Travel, property, and local info for Ukraine

1+ hour, 43+ min ago (661+ words) Shift to trade and "unalienable rights" signals retreat from democracy promotion. One Senator stands alone calling out abuses by Russia, Georgia and beyond. WASHINGTON DC " For decades, December 10 has been a day for US administrations to celebrate global human rights champions and reaffirm America's commitment to democratic values. This year, under the Trump administration, the day passed almost entirely unnoticed. Human Rights Day, commemorating the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, has traditionally served as a moment for the US to spotlight efforts to defend basic freedoms around the globe. In contrast, the Trump administration has signaled a pivot: prioritizing trade and strategic interests over democracy promotion, a move that has left civil society advocates and human rights defenders sounding the alarm. On Capitol Hill, only one voice spoke on the floor to mark the occasion. Sen....

2+ hour, 7+ min ago (508+ words) Moscow aimed "to sow division, erode trust, provoke societal rejection, and undermine confidence in democratic institutions," a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said. Germany summoned the Russian ambassador on Friday, accusing Moscow of orchestrating a cyberattack on the nation's air traffic control systems and attempting to meddle in the federal elections earlier this year. A spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry asserted that Russian military intelligence was responsible for "a cyber-attack against German air traffic control in August 2024." The official also alleged that Moscow had sought to interfere in the February federal elections, aiming to destabilize Germany's political landscape. In a statement to AFP, Russia's embassy in Berlin dismissed the accusations, calling them "baseless, unfounded, and absurd" and denying any involvement of state structures or affiliated hacker groups. "The objective of these Russian cyber and disinformation operations is unmistakable: to sow division,…...

2+ hour, 41+ min ago (655+ words) White House scrambles to translate Trump's vague "free economic zone" vision into a concrete plan ahead of Berlin summit. WASHINGTON DC " US President Donald Trump offered a characteristically measured " if opaque " assessment of ongoing efforts to broker peace in Ukraine during a briefing in the Oval Office Friday. "Let's see what happens. We're working on seeing if we can make a deal right now. We're going to see. We'll know soon, I guess. We're going to see a lot of death," Trump said, citing staggering casualty numbers. "Last month" 25,000 soldiers were killed in Ukraine and Russia. Twenty-five thousand " can you imagine that? It's ridiculous," he said. Pressed on the mechanics of his proposed "free economic zone" in the Donbas " territory seized by Russia in 2014 and contested during the current conflict " Trump demurred. "Well, I don't want to do that now....

3+ hour, 25+ min ago (1275+ words) How Moscow's prized missile shield, reliant on foreign parts from Central Asia to the US, is a single strike " or a well-enforced sanction " away from total disruption. WASHINGTON DC " The Western alliance may finally have a clear roadmap for dismantling Russia's much-hyped air defense juggernaut, the S-400 Triumf, without firing a single shot. A new research paper, released Friday by a leading London think tank, lays bare the structural weaknesses behind Russia's flagship S-400 system, revealing that the weapon Moscow promotes as a self-sufficient technological marvel is, in fact, deeply vulnerable to disruption " both through sanctions enforcement and kinetic strikes. The report, Disrupting Russian Air Defense Production: Reclaiming the Sky, published by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), concludes that Russia's ability to produce and sustain its most advanced air defense systems rests on fragile foreign supply chains, unsanctioned production nodes, and…...

3+ hour, 59+ min ago (308+ words) Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze sparked political turmoil in Georgia after appearing at the same international event as Russian President Vladimir Putin, a rare occurrence amid Russia's ongoing occupation of Georgian territory. On Dec. 11-12, Turkmenistan hosted the Peace and Trust Forum in Ashgabat, marking the 30th anniversary of the country's self-declared neutrality. The gathering brought together the leaders of a number of states, including the presidents of Russia, Turkey, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Iraq, and the prime ministers of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Pakistan. Although the Georgian government insists no meeting with the Russian delegation took place, the mere presence of Kobakhidze and Putin at the same venue has intensified criticism at home. In separate remarks, Zurabishvili described the images as "uncommentable and shameless," suggesting that the government's participation in such formats reflects a broader strategic drift away from the West....

