CNN’s investigation has discovered that Russia has been smuggling gold out of Sudan to support dictator Vladimir Putin’s war effort in Ukraine. Roughly one ton of gold was found on a Russian cargo plane in February claiming to be exporting cookies. According to CNN, over the past year and a half, Russia operated at least 16 flights with smuggled gold from Sudan. Evidence collected by CNN suggests that Russia colluded with Sudan’s military leadership, promising the latter military backing in exchange for gold worth billions of dollars.
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Top anti-Putin Russian commander killed fighting for Ukraine
Trump's Mar-a-Lago meeting with Zelensky ends without agreement on how peace in Ukraine should look
'It was horrifying, like an earthquake' – Kyiv recovering from mass Russian attack that left 2 killed, 32 injured, ahead of peace talks
Ukrainian drones struck Russia's Syzran Oil Refinery, General Staff confirms
Explosions reportedly rock Russia's Khanskaya military airfield
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Monday, December 29
(Updated: )
Zelensky dismissed Russian claims that Ukrainian drones targeted Putin’s residence as “another lie,” warning Moscow is using the allegation as a pretext for possible strikes on Kyiv and government buildings.
Kyiv failed to implement nine indicators in the last three months of 2025, the highest number missed in any quarter since the Ukraine Facility began in 2024, according to a Dec. 29 assessment by RRR4U.
(Updated: )
"President Trump has concluded a positive call with President Putin concerning Ukraine," said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Ukraine’s Southern Operational Command says Huliaipole is now a gray zone, with no clear front line anymore, according to spokesperson Vladyslav Voloshyn.
(Updated: )
"I told (Trump) that we would like to consider guarantees for 30, 40, or even 50 years, and that would be a historic decision by president Trump. The president said he would think about it," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Russian troops shot dead two unarmed Ukrainian prisoners of war on Dec. 27 in the village of Shakhove near Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office reported on Dec. 29, in what appeared to be at least the third reported case this month of captured Ukrainian soldiers being killed after being taken prisoner.
(Updated: )
Explosions reportedly rocked the Khanskaya military airfield near the southern Russian city of Maykop as air defenses were engaged late on Dec. 29.
(Updated: )Peace Plan
Trump's Mar-a-Lago meeting with Zelensky ends without agreement on how peace in Ukraine should look.
"They're going to be helping. Russia is going to be helping," U.S. President Donald Trump said when asked if Moscow would hold any responsibility for Ukraine's reconstruction.
Sunday, December 28
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Dec. 28 that he held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of his scheduled meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
