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Belgium Opposes EU Plan to Use Frozen Russian Assets for Ukraine

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Belgium has raised strong objections to the European Union’s plan to use frozen Russian assets to provide a “reparations loan” to Ukraine. Prime Minister Bart De Wever and Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot argue that tapping €140bn of Russian state assets held in Belgium could expose the country to massive legal risks and potential bankruptcy if Russia takes action. They have called for an alternative approach, suggesting the EU borrow the necessary funds from financial markets instead.

Most EU countries, including Germany, support the proposal, viewing it as an urgent way to fund Ukraine’s defense amid ongoing Russian attacks. Chancellor Friedrich Merz and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas argue that a reparations loan would strengthen Europe’s position against Moscow and could incentivize Russia to negotiate peace. However, legal experts and Belgium’s central securities depository, Euroclear, caution that lending these frozen assets carries significant financial and legal dangers.

The European Commission is preparing a legal framework to address the plan, but disagreements among member states have delayed progress. Belgium insists on legally binding guarantees to share risk with other EU countries, while Russia has threatened decades of litigation if the assets are used for Ukraine. With the EU summit approaching, a final decision on the contentious proposal remains uncertain.

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Russian Strikes Leave Over 600,000 Without Power in Kyiv Region

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More than 600,000 people in Kyiv and surrounding areas were left without electricity after Russia launched a large-scale overnight attack targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Officials reported that over 36 missiles and nearly 600 drones were fired across multiple regions, leaving at least three dead and dozens injured. The majority of outages hit the capital, where emergency crews responded to fires and damaged residential buildings.

As winter sets in, Russia has intensified strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid, echoing previous years when civilians endured rolling blackouts. Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko confirmed that a 13-year-old was among the injured, while Dtek Energy said power had been restored to more than half of the affected households by Saturday afternoon. Ukraine’s Air Force reported intercepting 558 drones and 19 missiles despite the heavy bombardment.

The attack comes as Ukrainian and US officials prepare for talks on a revised peace plan backed by Washington. While President Zelensky has welcomed diplomatic efforts, he stresses Ukraine’s need to protect its sovereignty. Meanwhile, President Putin reiterated that Russia would only halt its offensive if Ukrainian forces withdraw from territory Moscow claims, as both sides brace for another harsh winter of conflict.

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Zelenskiy Vows Not to Compromise Ukraine’s Interests in US-Led Peace Proposal

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has vowed that he will not sacrifice Ukraine’s national interests in negotiations being pushed by the United States, saying the country faces one of the most difficult and dangerous moments in its history. Speaking in a video address, Zelenskiy warned that Kyiv may be forced to choose between preserving national dignity and risking the loss of a major international ally.

A 28-point peace plan proposed by Washington reportedly includes conditions that align with some of Russia’s demands, including ceding more territory, reducing Ukraine’s military strength, and blocking Ukraine from joining NATO. Sources told Reuters that the U.S. has signaled it may cut crucial support if Kyiv refuses to accept the framework.

Zelenskiy said he would continue working with the United States but anticipates increased political pressure in the coming week. Meanwhile, Russia continues to intensify military strikes and advance on the battlefield, as Ukraine confronts internal turmoil following a high-profile corruption scandal involving senior officials and business leaders.

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Ukrainian Teenagers Lured on Telegram to Commit Sabotage for Cash

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Ukrainian security officials report a disturbing rise in teenagers being recruited through Telegram and other online platforms to carry out sabotage attacks inside Ukraine. One such teen, identified as “Vlad,” travelled hundreds of miles to plant a bomb in a military conscription van after being promised $2,000. Like many others, he was approached anonymously online with offers of easy money and gradually coaxed into increasingly dangerous tasks. Ukrainian authorities say more than 800 people have been recruited in the past two years, including at least 240 minors — some as young as 11.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) says recruiters exploit vulnerable young people and motivate them with payments rather than political ideology. Many teenagers are instructed to collect explosives, commit arson, or conduct surveillance, often while being monitored by their handlers. Payments are frequently far less than promised, with many teens cheated or placed in life-threatening situations. Officials warn that some recruited minors have been killed during sabotage attempts, and in certain cases, devices were allegedly detonated remotely by handlers, knowing the teens would not survive.

Despite reporting numerous Telegram channels involved in recruitment, most remain active, continuing to post job-like ads disguised as “part-time work” or “quick money.” Ukrainian authorities accuse Russia of orchestrating the operations, while Russia denies responsibility and counters with accusations of Ukrainian involvement in sabotage inside Russia. As dozens of young suspects await trial, Vlad warns others against falling for online recruiters, saying their promises lead only to prison, injury, or death.

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Poland Scrambles Jets After Russian Strikes Near Border With Ukraine

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Poland activated its air defence and scrambled fighter jets early Wednesday after Russia launched a wave of airstrikes on western Ukraine, close to the Polish border. The Polish Armed Forces said quick-reaction fighter jets and an early-warning aircraft were deployed to secure national airspace.

In a statement on X, Poland’s operational command confirmed that ground-based air defence units and radar systems were raised to their highest state of readiness amid heightened tensions along NATO’s eastern flank.

