Travel, property, and local info for Ukraine

28+ min ago (1123+ words) European ambassadors in Washington say fear of escalation slowed pressure on Moscow " giving Russia time to adapt and prolong its war in Ukraine. WASHINGTON DC " For nearly three years, Western officials have argued that sanctions on Russia are cumulative, adaptive and effective. On Tuesday at the Brookings Institution, European ambassadors largely reaffirmed that view " but paired it with an unusually candid assessment of where the West fell short. The failure, several diplomats suggested, was not whether sanctions worked, but how slowly and cautiously pressure was applied, particularly in the early stages of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Fear of escalation, concerns about energy markets and limits on Ukraine's military capabilities gave Moscow time to adapt, spread false narratives and entrench the conflict. Across the panel, the message was consistent: Russia is paying a heavy economic price " but Western hesitation shaped the…...

3+ hour, 11+ min ago (214+ words) The Moscow Times reported this week that Kremlin strongman Vladimir Putin has signed into law a decree that any houses in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine whose owners fled during the war can be seized by Moscow. Houses, apartments and rooms in occupied territories of Ukraine "that show signs of being ownerless property" will be'deemed'by the law to be the property of the regions or their municipalities. The law states that the criteria for determining what are "ownerless" properties in occupied parts of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions status will be established by the regional occupation administrations themselves, in coordination with state agencies Rosreestr and Rosimushchestvo. Rosreestr is Russia's "Federal Service for State Registration, Cadastre and Cartography", while Rosimushchestvo is its federal agency for state property management. According to the Moscow Times: "The absence of information about the…...

4+ hour, 28+ min ago (214+ words) Dynamo Kyiv and FC Noah clash this Thursday at the Arena Lublin of the Europa Conference League. In their last match, Dynamo Kyiv prevailed 3-0 against FC Veres (Ukrainian Premier League 2025/26). In their last fixture, FC Noah won 2-1 against Legia Warszawa (UEFA Conference League 2025/26). Denys Popov - Muscle Injury Vitaliy Buyalskyy - Bruise FC Noah ( vs Legia Warszawa 2025-12-11): Timothy Fayulu, Eric Boakye, Gon'alo Silva, Nathana'l Saintini, David Sualehe, Takuto Oshima, Gudmundur Th'rarinsson, Marin Jakolis, H'lder Ferreira, Matheus Ai's, Nardin Mulahusejnovi" Away from home FC Noah currently has a loss in the last nine games. Away from home FC Noah currently has a win in the last seven games. Away from home FC Noah comes from two consecutive games without winning. Away from home FC Noah comes from six consecutive games without losing. FC Noah currently has four losses in the last 23 games. Dynamo…...

5+ hour, 14+ min ago (523+ words) Hungary on Tuesday secured a five-year liquefied natural gas (LNG) agreement with US energy giant Chevron, though Moscow remains the dominant supplier in Budapest's energy mix. The arrangement, signed between Chevron and Hungary's state-owned power company MVM, guarantees the annual delivery of 400 million cubic metres of LNG over the next five years, Foreign Minister P'ter Szijj'rt" announced at a Budapest press conference alongside US Deputy Energy Secretary James Danly. Szijj'rt" framed the deal as an "important milestone," celebrating what he called a "golden age" of collaboration between the two countries. Hungary has proved resistant to ongoing pressure from Brussels and Washington to reduce its reliance on Russian energy, but has nonetheless pursued a gradual diversification strategy through new supply contracts. "We are interested in purchasing energy from as many sources and via as many routes as possible, ensuring the lowest prices,…...

5+ hour, 28+ min ago (630+ words) The "600 million package includes new air defense systems, missiles, and automated gun turrets to intercept drones, as Russian strikes continue to ravage Ukraine's energy grid. The United Kingdom is providing a "600 million ($806 million) air defense package to Ukraine to help counter Russian drone and missile attacks through the winter, as Kyiv faces sustained strikes on cities and energy infrastructure. According to Sky News, UK Defence Secretary John Healey said the package would provide Ukraine with new defensive capabilities, namely air defense systems, missiles and automated gun turrets designed to intercept drones. Healey announced the support ahead of the 32nd meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, which is held via video link on Tuesday. The new package is intended to strengthen Ukraine's ability to shoot down Russian drones, which have been used extensively in attacks on civilian areas and critical infrastructure,…...

