Politics
Estonia will lead the NB8 cooperation format from 1 January 2026
From 1 January 2026, Estonia will take over the coordination of the NB8 format. The priorities will be regional security, support for Ukraine, increasing pressure on Russia, and deepening defence and economic integration.
Zelenskyy in his New Year's address: Ukraine seeks peace, but not at the cost of its own statehood
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine wants the war to end but is not ready to give up its sovereignty. According to him, the peace agreement is 90% complete, but security guarantees and strong international commitments remain key.
A telecommunications cable between Finland and Estonia is damaged in the Gulf of Finland. The vessel is detained
Elisa's submarine telecommunications cable between Finland and Estonia was damaged in the Gulf of Finland. Finnish authorities detained a vessel suspected of being involved in the incident. The investigation is ongoing.
Sandu accuses Russia of disrupting peace talks and attacking civilians in Ukraine
Moldovan President Maia Sandu said that Russia is sabotaging peace talks with false statements and continues to shell civilians in Ukraine, despite diplomatic efforts involving the United States.
Merz says the war against Ukraine is part of Russia's plan against the whole of Europe
In his New Year's address, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that Russia's war against Ukraine is part of a broader plan against Europe and directly threatens Germany's freedom and security.
Students join economic protests in Iran. The rial has almost halved in value
In Iran, protests over rising living costs have spread to universities. Students joined traders and shopkeepers amid record inflation of 42.5% and a sharp drop in the rial.
The US imposes sanctions on companies and individuals from Iran and Venezuela over the supply of combat drones
The United States imposed sanctions on ten companies and individuals from Iran and Venezuela, which are linked to the supply of combat drones and support for Iranian missile programmes.
European leaders discuss Ukraine against the backdrop of Russia's hardening stance
European leaders held talks on Ukraine after the Kremlin announced that it was reconsidering its negotiating position. Ukraine called Russian accusations fake, while Poland said peace was on the horizon for the first time.
ISW finds no evidence of drone attack on Putin's Valdai residence
ISW analysts said there was no evidence of a Ukrainian drone attack on Putin's residence in Valdai. Local residents have not heard any air defence activity, and Russian statements contradict each other.
Lithuania is preparing to blow up strategic bridges on the border with Russia and Belarus in case of an attack
Lithuania is strengthening the defence of its eastern border. The authorities are preparing engineering solutions for blowing up bridges, creating anti-tank lines and accumulating barriers amid the threat from Russia and Belarus.
Von der Leyen calls Ukraine's accession to the EU a key security guarantee
Ursula von der Leyen said after the meeting that Ukraine's accession to the European Union is critical for peace, security and reconstruction of the country.
For the first time, the United States declared its readiness to deploy troops in Ukraine as a security guarantee
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that for the first time, the United States had confirmed its readiness to contribute to security guarantees for Ukraine, including through the possible deployment of US troops after peace is reached.
