Category: World

The assembly between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has ended, and the 2 presidents are actually holding a videoconference with European leaders.

Supply: Italian Overseas Minister Antonio Tajani on the Rete4 TV channel, as reported by Italian information outlet Corriere della Sera; Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne, citing sources; Zelenskyy's press secretary Serhii Nykyforov in a remark to journalists

Particulars: Tajani stated Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is collaborating within the name with Zelenskyy, Trump and EU representatives.

Suspilne additionally reported, citing a supply, that the bilateral assembly between the Ukrainian and US delegations has concluded and the decision between Zelenskyy, Trump and the European leaders is ongoing.

Zelenskyy's press secretary Serhii Nykyforov later confirmed that the dialog between the 2 leaders had ended.

Background:

• The assembly between the Ukrainian and US presidents, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump, was held on the US chief's non-public residence, Mar-a-Lago, in Florida.
• Zelenskyy stated the 2 leaders would agree on the sequence wherein the factors of the peace settlement can be applied.
• Trump stated he would name Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin after his assembly with Zelenskyy.

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US President Donald Trump has mentioned that Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin needs to finish the warfare in opposition to Ukraine and is "very severe" about it.

Supply: Trump previous to the beginning of talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Particulars: Requested by journalists whether or not he believes Putin needs peace after Russia's latest large-scale assaults in opposition to Ukraine, Trump emphasised that "he [Putin – ed.] may be very severe [about ending the war – ed.]".

"I can say that I consider Ukraine has made some very sturdy assaults additionally. And I don't say that negatively, I believe you in all probability need to. He [Putin – ed.] hasn't informed me that, however there have been some explosions in varied components of Russia, and it seems to me like, I don't know, I don't assume it got here from the Congo. I don't assume it got here from america of America. It probably got here from Ukraine, however I haven't requested that query," the US president mentioned.

Trump mentioned he hadn't "requested that query" throughout his dialog with Putin and possibly wouldn’t accomplish that.

"They're combating a warfare. And we'll see what occurs. However I consider it's a warfare that – we’ve got two prepared events. We have now two prepared international locations. They need to see it finish," he pressured.

Trump reiterated that the individuals of Ukraine need the warfare to finish. Likewise, he mentioned, the individuals of Russia and "the 2 leaders" [Zelenskyy and Putin – ed.] need that as nicely.

"I believe we're within the closing levels of speaking, and we're going to see – in any other case, it's going to go on for a very long time. It'll both finish, or it's going to go on for a very long time and thousands and thousands of further persons are going to be killed. Hundreds of thousands. And no one needs that," the US president concluded.

Background:

• A gathering between the Ukrainian and US presidents, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump, has begun on the US chief's non-public residence, Mar-a-Lago, in Florida.
• Trump mentioned he’ll name Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin after his assembly with Zelenskyy.
• Earlier, Zelenskyy named the 5 points that he needs to boost on the assembly with the US president.

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US President Donald Trump has mentioned he held a "good and really productive" dialog with Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin on Sunday.

Supply: Trump on Reality Social

Quote: "I simply had and really productive phone name with President Putin of Russia previous to my assembly, at 13:00 [Washington time – ed.] in the present day, with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine." [N.B. Ukrainska Pravda does not recognise Putin as president – ed.]

Particulars: Trump additionally added that members of the press have been invited to his assembly with Zelenskyy.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has confirmed to Russian information company TASS that the decision between Putin and Trump came about.

Background:

• On the night time of 27-28 December, the Ukrainian delegation arrived within the US to participate within the assembly between Zelenskyy and Trump. The assembly is scheduled for 20:00 Kyiv time.
• The day earlier than, Zelenskyy spoke about 5 thematic areas mentioned within the negotiations on the "peace plan" that he desires to lift on the assembly with the US president.
• He additionally believes that Washington now has a greater understanding of Ukraine's "crimson traces" on the parameters for ending the conflict.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a separate telephone name with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday forward of his assembly with US President Donald Trump.

Supply: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Particulars: Zelenskyy mentioned he began his morning in Florida – the place the assembly with Trump is because of happen later – with a dialog with Starmer.

"We mentioned preparations for the assembly with President Trump, in addition to all our contacts with European companions," he famous.

Zelenskyy additionally briefed the UK prime minister on the state of affairs on the battlefield and the aftermath of Russian strikes.

Background:

• It was beforehand reported that Starmer didn’t be a part of a name between Zelenskyy and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney with European leaders. The UK authorities defined this by citing a "busy schedule".
• It was reported that Zelenskyy held talks with representatives of the European Union, Canada and NATO.
• The decision was additionally joined by French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
• Following the dialog, Tusk mentioned the events agreed that the important thing matter is safety ensures for Ukraine.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has emphasised that now are a few of the most energetic diplomatic days of the yr, and "quite a bit could be determined earlier than the New 12 months".

