White House: Iran helping Moscow build drone factory in Russia

European leaders privately insisted they alone should control decisions over immobilized Russian assets, even as the US reportedly lobbied European countries to block plans to lend the cash to Ukraine.

Ukraine's military intelligence agency, HUR, said its drones hit a Russian Su-24 tactical bomber as past of a series of eight "accurate strikes" on military targets inside Russian-occupied Crimea on Dec. 5.

A fire caused damage to facilities at the Temryuk port in Krasnodar Krai, a major Russian hub and oil export terminal. Locals also reported explosions at the Syzran Oil Refinery in Samara Oblast.

President Vladimir Putin said Russia would continue supplying fuel to India's "rapidly growing economy," calling Moscow a reliable energy partner.

The More in Common survey shows strong international objections to key parts of the latest peace proposals being put forward by the White House.

The document says that it is in the U.S. interest to "negotiate an expeditious cessation of hostilities in Ukraine" to enable the country's post-war recovery, stabilization of European economies, and to "reestablish strategic stability with Russia."

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.

The visit comes amid a surge of diplomatic efforts after the U.S. backed a 28-point plan that many viewed as effectively pushing Ukraine toward capitulation in Russia's all-out war.

Football clubs are forced to pay outstanding transfer fees even if doing so runs the risk of violating banking restrictions and sanctions against Russia.

The U.S. Treasury Department on Dec. 4 fined New York-based property manager Gracetown Inc. more than $7 million for accepting payments linked to a company owned by sanctioned Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska.

The discussion reflected growing concern in European capitals over Washington's posture as the latest peace push moves forward.

Irish outlet The Journal reported on Dec. 4 that four unidentified, “military-style” drones were seen breaching a no-fly zone near the expected flight path of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s plane as it arrived in Ireland earlier in the week, according to unnamed security sources.

The Kyiv Appeals Court ordered on Dec. 3 the release of Ruslan Mahamedrasulov, a detective with Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), who had been investigating the country's largest corruption case involving the state-run nuclear power monopoly Energoatom.