Putin tells his annual press conference that the Kremlin’s military goals in Ukraine will be met

Putin tells his annual press conference that the Kremlin’s military goals in Ukraine will be met

MOSCOW (AP) — President Vladimir Putin stressed Friday that Moscow’s troops are advancing on the battlefield in Ukraine and expressed confidence that the Kremlin will achieve its military goals if Kiev does not agree to Russia’s terms in peace talks. Speaking at the tightly orchestrated annual news conference, which lasted about 4 1/2 hours, Putin … Read more

Russia wants to deplete Europe’s investigative resources with its sabotage campaign, officials say

Russia wants to deplete Europe’s investigative resources with its sabotage campaign, officials say

In November, a train carrying almost 500 people stopped suddenly in eastern Poland. A broken overhead line broke several windows and the front path was damaged. Elsewhere on the line, explosives detonated under a passing freight train. No one was injured in either case and damage was limited, but Poland, which blamed the attack on … Read more

Putin warns that Russia will try to extend its gains in Ukraine if peace talks fail

Putin warns that Russia will try to extend its gains in Ukraine if peace talks fail

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Wednesday that Moscow would try to extend its gains in Ukraine if Kiev and its Western allies reject the Kremlin’s demands in peace talks. US President Donald Trump has launched a sweeping diplomatic effort to end nearly four years of fighting after Russia’s February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, … Read more

European leaders were expected to strengthen support for Ukraine amid US pressure to accept the peace deal

European leaders were expected to strengthen support for Ukraine amid US pressure to accept the peace deal

BERLIN (AP) — European leaders are expected to bolster support for Ukraine on Monday as it faces pressure from Washington to quickly accept a U.S.-brokered peace deal. After talks in Berlin on Sunday between US envoys and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian and European officials are set to continue a series of meetings in an … Read more

Zelenskyy offers to drop NATO’s offer of security guarantees, but rejects US force to cede territory

Zelenskyy offers to drop NATO’s offer of security guarantees, but rejects US force to cede territory

BERLIN (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday expressed his willingness to drop his country’s bid to join NATO in exchange for Western security guarantees, but rejected U.S. efforts to cede territory to Russia as he held talks with U.S. envoys on ending the war. Zelenskyy met with US President Donald Trump’s special envoy … Read more

EU freezes Russian assets indefinitely so Hungary and Slovakia can’t veto their use for Ukraine

EU freezes Russian assets indefinitely so Hungary and Slovakia can’t veto their use for Ukraine

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union on Friday indefinitely froze Russian assets in Europe to ensure that Hungary and Slovakia, both with Moscow-friendly governments, cannot prevent billions of euros from being used to support Ukraine. Using a special procedure intended for economic emergencies, the EU has frozen assets until Russia abandons its war with Ukraine … Read more

Zelenskyy says the US-led peace talks are fighting Russian claims for Ukrainian territory

Zelenskyy says the US-led peace talks are fighting Russian claims for Ukrainian territory

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday that negotiators are grappling with the issue of territorial possessions in U.S.-led peace talks to end the war with Russia, including the future of eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region and the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, one of the world’s largest nuclear power plants. Zelensky revealed … Read more

Russian police and the National Guard will remain in Ukraine’s Donbass after the war, a Kremlin official said

Russian police and the National Guard will remain in Ukraine’s Donbass after the war, a Kremlin official said

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A senior Kremlin official said Friday that Russian police and the National Guard will remain in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas and police the industrial-rich region even as a peace deal ends Russia’s nearly four-year war in Ukraine. The remarks by Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov underscore Moscow’s ambition to maintain a presence in … Read more

Ukraine strikes key Russian oil rig in Caspian Sea

Ukraine strikes key Russian oil rig in Caspian Sea

In a significant expansion of its campaign against Russian energy infrastructure, Ukraine’s security services have carried out a long-range drone strike on a major oil field in the Caspian Sea, effectively halting production at a key Lukoil facility. The December 11 attack marks the first time Kiev has targeted hydrocarbon assets in the Caspian region, … Read more

EU leaders agree to fund Ukraine for 2 years, but use of Russian assets poses major test

EU leaders agree to fund Ukraine for 2 years, but use of Russian assets poses major test

BRUSSELS (AP) — Nearly four years after Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, European Union leaders have pledged to fund Kiev’s economic and military needs for the next two years, one way or another. Ukraine is desperate and needs money by early 2026. At a summit next week, the 27 EU leaders will weigh whether to … Read more