Italy's Defense Minister Crosetto arrives in Kyiv on official visit
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto arrived in Kyiv on Jan. 16 for a "series of institutional meetings," Italy's Defense Ministry announced.
Ukraine
'Ukraine is still free' — Biden touts his admin's accomplishments in farewell speech
Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden briefly mentioned Ukraine during his farewell speech on Jan. 15, saying his administration helped to preserve the country's freedom.
Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 4, injure 27 over past day
Ukrainian forces downed 34 out of 55 drones, including Shahed-type ones, launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported. Another 18 were "lost," it added.
Ukraine blows up mine shaft to hamper Russian advance to Pokrovsk, NYT reports
In December, Russian troops advanced to within a mile of mine No. 3, raising fears that they could seize it and use its tunnels to outflank Ukraine's positions, according to the NYT.
Ukraine hopes to open all 6 negotiating clusters on EU accession in 2025, Zelensky says
Ukraine aims to potentially open all six EU accession negotiation clusters in 2025, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Jan. 15.
General Staff: Russia has lost 814,150 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,480 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
UK PM Starmer visits Kyiv to sign '100 Year Partnership' with Ukraine
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Kyiv on Jan. 16 amid an unannounced visit to the Ukrainian capital, where Starmer is set to sign a wide-ranging "100 Year Partnership" treaty, covering a number of areas including defense, energy, and trade.
Members of Trump's team admit Ukraine-Russia peace settlement could take months, Reuters reports
Several advisors to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump have accepted a timeline of at least several months to strike a deal to settle the Russia-Ukraine war, Reuters reported on Jan. 15, citing two Trump associates who directly spoke to the president-elect about the war.
NATO, EU membership, military strength are strategic security guarantees for Ukraine, Zelensky says
Continued weapons shipments, NATO accession, and EU membership are key security guarantees, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Jan. 15, noting that the country cannot engage in "games" reducing the size of its military. Ahead of potential peace negotiation, a large military was "the only security guarantee," Zelensky added.
US sanctions Russian entity operating occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
Russian forces have occupied the Zaporizhzhia plant, the largest nuclear station in Europe, since March 2022, and have been using the site in ways that increase the risk of a nuclear disaster.
Ukraine captures 23 Russian soldiers in Donetsk Oblast
Ukraine’s Azov Brigade captured 23 Russian soldiers during combat operations in the Toretsk area of Donetsk Oblast, the National Guard of Ukraine reported on Jan. 15.
Oil depot on fire in Russia's Voronezh region
An oil depot in Russia's Voronezh region caught fire following multiple drone strikes, regional governor Alexander Gusev said on Jan. 15.
Putin to demand Ukraine never join NATO during talks with Trump, Bloomberg reports
Russia will allegedly demand that Ukraine cut its ties with NATO and become "a neutral state with a limited military" during talks with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, Bloomberg reported on Jan. 15, citing its sources.
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine's military now totals 880,000 soldiers, facing 600,000 Russian troops, Kyiv claims
Key developments on Jan. 15: * Ukraine's military now totals 880,000 soldiers, facing 600,000 Russian troops, Zelensky says * Russia launches mass missile attack against Ukraine * Ukraine, Russia have to make concessions to end war, Rubio says * Ukraine brings back 25 people from Russian captivity, including Azovstal defenders * Lithuania would
Ukraine, Russia have to make concessions to end war, Rubio says
"It is important for everyone to be realistic: There will have to be concessions — made by the Russian Federation, but also by the Ukrainians," said Marco Rubio, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's pick for secretary of state.
Ahead of Trump’s inauguration, Ukraine’s European partners can’t afford to watch and wait for Washington’s next move
Just days out from the return of Donald Trump to the White House, the future of Russia’s war against Ukraine is dominated by a great unknown: whether the incoming president will manage to push Moscow to stop its advance on the battlefield, or whether he will disengage and perhaps
Ukraine’s military now totals 880,000 soldiers, facing 600,000 Russian troops, Zelensky says
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Jan. 15 that Ukraine's military now comprises 880,000 soldiers, tasked with defending the entire country against 600,000 Russian troops concentrated in specific areas.
Why Ukraine’s long-delayed missile production ambitions have yet to get off the ground
The Ukrainian government in recent months has been aggressively touting fresh developments in its missile-making. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the country had built 100 of its own missiles in 2024 as of November. He called for 3,000 “cruise missiles or missile-drones” to be manufactured in 2025. Traditional missiles
NATO defense budget could surpass Russia’s tenfold if Europe matches Poland’s spending, Tusk says
"No one but Europe will solve its defense problems," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Jan. 15.
‘Absolutely unacceptable’ — Appointment of Ukrainian judge who visited occupied Crimea, Russia triggers criticism
The decision highlights the continued presence of officials with ties to Russia in the Ukrainian government.
Polish PM accuses Russia of planning 'air terror,' condemns sabotage efforts
"These acts of sabotage are versions of the war that Russia has declared to the whole world, not just Ukraine," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.
Ukraine brings back 25 people from Russian captivity, including Azovstal defenders
President Volodymyr Zelensky said some of those brought back have serious injuries and illnesses.
'Strongest action possible' — Albanese vows to act if Australian fighting for Ukraine was executed by Russia
Oscar Jenkins, a 32-year-old teacher from Melbourne, was reported captured by Russian forces in December.
Lithuania would consider troop deployment to Ukraine upon Kyiv’s request, FM Budrys says
"We’d talk with our allies and partners about what it looks like, and we’d talk with Ukraine about what it looks like," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said.
Russian attacks against Ukraine wound at least 16, kill 1 over past day
Russian missiles hit critical infrastructure in Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk Oblasts, with no reports of casualties.
Ukrainians divided over what peace with Russia should look like, new poll reveals
There is no clear consensus among Ukrainians about what a potential peace agreement with Russia should look like, a new global poll published on Jan. 15 has found. The poll, conducted by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), presented respondents with four options relating to NATO/EU membership, security
‘We know who the good guy is’ — Trump’s defense nominee grilled over war in Ukraine
Pete Hegseth’s nomination in November sent shockwaves through Pentagon corridors.
Ukraine Reforms Tracker Weekly — Issue 9
Editor’s note: This is issue 9 of Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak’s weekly "Ukraine Reforms Tracker" covering events from Jan. 6–12, 2025. This newsletter was until recently titled “Ukrainian Economy in Brief." The digest highlights steps taken in the Ukrainian parliament related to business, economics, and international financial
Zelensky to visit Poland after ‘breakthrough’ agreement on Volyn tragedy exhumations
The Volyn massacre involved widespread violence that claimed tens of thousands of Polish and Ukrainian lives.
General Staff: Russia has lost 812,670 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,580 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
Russia launches mass missile attack against Ukraine
Explosions were reported in Kharkiv, Khmelnytsky Oblast, and Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast.
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine targets Russian industrial plants, ammunition depots in overnight strike
Key developments on Jan. 14: * Ukraine targets Russia's industrial plants, ammunition depots in 'massive' strike overnight * Equipping troops takes priority over lowering draft age, Zelensky says * Ukraine denies transferring Air Force personnel to infantry amid troop shortages * Germany to deploy Patriot at Poland's key hub for Ukraine aid by end
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