On December 17, Valerii Kolychok summarized major developments: On December 18, the EU Council will meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky attending personally. Discussions on reparations credit for Ukraine are expected, yet its approval remains uncertain.
In Russia, at the Defense Ministry's meeting, Minister Sergei Belousov spoke about maintaining high offensive rates in 2025 and accused NATO of preparing for a military clash. The Russian command also reported heavy losses and ongoing offensives in eastern Ukraine.
Dmitry Peskov made an unexpected statement about the Kremlin's willingness to discuss the placement of European troops in Ukraine under a potential peace agreement. Putin reiterated readiness for negotiations, again blaming the West for igniting the war and asserting Russia’s aim to achieve all “SMO” objectives.
The US and EU are discussing new security guarantees for Ukraine and continued military and financial aid. The European Parliament has voted to ban imports of Russian gas, while the US is considering new sanctions if Russia refuses peace talks.
Hostilities remain intense: Ukrainian Special Operations Forces struck an enemy ammunition depot; Russian troops attacked Zaporizhzhia and Odesa regions, with civilian casualties and injuries reported. An emergency situation has been declared in some regions due to energy infrastructure attacks.
Politically, the “Servant of the People” party chose Oleksandr Korniyenko as its new leader, signaling preparations for the 2026 presidential elections. Zelensky affirmed readiness for elections and his direct participation in the EU Council meeting.
The summary concludes with notes on Trump’s upcoming speech, US developments, and reactions from world leaders regarding Ukraine.
