President Volodymyr Zelensky met U.S. envoys in Berlin on Dec. 15 to continue discussions on a plan for ending the Russia-Ukraine war, a source close to the Presidential Office told the Kyiv Independent.

Hello, this is Francis Farrell reporting from Kyiv on day 1,391 of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Today's top story so far: A new poll found Ukrainians remain willing open to a deal with security guarantees — but overwhelmingly reject a plan that would force a pullback from Donbas without concrete protections. A strong majority of Ukrainians — 75% — rejected a proposed peace plan that would involve the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Donbas, military restrictions, and no concret

A thermal power plant in Belgorod, known as "Luch", was damaged during a wave of drone attacks on Russian territory overnight on Dec. 15, Astra reported, citing local residents.

Editor's note: This article is a shortened on-site version of KI Insights' public newsletter, The Week Ahead, covering events from December 15-21. Sign up here to start your week with an agenda of Ukraine-related events delivered directly to your inbox every week. The European Council meeting on 18-19 December will prove decisive for the fate of the reparations loan backed by frozen Russian assets. The Council must reach a decision that will secure Ukraine's financing for the next two years. Wi

Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz floated the idea of transferring Warsaw's remaining Soviet-designed MiG-29s to Kyiv in exchange for Ukraine's drone and anti-drone technology.

The International Chess Federation's (FIDE) General Assembly on Dec. 14 allowed teams from Russia and Belarus to participate in international tournaments and permitted youth chess players to compete under national symbols.

Russian air defense units have shot down at least 15 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) en route to Moscow, Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said.

The attack caused "serious damage" to an unspecified facility, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said. Local Telegram channels reported explosions at a key thermal power plant.

Alexander Kleytman, a Holocaust survivor who immigrated to Australia from Ukraine with his wife Larisa, was one of 16 killed in a terrorist attack targeting the Jewish community in Sydney.

Ukrainska Pravda, citing law enforcement sources, reported that Anna Skorokhod, a lawmaker from the For the Future party, is suspected of taking a large bribe.

President Volodymyr Zelensky is meeting U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Berlin, as talks continue to finalize a peace plan to end Russia's full-scale war.

Key developments on Dec. 13-14: * US, Ukraine peace talks to continue on Dec. 15 in Berlin as Zelensky calls for 'Article 5-like' security guarantees * Russia’s December oil and gas revenue set to drop to lowest level since 2020, Reuters reports * US lifts sanctions on Belarusian potash, as Minsk releases over 100 political prisoners, including top opposition figures * Ukraine says it destroyed pipeline Russia used to infiltrate Kupiansk, releases video * Ukraine sanctions nearly 700 vesse

About the author: Margus Tsahkna is Estonia’s foreign minister. If Europe truly wants to be a real player in the geopolitical arena and to shape its own security and future, it must match strong words with decisive action. Europe has one powerful lever in its hands right now: Russia’s frozen assets. It’s time to use them. Around 210 billion euros ($246 billion) in Russian central bank assets are sitting frozen in Europe for one reason: Russia chose a full-scale war of aggression. And internati

Russian forces attacked a supermarket in the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia on Dec. 14, injuring at least 14 people, including a six-year-old child, Governor Ivan Fedorov reported.

"I don't think we'll be delaying anything. It is very important for us to maintain the relationship between us and Poland," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, The Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur reports on renewed calls for Ukraine to hold wartime elections after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested Kyiv used Russia’s war to avoid a vote, echoing a Kremlin narrative.

Zelensky said Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) chief Kyrylo Budanov informed him Belarus preferred this option over releasing the prisoners via "this or that EU country."

The U.S. lifted sanctions on Belarusian potash in exchange for the release of over 100 political prisoners in Belarus, many of whom were transferred to Ukraine.

Ukraine's "Achilles" drone regiment described the pipeline as a "critically important logistical channel" for Russian forces. The route was discovered during reconnaissance and destroyed in a joint operation with other Ukrainian units.

The Afipsky Oil Refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai, the Uryupinsk oil depot in Vologograd Oblast, and two fuel depots in Crimea were struck, the Ukrainian military reported.

Ukrainian forces downed 110 out of the 138 drones, including Shahed-type attack drones, launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported. Russia also launched an Iskander-M ballistic missile.

The number includes 710 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

Russia’s oil and gas revenue in December is expected to be nearly half compared to the previous year, down to about 410 billion rubles ($5.17 billion), Reuters reported on Dec. 12.

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Dec. 13 that Ukraine’s sanctions against nearly 700 vessels linked to Russia’s shadow fleet had entered into force.

President Volodymyr Zelensky on Dec. 13 announced he will meet "with envoys" of U.S. President Donald Trump in the coming days as discussions on the U.S.-proposed peace framework aimed at ending Russia's war continue.

A Russian airstrike on Odesa on Dec. 12 damaged infrastructure and left parts of the city without electricity and water, the head of the Odesa Military Administration, Serhiy Lysak, reported.

About the author: Michael Rubin is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and director of policy analysis at the Middle East Forum. It was all pomp and circumstance when Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in India. Putin made his first state visit to India 25 years ago, shortly after assuming power in Moscow, and has visited ten times since, although this is his first since the 2022 all-out invasion of Ukraine. “India is not neutral, India is on the side of peace,” Prime Mi

As Russian drones test Europe's skies, European governments are turning to the one nation that knows this battle best. Ukraine’s state power company, Ukrenergo — which as the chief transporter of the country's electricity has borne the brunt of Russia’s drone and missile attack campaign on the energy system — has been advising and training counterparts in Germany, Poland, and Lithuania since the spring. If Russia’s drone incursions into Europe escalate, "there could be sabotage or hybrid attac

On Nov. 28, a Russian attack lasting more than 10 hours struck Ukrainian cities, with Kyiv as the main target. The Kyiv Independent’s Nick Allard and Tania Myronyshena spent the night with a Kyiv family sheltering in a parking garage with their three children.

Russian missile and drone strikes on energy infrastructure in Dnipropetrovsk, Chernihiv, Odesa, and Mykolaiv oblasts disrupted electricity supplies.

Ukrainian troops continue to employ "active defense tactics," seeking to improve positions and dislodge Russian forces in some areas, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said.

The number includes 1,300 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.