Denmark blames Russia for ‘destructive’ cyberattacks ahead of elections The intelligence service said the attacks were part of Russia's ‘hybrid war’ against the West The Independent UK · Dec 19, 2025
Ukraine attacks Russian ‘shadow’ tanker off Libyan coast Reportedly critical drone strike is first in Mediterranean since full-scale invasion began as maritime conflict grows The Guardian - UK · Dec 19, 2025
Putin warns EU leaders of ‘grave consequences’ if Russia robbed of frozen assets Vladimir Putin warned EU leaders of “grave consequences” if Russia had been robbed of its frozen assets. The Independent UK · Dec 19, 2025
Putin touts battlefield gains, signalling war in Ukraine will continue During his annual press conference and call-in show, the Russian president stated that his troops were advancing in Ukraine, the day after EU leaders agreed on a €90bn loan for Kyiv, avoiding the use of frozen assets. Euronews · Dec 19, 2025
Russia claims its spy chief held ‘lengthy’ phone call with new head of MI6 Blaise Metreweli took office as the first female MI6 chief in October The Independent UK · Dec 19, 2025
Watch live: Vladimir Putin holds annual end of year address and phone-in with Russians Watch live as Vladimir Putin holds his annual televised new conference on Friday (19 December). The Independent UK · Dec 19, 2025
EU greenlights €90bn loan for Ukraine, without frozen Russian assets European Union leaders have agreed a €90 billion loan package for Ukraine, offering Kyiv a financial lifeline as it faces mounting budgetary pressure, but stopped short of the contentious step of using frozen Russian state assets. Radio France Internationale · Dec 19, 2025
Nairobi sounds alarm over recruiters luring Kenyans into Russian war effort Kenya has pledged to crack down on overseas recruitment networks after hundreds of its citizens were lured to Russia with promises of work, only to be sent to military camps and, in some cases, the front line in Ukraine. Radio France Internationale · Dec 19, 2025
Zelenskyy and Polish PM hail EU’s €90bn loan: ‘Scariest thing for Russians is when we’re together’ – as it happened Ukrainian leader welcomes move as Donald Tusk says ‘it could be better’ after Russian frozen assets left out of deal The Guardian - AU · Dec 19, 2025
Ukraine war briefing: Hungary agrees to allow EU loan to Kyiv but will not contribute Viktor Orbán appeared to have agreed not to block the borrowing as long as his country, Slovakia and the Czech Republic were excluded from the guarantees. What we know on day 1,395 The Guardian - AU · Dec 19, 2025
Ukraine deal: EU leaders agree €90bn loan, but without use of frozen Russian assets Two-year deal will cover most of Ukraine’s needs, but will be secured against EU borrowing rather than Russian assets The Guardian - UK · Dec 19, 2025
Sliders from Ukraine and Russia will start consecutively at World Cup luge race at Lake Placid Ukrainian and Russian athletes are set to compete side by side in a World Cup men's luge race on Saturday The Independent UK · Dec 19, 2025
Watch: Putin calls European leaders ‘little pigs’ ahead of crucial summit in Brussels Vladimir Putin has called European leaders “little pigs” who want the collapse of Russia, ahead of a key EU summit in Brussels. The Independent UK · Dec 18, 2025
Crude Oil Prices Supported by Geopolitical Tensions January WTI crude oil (CLF26 ) on Thursday closed up +0.21 (+0.38%), and January RBOB gasoline (RBF26 ) closed up +0.0070 (+0.41%). Crude oil and gasoline prices settled higher on Thursday amid heightened geopolitical risks in Venezuela and Russia. Also, Thursday's sharp rally in stocks boosted optimism about the economic... Barchart · Dec 18, 2025
Latin Times · Dec 18, 2025 China Condemns U.S. 'Bullying' Over Venezuela Oil Blockade, Makes No Aid Commitments China criticized what it described as "unilateral bullying" of Venezuela after the United States ordered a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving the South American country.
The Guardian - UK · Dec 18, 2025 Denmark says Russia was behind two ‘destructive and disruptive’ cyber-attacks Intelligence service says attacks were work of groups connected to Russian state in ‘clear evidence’ of hybrid war
International Business Times · Dec 18, 2025 Crucial Proposal Inside Ukraine Peace Plan Now 'Dead', Top Putin Ally Declares The Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orbán, has called proposals to use seized Russian assets to assist Ukraine "a dead end."
The Guardian - UK · Dec 18, 2025 The Guardian view on the EU and Ukraine: a moment of truth for Brussels and Kyiv Editorial: The plan to mobilise Russia’s frozen assets is morally compelling and ingenious. The problem is that its enemies will never see it that way
We Got This Covered · Dec 18, 2025 Donald Trump offically and publicly confirms even a 5-year-old can beat him at emotional intelligence and maturity At this point, I am afraid even the word "man-child" isn't enough to describe him.
The Guardian - UK · Dec 18, 2025 ‘Money today or blood tomorrow’: EU leaders race to secure deal for Ukraine Summit divided on idea of loan secured against Russian assets, as Belgium seeks guarantees if scheme goes wrong
Barchart · Dec 18, 2025 Geopolitical Tensions Support Crude Oil Prices January WTI crude oil (CLF26 ) today is up +0.57 (+1.02%), and January RBOB gasoline (RBF26 ) is up +0.0134 (+0.79%). Crude oil and gasoline prices are rising today amid heightened geopolitical risks in Venezuela and Russia. Also, today's sharp rally in stocks boosts optimism about the economic outlook, which...
The Independent UK · Dec 18, 2025 Belarusian leader says Russia deployed its latest nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile to the country Belarus’ authoritarian president says that Russia had deployed its latest nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile system to the country, a move that comes as talks to end the war in Ukraine have entered a crucial phase
Euronews · Dec 18, 2025 Ukraine does not believe Europe ‘should replace the US’ in security guarantees, Zelenskyy says Responding to a question from Euronews, the Ukrainian leader said Europe’s commitment to assist Ukraine in case of a future Russian attack cannot replace the US security guarantees for Ukraine. For Kyiv these are “different things” and how Russia is trying to “exclude” the EU from it, he explained.
The Independent UK · Dec 18, 2025 Russia has few legal options to challenge EU frozen asset plan A core question for European Union leaders discussing whether to use frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine is whether the idea is legally sound
Latin Times · Dec 18, 2025 Russia Cautions U.S. About Making a 'Fatal Mistake' In Military Campaign Against Venezuela Venezuela cautioned the U.S. about making a "fatal mistake" in its military campaign against Venezuela, adding that its recent decision to impose a blockade on sanctioned oil tankers "pose a threat to international shipping."