Category: World

Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro has stated his nation is keen to contemplate the potential deployment of troops in Ukraine to make sure compliance with a future peace settlement between Kyiv and Moscow as soon as it’s concluded.

Supply: European Pravda, citing Montenegro at a joint press convention with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on 20 December

Particulars: Montenegro stated that Portugal adheres to the frequent EU place concerning the problem of deploying troops in Ukraine: "We don’t wish to be right here through the warfare, however Portugal is a part of the Coalition of the Keen and can participate in peacekeeping operations."

Quote: "Within the context of a peacekeeping mission and NATO safety ensures, the Portuguese army might deploy its forces on Ukrainian territory. For instance, along with Latvia and Lithuania, it might take part in peacekeeping missions and contribute to making sure safety.

Portugal will all the time assist and participate in safety missions. This isn’t envisaged right this moment, however when this difficulty is taken into account, Portugal will have the ability to participate in it."

Background:

• The creation of a defence power to make sure a possible ceasefire in Ukraine was proposed on the European leaders' assembly in Berlin on Monday 15 December.
• A joint assertion stated {that a} European-led power, supported by the US, will again Ukraine's armed forces and safe Ukraine's skies and seas.
• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that the "European forces for Ukraine", envisaged underneath safety ensures from Europe and the US, might resist Russian forces underneath sure circumstances.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro signed an settlement on 20 December in Kyiv to accomplice on producing maritime drones.

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

Particulars: The settlement on joint manufacturing of maritime drones was signed after Montenegro arrived on his first go to to Ukraine.

Quote from Zelenskyy: "This is without doubt one of the most promising areas of our defence efforts at current. You will need to ship outcomes. And throughout all components of our Europe, there should be ample power to counter any threats, and fashionable drones are an actual instrument of defence."

Extra particulars: Zelenskyy additionally thanked Portugal for its contribution to the Prioritised Ukraine Necessities Checklist (PURL) programme, which allows Ukraine to purchase US weapons, and for supporting a joint European choice on €90 billion for Ukraine over two years.

Background:

• Montenegro arrived in Kyiv on 20 December, the place he is because of meet Zelenskyy.
• Ukraine and Portugal signed a safety settlement in Could 2024.

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US negotiators have deliberate to fulfill Russian officers to conduct last talks in Florida on Saturday 20 December aimed toward ending Russia's battle in Ukraine.

Supply: Reuters, as reported by European Pravda

Particulars: The assembly follows the talks on 19 December between the USA and Ukrainian and European officers on the most recent model of the "peace plan", which has raised some hope of a settlement.

Kirill Dmitriev, an envoy of the Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin, is main the Russian delegation. He is because of meet property mogul turned diplomat Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State and Trump's nationwide safety adviser, has stated he may additionally be part of the talks.

Earlier conferences have taken place at Witkoff's golf membership in Miami's Hallandale Seashore.

Earlier this week, US, Ukrainian and European officers reported progress on safety ensures for Kyiv as a part of negotiations to finish the battle, although it stays unclear whether or not the phrases can be acceptable to Moscow.

A Russian supply advised Reuters that any assembly between Dmitriev and Ukrainian negotiators had been dominated out.

US intelligence officers proceed to warn that Putin intends to grab all of Ukraine, sources accustomed to the intelligence stated, which contradicts the claims by some US officers that Moscow is prepared for peace.

Rubio stated on Friday 20 December that the USA had made "important progress" in talks on Ukraine however warned there are "methods to go".

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Lengthy-range drones from the Safety Service of Ukraine's Alpha Particular Operations Centre struck two Su-27 jets on the Russian army airfield in Belbek in quickly occupied Crimea on the evening of 19-20 December.

Supply: Safety Service of Ukraine (SSU) press service

Quote: "One of many jets was on the taxiway with a full fight load and prepared for a sortie. It has been destroyed.

The estimated worth of each plane is round US$70 million.

Moreover, harm to the management tower has been confirmed, which can complicate the organisation and management of flights on the airfield."

Particulars: The SSU says this marks the second profitable strike on the Belbek airfield in latest days.

On 18 December, SSU drones destroyed Russian army gear on the identical airfield value lots of of thousands and thousands of {dollars}: two Nebo-SVU radars, a 92N6 radar from the S-400 Triumf SAM system, a Pantsir-S2 air defence system, and a MiG-31 jet with a full fight load.

Quote: "SSU strikes on key army airfields, in addition to the destruction of enemy plane and air defence programs in quickly occupied Crimea, considerably scale back its army potential within the area. This systematic work will proceed."

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Russian forces attacked Ukraine with three Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 51 assault drones on the night time of 19-20 December.

Supply: Ukraine's Air Drive

Quote: "On the night time of 20 December (from 19:00 on 19 December), the enemy launched three Iskander-M ballistic missiles from the quickly occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, in addition to 51 assault UAVs of the Shahed and Gerbera sorts and different fashions of drone from the instructions of Oryol, Kursk, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk and Shatalovo within the Russian Federation. Round 30 of them have been Shahed drones.

The air assault was repelled by plane, anti-aircraft missile troops, digital warfare and unmanned methods models and cell fireplace teams from Ukraine's defence forces."

