Plahotniuc will testify in the ‘kuliok’ case as Igor Dodon faces corruption charges

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.

Zelensky offers to drop NATO bid for Article 5 security guarantees

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.

Russia energy revenue projected to plunge by nearly half in December

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.

Germany deploys military engineers to Poland to reinforce the NATO eastern flank

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.

Belarus frees Nobel laureate in exchange for US sanctions relief

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

Erdoğan says "peace not far" after Putin talks, plans Trump dialogue

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.

EU indefinitely freezes €210B in Russian Central Bank assets for Ukraine

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

Germany accuses Russia of cyberattack on air traffic control

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.

High-stakes Berlin summit on Ukraine peace talks confirmed

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.

Trump emissaries press Zelenskyy for rapid answer on peace plan

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.

Russia to block international calls from 47 countries

Russia is set to block all incoming phone calls originating from the so-called "unfriendly countries" as part of a new package of phone fraud measures and enhanced digital control.

Zelensky offers elections in 90 days but demands US security guarantee

Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky, stated on Tuesday, December 9, that he is prepared to organize presidential elections within 60–90 days, but only if the United States and Kyiv’s other allies can provide the necessary security assurances for the electoral process.