Ukraine proposes 20-point peace plan to counter US proposal on Donbas

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Tuesday that several nations have drafted a confidential document detailing the specific security guarantees they are prepared to offer Ukraine once the war ends.

Russia's parliament bans foreign court rulings to reject ICC jurisdiction

Russia’s parliament, the State Duma, approved a bill on Tuesday to ban the enforcement of foreign criminal court rulings, a move designed to shield President Vladimir Putin from the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant, French news agency AFP reports.

Vladimir Plahotniuc will testify as a witness in the ‘kuliok’ case, in which Igor Dodon is on trial for corruption

Vladimir Plahotniuc, the former leader of the Democratic Party, has confirmed that he will testify as a witness in the "kuliok" case, which translates to "black bag." This case involves former President Igor Dodon of the Republic of Moldova, who is accused of passive corruption and receiving illegal party funding.

Ukraine willing to renounce NATO goal under conditions

Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky announced on December 14 that Ukraine is prepared to give up its bid for NATO membership. This major strategic shift, however, is strictly conditional.

War financing crisis: Russia budget deficit worst since 1999

Russia’s state revenues from oil and natural gas are projected to plummet by almost half in December compared to the previous year, falling to 410 billion rubles ($5.17 billion), driven by declining crude oil prices and a stronger ruble, according to Reuters calculations published Friday.

German troops head to the Poland-Belarus border without needing Bundestag vote

Germany will deploy military engineers to eastern Poland, specifically along the volatile Poland-Belarus border and near the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, to help fortify the NATO eastern flank.

Lukashenko pardons 123 political prisoners after US deal

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko pardoned 123 detainees on Saturday, December 13. Those released include political opponents, activists, journalists, and five Ukrainian citizens.

Black Sea security at center of Erdoğan's ceasefire proposal to Putin

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan affirms that "peace is not far" following high-level discussions with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, and says he intends to advance a potential Ukraine peace plan, including through dialogue with President Donald Trump, Reuters reports.

New EU rule bypasses veto risk to keep Russian assets frozen

The European Union has reached a political agreement on the indefinite freezing of Russian Central Bank assets located on EU territory.

Russian military intelligence targeted 2025 election

Germany has formally accused Russia of conducting major cyberattacks and electoral interference. Berlin announced that it identified two large-scale cyber operations attributed to Moscow: one targeting German air traffic control and the other focusing on the February 2025 parliamentary elections.

US envoy Steven Witkoff sets condition for attending peace talks

A high-stakes multilateral meeting focused on Ukraine peace talks is being prepared in Berlin. The summit is expected to take place on December 14 and 15, bringing together US Special Envoy Steven Witkoff, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Zelenskyy cites legal bar to territorial concessions amid US pressure

US President Donald Trump's emissaries have set a tight deadline for Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy to present his position on the updated US peace plan within days, officials involved in the negotiations told the Financial Times, as reported by The Moscow Times.