.

Russia says no grounds for ending Ukraine war

Russian authorities do not believe that the conflict between Moscow and Kiev can be stopped at the moment, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has stated.

Russia says won’t make concessions on Ukraine in NATO

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stated Moscow will not agree to a mere postponement of Kiev’s NATO membership, or to the deployment of European peacekeepers to Ukraine – two ideas reportedly proposed by advisers of US President-elect Donald Trump, as part of a potential peace deal.

Russia should admit guilt over downing airliner, pay compensation: Azerbaijan’s president

Moscow must admit responsibility for the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane after it was hit by fire from the ground over Russian territory, President Ilham Aliyev has stated in a television interview.

Assad’s wife barred from Britain for cancer treatment

Asma Assad, the British-born wife of ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad, has been effectively barred from returning to the United Kingdom after her British passport expired, according to local media.

Ukraine running out of ATACMS missiles: NYT

Kiev's stockpiles of Washington-supplied long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) are running low, the New York Times has reported, citing senior US officials.

Ukrainian forces admit low morale: WaPo

Ukrainian troops are exhausted from three years of war and increasingly want to see a negotiated end to the conflict with Russia, the Washington Post has reported, citing sources in the country’s military.

UNICEF says nearly 20 percent of children live in conflict zones

Almost one in five of the world’s children live in areas affected by conflicts, with more than 473 million children suffering from the worst levels of violence since the second world war, according to figures published by the UN humanitarian aid organisation for children, UNICEF on Saturday.

Iran becomes observer member of Eurasian Economic Union 

The Eurasian Economic Union has officially selected the Islamic Republic of Iran as an observer member of this economic union. 

EU members skeptical about sending peacekeepers to Ukraine: RFE/RL

It is not likely that EU member states will send peacekeepers to Ukraine, especially without US participation, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) has reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.

Biden directs Pentagon to ‘continue its surge’ of arms deliveries to Ukraine

US President Joe Biden has directed the Pentagon to "continue its surge" of weapons and military equipment deliveries to Ukraine in response to Russia's mass attack on the country on Christmas Day.

Russia may have downed Azerbaijani plane: Media

The Azerbaijani Airlines plane that crashed on Wednesday en route to Russia may have been shot down by a Moscow's surface-to-air missile, according to reports from independent Russian media outlets.

Russia says US stealing its money

Russia has accused the West of “stealing” its assets after the US transferred $1 billion from Moscow’s frozen central bank funds to Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has stated that Noscow could take legal action in response.

Pope Francis calls on world to ‘silence sound of arms’ in Christmas speech

Pope Francis has urged the world “to silence the sounds of arms and overcome divisions” in his traditional Christmas message, using his address to call for peace in West Asia, Ukraine and Sudan. He has also expressed concern over the “extremely grave” humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

Ukrainian PM says Kiev has received $1 billion backed by seized Moscow assets

The first $1 billion installment of a $20 billion US loan backed by impounded Russian funds has been paid to Ukraine, Prime Minister Denis Shmigal announced on Tuesday. Moscow has vowed to respond to the “theft".

Zelensky claims over 3k North Korean soldiers killed, wounded in Russia

The number of killed and injured North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russian forces in Kursk Oblast has surpassed 3,000, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed in a statement.

Kremlin says several countries to become BRICS partners next year

Nine countries will officially join BRICS as partner states in 2025, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov has said, adding that the economic group is open to like-minded partners.

Ukraine increasingly sees conflict with Russia ending in 2025: WaPo

Ukrainian officials are “starting to believe” that the war with Russia will be resolved next year, a senior member of Volodymyr Zelensky’s government has reportedly told the Washington Post. The shift in attitude is a direct result of US President-elect Donald Trump’s public talk of a settlement, the official added.

Trump says Putin wants to meet him

US President-elect Donald Trump has claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to hold a meeting with him "as soon as possible".

North Korea preparing to ship more forces, drones to Russia: S. Korea

North Korea is preparing to deploy additional troops, weapons and other military equipment, including drones, to aid Russia in its full-scale war against Ukraine, the South Korean military has claimed.

Italy warns Russia’s threat to Europe much wider than imagined

Moscow’s threat to Europe extends beyond defense to illegal immigration and cybersecurity, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has warned during an international meeting in Finland.

US suggests Ukraine consider ceding territories: El Pais

US President-elect Donald Trump has sent a message to Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, asking him to start thinking about a ceasefire and to abandon the territories that are currently under Russian control, El Pais newspaper reported.

Qatar warns may stop gas shipments to EU amid Russia-Ukraine war

Doha will stop gas shipments to the EU if member states enforce new legislation on carbon emissions, Qatar’s energy minister Saad al-Kaabi has told the Financial Times (FT). Qatar has become an important supplier to the bloc after Brussels resolved to wean itself off Russian gas following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022.

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