5+ hour, 50+ min ago (329+ words) Ukraine's push for war compensation advanced with the launch of an International Claims Commission, backed by 35 countries, aimed at addressing damage caused by Russia's invasion. Thirty-five countries signed a convention in the Netherlands on Tuesday, Dec. 16, establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine to address damage caused by Russia's invasion. "In the Hague, together with 34 states and the European Union, and on the instructions of President Volodymyr Zelensky, I had the honor of signing the Convention establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine. Thirty-five is a record number of states. This is a historic step," Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha wrote on X. The convention stipulates that the commission will operate under the auspices of the Council of Europe. Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset said the creation of the Register of Damage for Ukraine in 2023 marked the first step of…...

6+ hour, 2+ min ago (953+ words) BREAKING: Nick Reiner not medically cleared to appear in court after arrest in connection to death of parents President Donald Trump says that Russia and Ukraine are closer to peace than they have ever been. Days of intense negotiations ended with the United States, Ukraine and Europe hailing significant progress as Trump pushes for a deal to end the Kremlin's war by Christmas. Washington and Kyiv appear to have made notable shifts to secure progress but huge questions remain, not least whether Moscow will once again flatly reject the idea of making any significant concessions. And while the U.S. has now offered Ukraine the robust security guarantees it has long sought, the fate of key territory on the conflict's eastern front lines remains pivotal, yet unresolved. After meetings with Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, son-in-law Jared Kushner and European leaders in…...

6+ hour, 17+ min ago (586+ words) Ukraine has sold the Zaporizhzhia Steel Research Institute near the front lines for $497,000. PlasmaTec, a welding materials producer, is the new owner of the profitable facility. Ukraine has sold its state-owned Ukrainian Scientific Research Institute of Special Steels, Alloys, and Ferroalloys in Zaporizhzhia through an online auction for Hr.21 million (almost $500,000). Zaporizhzhia, in southern Ukraine near active frontlines, faces frequent Russian missile and drone strikes, disrupting industry and everyday life. Despite the war, the asset sold for twice its starting price. The buyer is Ukrainian welding electrode manufacturer PlasmaTech, with subsidiaries in Asia and Canada. Three bidders competed for the institute, pushing the price from Hr.8.7 million ($206,000) to Hr.17.5 million ($414,000), according to ProZorro.Sales, Ukraine's public platform for transparent state asset auctions. The buyer paid twice the starting price after a three-round auction. The buyer will also pay Hr.3.5 million…...

7+ hour, 53+ min ago (536+ words) I thank the partners for these contributions, which save lives, strengthen the whole of Europe and bring real peace closer," Shmyhal wrote on Telegram. Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Tuesday that Ukraine's partners made record commitments for defense production and US weapons purchases this year. In 2025, partners committed almost $5 billion to Ukrainian defense production and another $5 to buying US-made weapons for Ukraine, Shmyhal wrote in an update on his Telegram channel. Both figures are record highs, and we aim to maintain this momentum in 2026," he continued. The statement came after Ukraine and its allies convened for the 32nd meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, also known as the Ramstein format. The group is an alliance of the European Union and 57 countries, including 32 member states of NATO and 25 other countries, supporting the defense of Ukraine by sending military equipment. Shmyhal…...

8+ hour, 36+ min ago (386+ words) THE HAGUE, Netherlands'Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and 34 other countries formally approved plans Tuesday to create a compensation body to pay for damages to Ukraine caused by the Russian invasion, but questions remain about where the money will come from. Zelensky told leaders gathered in the Dutch city of The Hague that he hopes for strong international support so "any damage caused by the war can be compensated." The Council of Europe, the continent's preeminent human rights organization, has facilitated the International Claims Commission, which will allow Ukrainians to seek compensation for "damage, loss or injury" caused by Russia since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. The Council of Europe is adamant that Russia must foot the bill, but there is no clear pathway for forcing Moscow to pay. One proposal is to use some of the tens of billions of…...