The response followed widespread air raid alerts across Ukraine around 0400 GMT, as the Ukrainian Air Force warned of incoming Russian missile and drone attacks.

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Ukraine to Receive US LNG via Greece as Winter Energy Pressures Mount

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Ukraine will begin importing US liquefied natural gas through Greece this winter, using the Trans-Balkan pipeline to help stabilise its energy supply amidst ongoing Russian attacks. The announcement followed a meeting in Athens between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who emphasised Greece’s growing role in supplying American LNG to reduce regional dependence on Russian gas.

Zelensky said the first deliveries are expected in January, noting that Ukraine urgently needs external supplies to offset the damage inflicted on its domestic gas infrastructure. Kyiv has allocated close to €2bn—backed by European Commission guarantees and bank financing—to secure gas imports through March. The deal comes as the EU pushes toward a complete halt of Russian gas imports by 2027.

During his European tour, Zelensky also met French President Emmanuel Macron and signed a letter of intent for Ukraine to potentially acquire up to 100 Rafale fighter jets, along with air defence and radar systems. The visit highlighted Ukraine’s dual battlefronts—strengthening its military capabilities while preparing for a harsh winter as Russia intensifies attacks on energy facilities and multiple regions report continued casualties.

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Russian Strikes Devastate Kyiv as Ukraine Reports Rising Casualties

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A massive wave of Russian drone and missile strikes on Kyiv has left four people dead and dozens injured, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed. More than 430 drones and 18 missiles were launched, damaging high-rise buildings across nearly every district and leaving parts of the capital without heat as energy infrastructure took heavy hits. Emergency crews rescued more than 40 people from burning and collapsed structures.

The strikes also targeted several other Ukrainian regions, while Kyiv’s air defences intercepted multiple incoming threats. Fires, falling debris, and widespread destruction hit residential blocks, a hospital and administrative facilities, with some victims pulled from under rubble. Mayor Vitali Klitschko warned that parts of the city’s power, water and heating network had been disrupted.

In a parallel escalation, Ukraine struck Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, igniting a major oil refinery and damaging ships and apartment buildings. Local authorities declared a state of emergency and halted oil exports. The attacks follow another deadly Russian barrage less than a week earlier, prompting Zelensky to urge Western allies to tighten sanctions on Russian energy amid stalled ceasefire talks.

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Zelenskiy Visits Frontline Kherson Amid Intensifying Russian Attacks

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy made a visit to the embattled frontline city of Kherson on Tuesday, just kilometres from Russian-controlled territory across the Dnipro River. The city continues to suffer near-constant artillery strikes and drone attacks from Russian forces positioned nearby.

Posting a photo taken beside Kherson’s iconic city sign, Zelenskiy also shared a video marking three years since Russia withdrew from the city following its full-scale invasion in 2022. In his comments, he pledged new measures to strengthen the city’s defences and protect civilians from escalating threats.

The president said he would meet with regional officials and military commanders to address security challenges, especially the rising danger posed by Russian small attack drones targeting the area.

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Angelina Jolie Visits Kherson, Praises Resilience of Civilians Under Fire

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Hollywood actor and humanitarian Angelina Jolie travelled to Ukraine’s frontline city of Kherson and the neighbouring Mykolaiv region this week, meeting civilians, volunteers and medical staff who continue to endure relentless Russian attacks. Her visit was supported by the Legacy of War Foundation, which shared images of Jolie wearing a flak jacket while touring underground facilities sheltering residents from daily strikes.

Jolie said she was humbled by the courage of people living so close to the battlefield, noting that the world appears to be turning away from the protection of civilians. Kherson, once home to nearly 300,000 residents, remains within range of Russian forces who withdrew across the Dnipro River in 2022 but still launch frequent drone and artillery attacks.

Local authorities expressed gratitude for Jolie’s presence, saying it helps ensure Kherson is not forgotten amid the ongoing war. The actor last visited Ukraine in 2022, when she met displaced families in the western city of Lviv.

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Suspect Arrested in Murder of Former Ukrainian Speaker Andriy Parubiy

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced on Monday that a suspect has been arrested in the murder of former parliamentary speaker Andriy Parubiy, who was shot dead in the western city of Lviv on Saturday. Calling it a “horrific murder” and a matter of national security, Zelenskiy confirmed that the suspect has already given initial testimony, and urgent investigative actions are underway to establish the full circumstances.

Parubiy, 54, served as Ukraine’s parliamentary speaker from April 2016 to August 2019 and was a key figure in the 2013–14 protests that pushed for closer ties with the European Union. His killing has sent shockwaves across the country, already struggling under the strain of Russia’s ongoing invasion. Zelenskiy expressed gratitude to law enforcement agencies for their swift and coordinated response.

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said the alleged shooter was detained overnight in the Khmelnytskyi region of western Ukraine. He noted that the crime appeared to be meticulously planned, with the victim’s movements tracked, a route mapped, and an escape strategy prepared. Authorities have withheld further details while the investigation continues.

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