Czech president warns 2024 may be favorable to Putin
Czech president Petr Pavel, a top NATO leader and ardent Ukraine supporter, told Seznam Zpravy on Dec. 19 that he expects “a new situation” next year that could favor Moscow.
Lance Luo
Articles
Colorado’s top court removes Trump from 2024 ballot
The U.S. state of Colorado’s highest court removed former U.S. President Donald Trump from the state’s 2024 election ballot, ruling that he cannot be considered as a candidate because of the 14th Amendment’s “insurrectionist ban,” CNN reported on Dec. 19.
Zelensky says he plans cuts to government spending
President Zelensky in Kyiv on Dec. 19 told reporters he plans to reduce government expenditures because UAH 500 million will be needed for fresh mobilization efforts.
US lawmakers will not reach deal in 2023 for more Ukraine aid
The United States Senate will not be voting on a deal this year to provide more aid to Ukraine, Reuters reported on Dec. 19.
Russian drones over Kyiv downed, no casualties reported
Russia’s Dec. 16 attack, the sixth aerial assault on Kyiv since the beginning of December, was successfully thwarted with no casualties or major damage, according to Kyiv City Military Administration head Serhiy Popko.
US Ambassador to Russia visits jailed reporter Evan Gershkovich
The United States Embassy in Moscow said on Dec. 15 that Ambassador Lynne Tracy visited Evan Gershkovich, a U.S. citizen and Wall Street Journal reporter currently detained in Russia on espionage charges he denies.
Ambassador Brink urges US lawmakers to approve Ukraine aid package
U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink on Dec. 15 urged Congress to reach a deal on additional support for Ukraine “as soon as possible,” describing the situation as “urgent.”
Ukraine launched drone attack on Crimea, Kursk, Russia says
Multiple explosions were reported in Crimea on Dec. 15 as air defense downed six Ukrainian drones over the peninsula, Russia's Ministry of Defense said.
Russia continues to strike Kyiv with UAVs
A loud explosion was heard near the center of Kyiv overnight on Dec. 16, Kyiv Independent journalists report.
Tarnavskyi: Russia spreading disinfo about capturing Marinka
Ukrainian forces on Dec. 13 repelled 11 attacks in Marinka as Russia gears up for more assaults and spreads disinformation about capturing the city, according to Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi.
US House authorizes impeachment inquiry into Biden over family’s Ukraine, China dealings
The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Dec. 13 to officially authorize an ongoing impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, Reuters reported.
First responders in Odesa work in aftermath of airstrikes
First responders in Odesa on Dec. 14 are cleaning up the aftermath of Russian airstrikes which left 11 people injured and damaged multiple buildings, says the State Emergency Service.
Congress gridlocked one day before holiday break without Ukraine deal
U.S. congressmembers are scheduled to leave Washington, D.C. on Dec. 14 for a three-week holiday break, with no deal in sight.
NATO budget jumps 12% in 2024
NATO on Dec. 13 announced its 2024 military budget will increase by 12% to 2.03 billion euros and its civil budget by 18.2% to 438.1 million euros.
Zelensky says Ukraine has fulfilled EU membership obligations
Ukraine has fulfilled membership obligations set by the European Commission, President Zelensky told Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in a phone call on Dec. 13, the presidential office revealed.
Brittney Griner calls for more effort to free Americans detained overseas
WNBA star Brittney Griner on Dec. 8 commemorated one year since her release from Russia and called for more effort to free others currently detained overseas, highlighting the plight of wrongfully imprisoned Americans Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich, The Hill reported.
US-Russian dual national detained in Russia for social media post
Yuri Malev, a dual national holding both United States and Russian Federation citizenship, was detained in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Dec. 9 for what officials allege were social media posts 'rehabilitating nazism' published in May 2022, RFE/RL reported.
Russia studying allocation of frozen gold reserves to Global South for climate change
Russian officials at the COP28 summit in Dubai said Moscow is studying whether some of its gold reserves, frozen by the West after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, could be used to help the Global South combat climate change.
Hungarian truckers to join Polish, Slovak protests on border with Ukraine
Hungarian freight carriers starting on Dec. 11 will begin an official demonstration and block the Zahony-Chop checkpoint on the border with Ukraine, local media reported citing the Association of Hungarian Road Carriers.
Rada's new freedom of speech chief criticizes TV marathon
Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, the newly appointed chief of the Verkhovna Rada's Committee on Freedom of Speech, questioned the effectiveness of Ukraine's TV marathon introduced after Russia's full-scale invasion in Feb. 2022, Interfax reports.
First Lady: Ukraine in 'mortal danger' without financial aid
Ukraine is in "mortal danger" if it does not continue receiving financial aid from Western countries, First Lady Olena Zelenska told the BBC on Dec. 9, one day after a Ukraine aid bill failed to pass in Washington.
EU urges China to use its influence to stop Russian invasion
At the annual EU-China meeting on Dec. 7 in Beijing, EU leaders urged China to use its influence on Russia to stop its invasion of Ukraine, and to engage with the Ukrainian Peace Formula.
Zelensky congratulates Jewish leaders on first day of Hanukkah
President Volodymyr Zelensky on Nov. 7 met with Jewish clergy in Kyiv and took part in the Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony with Chief Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetsky.
US charges two Russian citizens accused of hacking NATO computers
The United States on Dec. 7 announced an indictment alleging Russian citizens Peretyatko and Andrei Korinets oversaw a campaign to hack into computers in NATO member states on behalf of Moscow.
Russia strikes Kharkiv 6 times with S-300 missiles
Russian forces used S-300 missiles to land strikes on civilian infrastructure in Kharkiv six times overnight on Dec. 8, military officials said.
US imposes fresh sanctions on multinational network helping Russia
The U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on Dec. 5 imposed new sanctions targeting an international weapons procurement network that Washington says involves numerous Cyprus-incorporated entities as well as businesses registered in Sweden, Hong Kong, and the Netherlands.
Air defense downs 41 Russian drones overnight
Ukraine's air defense forces downed 41 out of 48 Russian drones overnight on Dec. 6, the Air Force said on Telegram.
UK pledges to maintain military support for Ukraine
The United Kingdom will maintain its military support for Ukraine, Britain's top diplomat David Cameron told lawmakers on Dec. 5, according to The Guardian.
Classified intelligence briefing for US senators falls apart
A classified Dec. 5 session about Ukraine and Israel led by the secretaries of defense and state, as well top intelligence officials, became heated and "fell apart" with Republicans storming out, NBC News reported.
Moscow rejects 'substantial' deal to free detained American journalist and marine
The White House on Dec. 5 revealed Moscow rejected a a substantial deal aimed at freeing journalist Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan.
US deploys fresh sanctions on entities trading Russian oil
The Office of Foreign Assets Control on Dec. 1 imposed fresh sanctions on three transnational entities involved in violating the Treasury Department’s price cap on Russian oil sales.
Zelensky acknowledges need for greater war mobilization as manpower slumps
President Volodymyr Zelensky on Dec. 1 said changes to mobilization are necessary as he ordered a strategic turn focused on defense following a lackluster counteroffensive in Ukraine’s southern regions.
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