Supply: Zelensky on X (Twitter)

Particulars: The Ukrainian chief careworn that whether or not choices can be made relies on companions.

He additionally added that in a single week, Russia launched greater than 2,100 strike drones, about 800 guided aerial bombs and 94 missiles.

Quote: "Our restore crews, power employees and first responders of Ukraine's State Emergency Service are working actually 24/7 to guard lives and restore energy provide.

However it’s simply as necessary that sanctions in opposition to Russia work, that each one types of political strain for its aggression are utilized, that Ukraine receives air defence missiles, and that all of us finalise the codecs of steps that may finish this struggle and assure safety."

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Models of Ukraine's defence forces struck the Syzran oil refinery in Russia's Samara Oblast on the evening of 27-28 December.

Supply: Common Employees of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Particulars: Assault UAVs struck the territory of the refinery, inflicting a fireplace.

In keeping with the Common Employees, this plant is used to assist the Russian Armed Forces and its annual processing capability ranges from 7 to eight.9 million tonnes of oil.

The extent of the harm is unknown.

As well as, Ukraine's defence forces reported strikes on a storage and upkeep website for uncrewed boats, a restore unit of the 1435th Motor Rifle Regiment close to the settlement of Antratsyt in Luhansk Oblast, a pontoon crossing close to Nikonorivka, and a storage facility for Shahed-type UAVs in Makiivka, Donetsk Oblast.

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DTEK, the most important non-public power firm in Ukraine, has restored energy provide to vital infrastructure and all residential buildings in Kyiv after a Russian assault on 27 December.

Supply: press service for DTEK

Particulars: It’s famous that the scenario on the left financial institution of the capital stays harder. Emergency energy outages proceed to be utilized there because of overloads on broken networks.

Scheduled energy outages have been launched on the suitable financial institution of the capital.

"At one level, the variety of Kyiv households left with out electrical energy as a result of assault reached nearly 750,000," DTEK stated.

Background:

• On the evening of 26-27 December, Russian forces carried out a large-scale assault on Ukraine, utilizing almost 500 drones and 40 missiles, together with Kinzhal missiles. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated Kyiv was the primary goal, together with its power system and civilian infrastructure.
• A major variety of customers within the metropolis of Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast had been left with out electrical energy because of the Russian assault.

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Russian forces attacked Ukraine on 28 December with 48 UAVs, round 30 of which had been Shahed drones. Ukraine's Air Pressure studies that 30 of the drones had been shot down or jammed.

Supply: Air Pressure of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Telegram

Particulars:The army reported that 18 UAVs had hit 9 areas.

Background: On 28 December, the Russian military attacked two districts of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, damaging residential buildings, an academic establishment, a farm and a gasoline pipeline.

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Overseas Minister Andrii Sybiha has given an optimistic evaluation of the outcomes of 2025 in Ukraine's relations with Europe.

Supply: Sybiha on his Fb web page, as reported by European Pravda

Particulars: Amongst Ukraine's most notable achievements of 2025, Sybiha named 4 new EU sanctions packages towards Russia, describing them as "really robust, non-symbolic packages", in addition to the truth that Russia did not safe the elimination of any of its oligarchs from the sanctions lists regardless of energetic makes an attempt.

Because the second level, Sybiha cited steady EU monetary assist, which is a basic issue for Ukraine's resilience.

"All through 2025, the whole quantity of EU budgetary assist to Ukraine amounted to roughly €28.8 billion, of which €18.1 billion was offered below ERA Loans and €10.7 billion below the Ukraine Facility," the overseas minister famous.

As well as, among the many achievements he listed:

