South China Morning Post: Zelensky seeks direct talks with Xi Jinping

5:57 PM

EU approves 15th sanction package against Russia, targeting 'shadow fleet'.

EU ambassadors agreed on a 15th package of sanctions against Russia, the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU announced on Dec. 11.

5:27 PM

Biden approves new memorandum on national security ahead of Trump taking office.

The document will not be published due to the "sensitivity of some of its findings," the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity under White House ground rules, told the Associated Press.

4:25 PM

Ukraine's tax hike, G7 loan enough for planned defense expenses in 2025, Finance Ministry says.

For the next year, Ukraine allocated 26.3% of its gross domestic product (GDP) to defense and security expenditures, including Hr 740 billion ($17.7 billion) for arms purchases and Hr 50 billion ($1.2 billion) on the production and purchase of drones.

4:21 PM

Opinion

YouTuber Johnny Harris’ lens on Eastern Europe is distorted and irresponsible

3:54 PM

Russian proxies sentence 9 Azovstal defenders to 24 years, life in prison.

Russian occupation authorities in Donetsk jailed nine Ukrainian soldiers captured after defending Mariupol to between 24 years and a life sentence, the city's exiled authorities reported on Dec. 11.

3:18 PM

Russia convinced Assad to flee Syria amid rebel offensive, Bloomberg reports.

Moscow persuaded Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad to flee to Russia with his family after realizing his regime was bound to lose to the opposition's rapid advance, Bloomberg reported on Dec. 11, citing its sources.

2:49 PM

Russian-occupied Abkhazia left without electricity due to hydroelectric station shutdown.

The region has recently faced energy restrictions aggravated by a growing spat with its Russian patrons. Moscow has cut almost all funding, including money crucial for the energy sector, after Abkhazia's local council voted against a controversial investment agreement with Russia.

1:52 PM

Russia continues to suffer record losses in December, Zelensky says.

"As in November, the Russian military is using a record number of its men in December in battles and assaults," President Zelensky said.

1:14 PM  (Updated:  December 11, 2024 1:32 pm)

Updated: Hungary's Orban calls Putin to discuss Ukraine.

The Hungarian government has not yet commented on the call, which appears to have taken place after Orban's visit to Trump's Florida residence.

12:55 PM

Ukraine Business Roundup — Ukraine moves to replace Chinese drone parts

12:34 PM

Ukraine has arms to resist at least until mid-2025 if US cuts aid, finance minister says.

"I believe that we have enough funds, enough weapons, missiles, and artillery shells to resist at least during the first half of 2025," Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko said.

12:12 PM

Zelensky emphasized security guarantees in talks with Trump, Reuters reports.

President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump did not discuss details of a possible peace plan when they met in Paris, with Trump calling for an immediate ceasefire, Reuters reported on Dec. 11, citing five undisclosed sources.

11:28 AM

Police raid Ukrainian Railways over suspected criminal scheme.

"The actions of the defendants led to significant losses and the creation of an artificial shortage of tickets for the most popular routes on the market," the police’s statement read.

11:10 AM

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 8, injure 57 over past day.

Russian attacks across Ukraine killed at least eight civilians and injured at least 57 over the past day, regional authorities reported early on Dec. 11.

10:48 AM

Opinion

As military options dwindle, US support is key to Ukraine's peace talks

7:52 AM  (Updated:  December 11, 2024 10:28 am)

Updated: Ukraine reportedly strikes industrial targets in Russia's Rostov, Bryansk oblasts.

A Ukrainian missile struck a boiler plant in Russia's Rostov Oblast overnight on Dec. 11, damaging critical infrastructure in the city of Taganrog, Russian officials claimed.

10:14 AM

Syria's ousted dictator Assad in Russia, Russian official confirms.

This comes as the first official confirmation of speculations that Assad and his family fled to Moscow following the collapse of the dictator's regime in Syria.

9:46 AM

Russia killed at least 109 Ukrainian POWs in 2024, ombudsman says.

"In 2024 alone, we can confirm that Russian troops shot 109 Ukrainian prisoners of war," Lubinets said. Reports of murders, torture, and ill-treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war are received regularly by Ukrainian authorities.

8:36 AM

Media identifies over 82,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine.

Russia has made territorial gains in Eastern Ukraine, using brutal meat wave tactics to achieve minor tactical victories on the frontline at the cost of high casualties among its soldiers.

8:13 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 757,340 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,400 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

6:54 AM

Russia 'prepared to consider' prisoner exchange with US, Russian official says.

Russia will "definitely be prepared to consider" a prisoner exchange, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told NBC News, adding that a potential exchange could mark "a healthy step forward, especially at the beginning of the next (U.S.) administration."

6:17 AM

US considering implementing harsher sanctions on Russian oil ahead of Trump's inauguration, Bloomberg reports.

Although no concrete decisions have been made on the potential sanctions, sources familiar with the discussions told Bloomberg that a number of avenues are being explored, including sanctions on Russia's so-called 'shadow fleet.'

4:25 AM

US announces $266 million in sales to bolster Ukraine’s F-16 fighter jets.

The State Department approved a $266 million foreign military sales package for Ukraine on Dec. 10, enabling the sustainment of services as well as repairs necessary for the upkeep of the country's F-16 fighter jets.

1:28 AM

Hungary vows to block potential EU sanctions on Georgia over protest crackdowns.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has pledged to veto a proposal to impose EU sanctions on Georgian officials for their crackdown on anti-government protests, the First Channel of Georgia reported on Dec. 10.

11:43 PM

Russian drone hits IAEA service vehicle near Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

On Dec. 10, a Russian drone struck and severely damaged an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) service vehicle on its way to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), President Volodymyr Zelensky reported.