5+ hour, 30+ min ago (672+ words) Ukraine is the key to fixing the EU's competitive lag. Business leaders and officials discuss how Kyiv's integration can address Europe's energy, defense, and demographic crises in the next decade. The era of global stability that defined the last forty years is officially over. As the world shifts toward a multipolar fragmentation characterized by permanent localized conflicts and fierce competition between the US and China, Europe faces an existential crisis of competitiveness. In a recent high-level panel discussion featuring representatives from the Ukrainian government, the tech sector, and the cultural sphere, a compelling thesis emerged: Ukraine is not merely an applicant seeking refuge in the EU, but a critical solution to the structural economic and security deficits identified in the Mario Draghi report. From demographic cliffs to energy insecurity, the discussion highlighted how Kyiv's integration could offer the European project…...

5+ hour, 35+ min ago (1674+ words) A "historic" move to help Ukraine with frozen Russian assets is a "tall order", Belgium's PM says - but he didn't rule it out. Meanwhile, Ukraine says it has retaken parts of a key frontline area - leaving Russian troops "completely cut off". Catch up below - and watch our latest Q&A. Friday 12 December 2025 20:29, UK Thanks for joining us for our rolling coverage of the war in Ukraine. We'll be back soon with further updates from the battlefield and on the diplomatic efforts to bring the conflict to an end. Before we head off, here's a quick recap:" Watch: Our military analyst Sean Bell explains how serious the Russian threat really is Two Russian oil rigs in the Caspian Sea have been attacked by Ukrainian drones, according to an official from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). SBU drones hit the Filanovsky and…...

6+ hour, 26+ min ago (336+ words) T'rkiye expressed concern after a foreign-flagged vessel operated by a Turkish company was damaged in an attack on Ukraine's Chornomorsk Port, saying the incident once again underscored earlier warnings over the spillover of the war into the Black Sea. "This incident points to the validity of our previously recorded concerns regarding maritime security and freedom of navigation, as the war in our region continues to spread across the Black Sea," the foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday. The ministry noted that, according to initial information, crew members and truck drivers on board had been evacuated, no Turkish nationals were harmed, and the Consulate General in Odessa was closely monitoring the situation and providing necessary assistance to citizens. "On this occasion, we once again emphasise the importance of bringing the war between Russia and Ukraine to an immediate end,…...

6+ hour, 42+ min ago (217+ words) Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the recently recaptured front line town of Kupiansk Friday to push back on the idea that it's only Moscow making military gains in eastern Ukraine. The town has for months been an epicenter of fighting. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently claimed Ukrainian forces in the town were surrounded and offered to arrange their surrender. Kyiv, meanwhile, says its forces have now recaptured the town and several others nearby. Zelenskyy's visit comes ahead of a trip to Paris by his delegation of negotiators this Saturday, where they will participate in the next rounds of talks between the US, Ukraine, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom to try to see if there is a way forward for a proposed peace agreement. In a new version of the agreement that Kyiv sent to Washington during the week, there…...

7+ hour, 27+ min ago (686+ words) The European Union agreed on Friday to indefinitely freeze Russian central bank assets held in Europe, removing a big obstacle to using the cash to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia. The EU wants to keep Ukraine financed and fighting as it sees Russia's invasion as a threat to its own security. To do so, EU states aim to put to work some of the Russian sovereign assets they immobilised after Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. A first big step, which EU governments agreed on Friday, is to immobilise 210 billion euros ($246 billion) worth of Russian sovereign assets for as long as needed instead of voting every six months on extending the asset freeze. This removes the risk that Hungary and Slovakia, which have better relations with Moscow than other EU states, could refuse to roll over the freeze at some point,…...