Author: dmitriy.vasyura@gmail.com

Paris and London are exploring options to support Ukraine in potential peace talks with Russia, including deploying French and U.K. troops to monitor a ceasefire along the contact line, a senior NATO official told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).

The official, who requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly, noted that these discussions are happening in individual capitals, not within the formal NATO structure.

The aim is to prepare for various scenarios, ensuring European countries are ready to assist Kyiv if the new U.S. administration requests greater European involvement. According to the official, the proposals also seek to secure European allies' participation in peace talks that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump could mediate.

French and British discussions on leading a military coalition in Ukraine have gained momentum, with Le Monde reporting renewed talks about deploying troops. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told BBC News that while France is not currently planning to send troops into combat, the country "does not discard any option."

"(France) will support Ukraine as intensely and as long as necessary. Why? Because it is our security that is at stake. Each time the Russian army progresses by one square kilometer, the threat gets one square kilometer closer to Europe," Barrot said.

The idea of sending Western troops to Ukraine resurfaced in February when French President Emmanuel Macron first raised the possibility. He revisited the topic in May, suggesting that if Russian forces breached Ukraine’s front line and Kyiv requested assistance, France would have to seriously consider deploying troops.

The debate over the role of Western military involvement in Ukraine highlights a broader divide among European leaders on how best to support Kyiv in the face of Russian aggression.

Speaking at the Halifax International Security Forum, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur stressed that Ukraine needs greater investment in its military production capabilities, not foreign troops on its battlefield.

Boris Johnson calls for British, European peacekeepers in Ukraine as part of potential peace deal“I don’t think we should be sending in combat troops to take on the Russians,” former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said. “But I think as part of the solution, as part of the end state, you’re going to want to have multinational European peace-keeping forces monitoring the border, helping the…The Kyiv IndependentVolodymyr Ivanyshyn

During the day, Russian troops carried out 49 attacks on the border territories of the Sumy region, 116 explosions were recorded. The attacks were conducted using aircraft, artillery, mortars and various types of drones.

On December 3, the Russians carried out 49 attacks on border territories and settlements of the Sumy region. 116 explosions were recorded. This is reported by the Sumy RMA, writes UNN.

Sumy, Khotinskaya, Miropolskaya, Belopolskaya, Krasnopolskaya, Velikopisarovskaya, Esmanskaya, Shalyginskaya, Druzhbovskaya, Seredino-Budskaya, Znob-Novgorod communities were shelled,

– the message says.

Miropolskaya hromada: one cab was launched from an enemy aircraft (1 explosion). In addition, there was a mortar attack (7 explosions).

Sumy Community: one cab was launched from an enemy plane (1 explosion).

Seredino-Budskaya hromada: the enemy fired mortars (9 explosions) and dropped explosive devices from UAVs (3 explosions).

Khotyn Community: the Russians hit with artillery (34 explosions).

Velikopisarevskaya hromada: enemy UAVs dropped ammunition (7 explosions), FPV Drone Strike (2 explosions), mortar attack (4 explosions).

Esman Community: 19 mines were dropped by the Russians on the territory of the community. 2 explosive devices (explosions) were also dropped from the UAV.

Znob-Novgorod Community: an explosive object was dropped from a UAV (1 explosion).

Belopolskaya hromada: enemy UAVs dropped 3 rounds of ammunition (3 explosions), and there was also a mortar attack (4 explosions).

Shalyginskaya hromada: FPV drone attacks were carried out (3 explosions).

Krasnopolskaya hromada: explosive devices were dropped from an enemy UAV (7 explosions), and mortar attacks were also carried out (6 explosions).

Druzhbovskaya hromada: the Russians hit the FPV with drones (3 explosions).

The Russian army hit a nine-story building in the Donetsk region: there are victims and woundedDec 3 2024, 01:24 PM • 13973 views

Kyiv is ready to bring back all Ukrainians from Russian captivity, Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said on Dec. 2, denying the claims of his Russian counterpart Tatyana Moskalkova.

Lubinets's response came after Moskalkova published alleged lists of 600 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) held in Russia, whom Kyiv allegedly "did not agree to take back."

"Ukraine is not delaying and did not delay the exchanges, but on the contrary, declared its readiness to repatriate seriously injured and seriously ill prisoners by creating a mixed medical commission," the Ukrainian ombudsman said.

"And the party that is not really interested in returning and implementing the exchanges is still ignoring the creation of such a commission."

Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War echoed Lubinets' remarks.

Dmytro Usov, the secretary of the organization, said that Russian lists include seven Ukrainian soldiers who have already been exchanged, 14 civilians, and pointed out mistakes in the names and dates of birth of captured ones.

According to Usov, Russia offered Ukraine to swap only those Russian soldiers captured in embattled Kursk Oblast.

"The Russian authorities are not interested in captured Russians from other regions," he added.

"This Russians' game is only for the public, and it is especially cynical. They are manipulating the fate of people and the vulnerable situation of their relatives."

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the two sides have frequently exchanged prisoners. The most recent swap occurred in mid-October, with each side bringing back 95 prisoners.

According to Lubinets, 3,767 Ukrainian prisoners of war have returned home since the start of the all-out war. Kyiv aims to conduct an all-for-all prisoner exchange.

Ukraine calls on Moscow to provide list of POWs ready for swapUkrainian human rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets said on Nov. 3 that Ukraine remains willing to receive its citizens and blamed Russia for slowing down the exchanges.The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova

The Verkhovna Rada supported the bill on automatic registration for military service when reaching the age of 17. Registration will take place through the "Reserve+" app without visiting the shopping center.

In Ukraine, citizens who reach the age of 17 will automatically register for military service. The parliament supported the relevant bill in the first reading. This is reported by the Ministry of defense of Ukraine, writes UNN.

Today, the parliament supported in the first reading an important bill, thanks to which Ukrainian citizens will automatically register for military service when they reach the age of 17.,

– – said the head of the Ministry of Defense Rustem Umerov.

According to him, young men no longer need to apply to the shopping center or undergo a medical examination. They will only need to pass identification in the "Reserve+", after which the application itself will generate a military accounting document.

The minister believes that this is another step in transferring military registration to a convenient digital format.

We make public services as accessible and transparent as possible for Ukrainians. Thank you to the people's deputies for supporting this important initiative,

– he stressed.

recall

From December 1 booking of those liable for military service is possible only through the portal "Diya" according to the new criteria. Enterprises must meet the salary requirements starting from 20 thousand UAH and confirm their criticality by February 28, 2025.

Booking of employees under the new rules: the first 7 companies have updated their critical statusDec 3 2024, 10:46 AM • 23109 views