Political news from Kyiv region, government decisions and Ukraine politics
In the city of Safi, heavy downpours on December 14 triggered a flash flood: at least 37 people were killed and 32 others injured. Homes and businesses were flooded, search-and-rescue operations are under way; meteorologists are forecasting more rain.
Why are so many thoughtful people around the world today trying to understand the nature and causes of the rise of Trumpism? Perhaps because there is already a clear understanding—or, if not understanding, then at least a feeling—that this will not end well.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said the U.S. president is seeking results, not meetings, in the negotiating process over Russia’s war against Ukraine; the administration is prepared to send a representative if a real agreement is in place.
The president did not rule out the existence of agreements between the United States and Russia to keep Ukraine out of the Alliance, described the U.S. position as consistent and expressed the expectation that, over time, details of the negotiations may emerge; he also touched on the issue of the EU.
The President said that the United States did not set clear deadlines for concluding a peace agreement; Washington allegedly sought to reach an understanding by Christmas. He also outlined the key provisions of the proposed plan.
Two explosions occurred in Kyiv's Darnytskyi district and have been classified as terrorism. One National Guard serviceman was killed, and security personnel and law enforcement officers were wounded; the second blast went off after police and medics arrived.
The President said that in the current version of the peace plan the size of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is listed as 800,000; this, he said, was agreed with the military and corresponds to current figures.
Mark Rutte, in Berlin, said that NATO could become Moscow’s next target, urged increased defence spending and stepped-up pressure on the Kremlin, pointing to support for Russia from other states.
Karol Nawrocki said he had not received information about the transfer of Polish MiG-29s to Ukraine. The head of international policy at the presidential office confirmed he had not been notified; the president intends to discuss the matter with the defense minister.
The ombudsman reported on the multi-year blocking of the transfer of St. Nicholas Church to the religious community and accused the Ministry of Culture of delaying the enforcement of a court ruling, warning about the building's dangerous technical condition.
Russian units that are taking losses still remain in a city in the north. Ukrainian forces have disrupted enemy communications; fog and incoming fire are complicating the delivery of reinforcements.
The SBU and NABU exposed officials of a state-owned plant for embezzling UAH 102 million during procurement of dynamic protection for tanks; the cases involve Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
In initial drafts of the U.S. plan, it was proposed to create a neutral demilitarized zone in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, from which Ukrainian forces would be withdrawn while Russian forces would remain in place; Kyiv warns of the risk of a frozen conflict.
A Russian researcher from the Hermitage was detained in Poland on suspicion of illegal excavations in Crimea. He refused to give testimony; a court remanded him in custody for 40 days. An extradition request is expected.
During a speech at the White House, Donald Trump said that 82% of Ukrainians want a peace agreement and stressed the need for elections; he did not provide details of the poll and urged Volodymyr Zelensky to be realistic.
On the night of December 11, drones struck energy facilities in Kremenchuk district and in Odesa region. Fires broke out and infrastructure was damaged; emergency responders were dealing with the aftermath with the participation of a firefighting train and more than 50 firefighters.
The day after Donald Trump's statement, President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed with lawmakers the question of holding elections during martial law, emphasizing the need for clear answers to security and legal issues.
Eileen Higgins defeated Republican Emilio Gonzalez, who was backed by Donald Trump. She will become Miami's first female mayor, leading her opponent by about 19 percentage points and giving Democrats momentum ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
In its annual assessment, one of Denmark’s main intelligence services notes that the United States is increasingly employing economic and technological power as an instrument of influence. At the same time, the primary risks remain Russia and China; the Baltic region faces a high military risk.
The Ministry of Culture has determined that the attackers left the scene of the robbery 30 seconds before police arrived; failures were detected in the video surveillance system, the dispatch service and security coordination. The jewelry is valued at €88 million.
On 9 December in Ukraine, 28-year-old Lance Corporal George Guli of the Parachute Regiment was killed. The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed the incident occurred away from the front line while he was observing the testing of new weaponry.
The Trump administration is demanding that the International Criminal Court amend the Rome Statute and provide written guarantees that the court will not investigate the actions of the president, the vice president and other officials; it is also asking that two other cases be dropped.
The Chancellery of the President of Poland said it was in talks with Kyiv regarding a possible visit by Volodymyr Zelensky to Warsaw. At the same time, it denied reports of a meeting in the Volyn region.
The Main Directorate of Intelligence warns of the deployment of UAV production in Transnistria, the removal of weapons from storage and mobilization measures; the risk of sabotage groups infiltrating Ukraine is increasing.
Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported that Ukrainian forces have switched to a corps-level command model, are adjusting unit complements to match the actual makeup of the corps, and have begun rotating brigades where the combat situation allows.
Senator Richard Blumenthal has called for the replacement of Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, alleging they are biased in favor of Russia. He has also criticized the one-sided nature of the negotiations and the actions of the U.S. administration.
Politico named Trump the most influential person in Europe. Putin placed fifth as a "provocateur," Zelensky 14th as a "joker in the deck." The publication recalled an anti-corruption scandal in Ukraine and an attempt to curb the independence of NABU and the SAP.
Zelensky said he was ready to hold elections in response to Trump's remarks. The U.S. president said it was time to hold elections in Ukraine, since they had not been held for a long time. This was voiced during negotiations over a peace plan.
Lithuania has declared a state of emergency over ongoing attacks by balloons carrying contraband from Belarus. Since October, Vilnius Airport has been closed for a total of 60 hours; more than 300 flights and 47,000 passengers have been affected.
Tokyo refused to use about $30 billion of Russian assets frozen in Japan as a loan to Ukraine. The finance minister cites legal obstacles, but officials link the decision to the U.S. stance.