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The Guardian: The US wants Ukraine to withdraw its troops from the Donbas region, and Washington would then create a “free economic zone” in the parts Kyiv currently controls, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.

AP News: The IOC took a big step toward reintegrating Russia and Belarus into world sports Thursday by advising governing bodies to let the countries’ teams and athletes compete in international youth events with their full identity of national flag and anthem.

The Insider: Nearly 2,000 unidentified drones have been spotted over Germany since the beginning of the year, according to security reports reviewed by Die Welt, BILD and Axel Springer Academy. In a joint investigation, the outlets say they identified a pattern linking many of the drone sightings to the movements of three Russia-linked vessels operating in the Baltic and North seas.

The Moscow Times: Anonymous hackers have breached a key developer of Russia’s digital military draft system, the head of the draft-dodging nonprofit Idite Lesom said Thursday.

Reuters: European Union governments want to agree on Friday to freeze Russian central bank assets immobilised in Europe for as long as necessary, replacing the need for a vote to renew the freeze every six months, EU diplomats said.

OHCHR: Intensifying attacks on human rights defenders and anti-war voices in Russia point to a dramatic decline in the country’s human rights situation and the growing insecurity of a state that fears accountability, a UN expert warned today.

Euractiv: Russia’s oil export revenues dropped in November to their lowest monthly level since Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2022, the International Energy Agency said on Thursday.

Reuters: Russia's Lukoil favours U.S. bank Xtellus Partners' bid for its global assets over a dozen rival bids, as it takes the form of a cashless deal that would return U.S.-held securities to the Russian oil company.

The Kyiv Independent: The European Commission and Kyiv have agreed on a 10-point action plan to tackle corruption and strengthen democratic institutions in Ukraine as part of its path to membership, EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos announced on Dec. 11.

BBC: Polish authorities have arrested a prominent Russian academic from St Petersburg's world-famous Hermitage Museum who is sought by Ukraine for allegedly conducting illegal excavations and partially destroying the ancient city of Myrmekion in Crimea.

Reuters: “A large majority of Republicans... in the Senate and the House believe Russians are adversaries of the United States, that Moscow’s war on Ukraine is a Russian aggression that must not succeed," said John Herbst, a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine with the Atlantic Council think tank. “There’s more willingness to challenge (Trump) policies they think are flawed and it’s not, of course, just related to Ukraine.”

United24 Media: Ukraine has carried out its first-ever strike on Russia’s offshore oil infrastructure in the Caspian Sea, disabling a major production platform with long-range drones operated by the Security Service of Ukraine.

The Kyiv Independent: The U.N. General Assembly approved a resolution on Dec. 10 to boost international cooperation and reduce the impact of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster, with 97 countries voting in favor and eight against. Russia, Belarus, China, North Korea, and the U.S. voted against the document.

worth mentioning

The first Chechen of German nationalism

Ireland unveils €1.7 billion plan to beef up its weak defenses

Germany, France, Spain move to end deadlock in fighter jet dispute

Hungary to buy more Azeri gas, MOL close to upstream deal

Opinion: Trump’s jarring disconnect on Ukraine

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