Particulars: Early experiences point out that as of 09:00, air defence forces shot down or jammed 31 Russian Shahed, Gerbera and different sorts of drones over Ukraine's north, south and east.

Hits by ballistic missiles and 20 assault drones have been recorded at 15 areas.

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Russia's economic system is anticipated to expertise accelerated inflation in the beginning of 2026, pushed by greater tariffs and a rise within the value-added tax (VAT).

Supply: Elvira Nabiullina, Head of the Central Financial institution of Russia, at a press convention on Friday 19 December, as reported by The Moscow Instances, an unbiased Amsterdam-based information outlet

Particulars: Nabiullina mentioned that this 12 months value progress in Russia slowed to a five-year low, falling beneath 6%.

Nonetheless, "the VAT enhance might considerably have an effect on costs within the coming months," she famous.

"Some firms have begun adjusting costs with this in thoughts in December, however the primary influence continues to be forward," Nabiullina mentioned, including that cuts to the important thing rate of interest wouldn’t proceed "on autopilot".

Background: On Friday, the Russian Central Financial institution reduce its key charge for the fifth time this 12 months, from 16.5% to 16%. Nonetheless, Nabiullina mentioned that holding the speed unchanged had additionally been thought of. Along with VAT, the Central Financial institution sees inflation dangers stemming from oil costs, which for Russian blends have fallen beneath US$40 per barrel. This "might have pro-inflationary results by rouble alternate charge dynamics," the regulator mentioned.

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has mentioned that Washington has "made progress" in negotiations on Ukraine, however confused that there’s nonetheless plenty of work to be completed and the toughest points normally come on the finish.

Supply: The Guardian, as reported by European Pravda

Particulars: Rubio mentioned the US administration has invested "an amazing period of time and vitality" in ending Russia's conflict in opposition to Ukraine and is "attempting to determine what can Ukraine dwell with and what can Russia dwell with".

Quote: "[We want to] type of determine what each side' positions are and see if we are able to type of drive them in the direction of one another to some settlement.

A negotiated settlement requires two issues, each side to get one thing out of it, and each side to present one thing. And we're attempting to determine, what can Russia give and what do they anticipate to get? What can Ukraine give and what can Ukraine anticipate to get? In the long run, the choice will probably be as much as Ukraine and as much as Russia – it is not going to be as much as america."

Particulars: Rubio mentioned that "this isn’t about imposing a deal on anyone", however about looking for factors the place pursuits "overlap".

"I believe we've made progress, however we have now methods to go, and clearly the toughest points are at all times the final points," he added.

Background:

• Politico reported earlier that Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev will go to Miami on 20-21 December for talks with US Particular Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner concerning the US "peace plan".
• Rustem Umierov, Secretary of Ukraine's Nationwide Safety and Defence Council, has introduced that he and Andrii Hnatov, Chief of Ukraine's Basic Workers, are starting one other spherical of consultations with the US aspect on 19 December.

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Poland's Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz has stated that the federal government has a constructive intention concerning the switch of MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine.

Supply: Polish information company PAP, as reported by European Pravda

Particulars: Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that, in return, Warsaw expects entry to missile or drone applied sciences.

He identified that "there should even be a constructive response from the Ukrainian facet".

Talking concerning the fighter jets, Kosiniak-Kamysz famous that their service life is nearing its finish.

"It’s higher for them to go to Ukraine and proceed to serve Poland's safety sooner or later than to be changed into razor blades. I believe most individuals share this view," he stated.

The minister added that the federal government has not but decided.

"The intentions are constructive, however there should even be a constructive response from the Ukrainian facet," he stated.

Background: Throughout a press convention along with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Warsaw, Polish President Karol Nawrocki stated that Warsaw has not dominated out resolving the difficulty of sending MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine.

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Ukraine and Moldova are discussing different transport routes following a Russian strike on a bridge close to the settlement of Maiaky.

Supply: Oleksii Kuleba, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration and Minister for Improvement of Communities and Territories

Particulars: Kuleba mentioned that his ministry, along with army administrations, highway providers and border guards, has begun engaged on different routes for the reason that Odesa-Reni motorway was closed to visitors as a result of Russian strike on the bridge in Maiaky.

Quote: "This issues passenger transport, freight visitors and transit flows that make sure the area's connectivity with border crossing factors and the Danube space. The rerouting is being carried out with due regard to the safety scenario and the capability of the highway community."

Particulars: Kuleba added that coordination with Moldova is ongoing in parallel. Transit routes and different connections are being labored out to make sure the functioning of logistics in southern Ukraine.

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Two folks have been injured in a Russian first-person view (FPV) drone assault on the Zaporizhzhia district.

Supply: Ivan Fedorov, Head of Zaporizhzhia Oblast Army Administration

Particulars: Fedorov stated {that a} 75-year-old man and a 30-year-old lady had been injured. They’ve been taken to hospital.

A number of vehicles and the encircling space had been additionally broken within the strike.

Background: On 19 December, Russian forces attacked a residential space within the metropolis of Zaporizhzhia, injuring seven folks and damaging homes.

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