• the December determination of the European Council concerning a €90 billion EU mortgage for Ukraine for 2026-2027, raised via EU borrowing on capital markets and secured by an EU funds reserve
• the choice to freeze Russian property in Europe indefinitely till Russia totally compensates the harm brought on by its aggression, in addition to using earnings from frozen Russian property for Ukraine's defence wants. By the European Peace Facility (EPF), a second tranche of €1.85 billion was acquired, and work started on attracting a 3rd tranche of €80 million
• army assist from the EU, together with 2 million artillery rounds for Ukraine and the coaching of 19,000 Ukrainian army personnel inside the EUMAM mission
• consideration of Ukraine and its pursuits in key EU defence initiatives just like the White Paper for European Defence, the ReArm Europe Plan – Readiness 2030 and the SAFE instrument, inside which the potential quantity of joint tasks involving Ukraine may attain €5.2 billion; the inclusion of 11 Ukrainian army greater schooling establishments within the community of the European Safety and Defence School
• the creation of a €300 million Ukraine Help Instrument to develop Ukraine's defence business and the deliberate inclusion of cooperation with Ukraine within the European Defence Trade Programme (EDIP) with a funds of €1.5 billion till 2027
• full EU assist and monetary participation in constructing the structure of accountability for Russia's aggression, together with the institution of a Particular Tribunal for the crime of aggression towards Ukraine and additional steps to launch a compensation mechanism for the harm brought about to Ukrainians by Russian aggression
• tangible progress in negotiations on Ukraine's EU membership regardless of Hungary's veto:"This yr, bilateral screening was accomplished for all six negotiation clusters, negotiation positions had been ready for all clusters, and all preconditions for his or her opening had been fulfilled. Ukraine achieved 99% alignment of its overseas coverage with the European Union," Sybiha famous
• six European Parliament resolutions in assist of Ukraine
• deepening commerce and financial integration between Ukraine and the EU, the introduction of an up to date commerce regime from 29 October 2025, and the extension of the moratorium on commerce defence devices till 5 June 2028
• completion of preparations for Ukraine's accession to the EU Roaming space from 1 January 2026, successfully granting Ukraine entry to the European single market on this space even earlier than full membership
• important assist for the resilience of Ukraine's vitality system, together with help to Naftogaz amounting to round €900 million in preparation for winter, and an unprecedented logistics operation to move a thermal energy plant donated by Lithuania to Ukraine
• growth of the worldwide authorized framework of cooperation between Ukraine and the EU – 19 agreements or worldwide authorized devices had been concluded or had their conclusion procedures accomplished
• Ukraine's accession to 3 elements of the European Area Programme: Earth statement (Copernicus), area climate monitoring (SWE), and monitoring dangers from near-Earth objects (NEO)
• Ukraine acquiring full participant standing within the EU Inventive Europe Programme
• "an unprecedented stage" of coordination and interplay with the EU in supporting Ukraine's efforts to revive a simply and sustainable peace. Over the yr, almost 140 occasions, visits, and conversations at excessive and highest ranges came about, and the Ukrainian overseas minister participated in all conferences of the EU Overseas Affairs Council.

"This isn’t only a checklist of achievements and selections. It is a yr by which Ukraine has taken one other step nearer to the European Union, systematically, constantly, and irreversibly. It is a yr when Europe really awoke and strengthened its geostrategic positions along with Ukraine. Subsequent yr, we are going to develop this development additional. We want a united and robust Europe that's shielded from the Russian risk, one that’s proactive and aggressive in all world processes," Sybiha concluded.

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Kyrylo Budanov, Head of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), has acknowledged that Russia goals to seize your entire territory of Donbas and Zaporizhzhia Oblast in 2026.

Supply: Budanov in an interview with Suspilne

Quote: "They [the Russians' goals for the near future – ed.] are clearly outlined of their army planning. That is an try to realize full management over Donetsk Oblast, most advance into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, and continuation of operations in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts.

They’ve by no means hidden this. These are the primary duties – together with increasing the scale of sanitary (or buffer) zones alongside the border. These are their major aims. Primarily, the duty for 2026 is Donbas and Zaporizhzhia Oblast."

Particulars: Requested whether or not this implies your entire Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Budanov replied: "That’s their dream."

He additionally reported that Russia's mobilisation plan for 2025 was 403,000 folks, and the Russians fulfilled it in early December. Thus, Budanov stated that by the tip of the 12 months, Russia can have fulfilled the plan by roughly 103%.

He stated that in 2026, Russia plans to recruit one other 409,000 folks into its military.

Requested how lengthy Russia will be capable to keep troop recruitment at this stage, Budanov famous: "I don't need to upset you. Take a look at the inhabitants figures and also you'll realise that if wanted, this might proceed for fairly a very long time."

The DIU head believes that Russia has enough monetary capability for this. He emphasised that the first supply of replenishment for the Russian military is contract troopers.

Relating to the recruitment of contract troopers from Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia, Budanov acknowledged that "all plans for recruiting folks from the quickly occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea, elements of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts have been fulfilled 100%."

On the identical time, the chief of DIU believes that Russia's financial difficulties won’t have an effect on the battlefield, however "they are going to 100 per cent have an effect on their place concerning ending the battle."

Budanov additionally defined his remarks from considered one of his latest interviews a few window of alternative for reaching a peace settlement in February.

Quote: "Calculations present that is probably the most beneficial interval for each Russia and Ukraine to attain one thing. That is associated to army exercise, the heating season, and so forth. There are lots of components."

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