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This is the tenth year in a row celebrations for Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) service involved in waging their war in Ukraine against Russian aggression and the 2nd since Kremlin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began.

Today is day 651 since start of Russia’s so-called “special military operation” on Feb. 24, 2022, at which time the Kremlin thought it would capture Ukraine’s capital in day or few days - yet still it stands free. This is actually day 3,577 since Moscow began attacks on Ukraine, Feb. 20, 2014, when this mad mad Putin and his military began seizing Ukrainian territory, it also illegally to annex Crimean Peninsula too.

Every year on Dec. 6, Ukrainians celebrate the Day of the AFU, which was established as a holiday in 1993 by the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine’s national parliament). This holiday honors Ukrainian soldiers, its sons and daughters, for true courage, dedication and heroism, with great pride and respect. The holiday celebrates its service members defending Ukraine today and remembers the fallen who have given their all.

Peace may came about is year 2027.
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/25076

Japan pledges $4.5 billion in aid to Ukraine
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledged $4.5 billion to Ukraine, including $1 billion in humanitarian aid to help support the war-torn country’s recovery effort in an online summit of leading industrial nations.

Kishida made the announcement late Wednesday in Tokyo while hosting his last Group of Seven summit as this year’s chairperson.

The $1 billion humanitarian and recovery aid includes funding for generators and other power supplies for the Ukrainian people to survive the winter, as well as measures to clear mines planted by Russia, the Foreign Ministry said. The remaining $3.5 billion includes funding for credit guarantees for World Bank loans to Ukraine.

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Ukrainian army is forming five new mechanized brigades. On paper, the 150th, 151st, 152nd, 153rd and 154th Mechanized Brigades represent a significant force—a five-percent expansion of the Ukrainian ground forces. Dec 7, 2023.

In reality, they may end up riding in thinly-armored vehicles—with an obvious effect on their combat power. The brigades reportedly are drawing their cadres of experienced officers and non-commissioned officers from existing brigades, while filling out their 2,000 or so other billets with new recruits.

What’s unclear is where the brigades are getting the equipment that makes them mechanized brigades rather than light infantry brigades: their infantry fighting vehicles.

The Ukrainian military hasn’t exactly been shy about the new brigades’ formations. Several of the brigades have social-media accounts, and there have been a few official photos depicting the units’ new recruits in training.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/20...-vehicles/

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Russian military personnel seeking help to desert from their units has nearly doubled since the summer, The Moscow Times reported on Dec. 4, citing data from “Idite Lesom” (Get to Forest), an organization that helps Russians avoid participating in the war against Ukraine.

Get to Forest has received 577 appeals over the past three months, compared to 305 in June through August. More than a thousand Russian military personnel who attempted to desert have received legal counseling since April. Most of them sought help in the fall.

Read also: Russia lost 36,000 troops in six weeks — Ukraine’s Defense Minister

The highest number of desertion attempts was recorded in October (218 cases), the lowest in June (54 cases). There were 175 desertion attempts in November, fewer than in September and October, but more than in any other month.
https://english.nv.ua/nation/highest-num...73940.html

Finland's supreme court blocks extradition of Russian terrorism suspect to Ukraine
Reuters

HELSINKI, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Finland will not extradite to Ukraine a Russian man suspected of terrorism in Ukraine, Finland's supreme court ruled on Friday, citing the risk of inhuman prison conditions in Ukraine. Russian national Yan Petrovsky was taken into custody by Finnish authorities in August after a Ukrainian court issued an arrest warrant for the man who is suspected of participating in a terrorist organisation in Ukraine.

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Israeli forces continue push into southern Gaza amid ‘apocalyptic’ humanitarian situation
Hamas claims Israel launched series of ‘very violent raids’ targeting city of Khan Younis on Sunday, a day after ordering fresh evacuations

French ship downs two drones amid warning from Huthi rebels. French frigate shot down two drones in the Red Sea heading towards it from the coast of Yemen. French said on Sunday.

“The interception and destruction of these two identified threats” were carried out late on Saturday by frigate operates in Red Sea, the general staff said in a press release. The interceptions happened at 2030GMT and 2230GMT, it added, and were 110km (68 miles) from the Yemeni coast.

Agence France-Presse also reports that Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels threatened on Saturday to attack any vessels heading to Israeli ports unless food and medicine were allowed into the besieged Gaza Strip.

Latest comes amid heightened tensions in Red Sea waters following a series of maritime attacks by Huthi rebels since start of the Israel-Gaza war on 7 October. Statement posted on social media by Huthis will stop passage ships heading to Zionist” if humanitarian aid is not allowed into Hamas-ruled Gaza.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...-situation

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Two Ukrainian POWs, while surrendering, were shot by russian scum not far from Avdiivka.

Once again, the russians are breaking all the war rules, along with moral and human laws they never cared about.

Putin forces reduce nos of assault operations on Tavriia front. Quote from Tarnavskyi: "Tnvaders reduced number of assault operations & employing aircraft again. 

Tavriia front. Russia has resumed engaging aircraft in strikes again, enemy delivered 6 airstrikes, engaged in 33 combat engagements and launched 512 artillery bombardments.
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/12/10/7432428/

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Putin forces reduce nos of assault operations on Tavriia front. Quote from Tarnavskyi: "Tnvaders reduced number of assault operations & employing aircraft again. 

Tavriia front. Russia has resumed engaging aircraft in strikes again, enemy delivered 6 airstrikes, engaged in 33 combat engagements and launched 512 artillery bombardments.
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/12/10/7432428/

Russian troops made little progress near Avdiivka on 7 December. Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW) The details: Geolocation images released on 5 and 6 December show Russian troops have made little progress east of Stepove (3 km northwest of Avdiivka) and southeast of Avdiivka.

Russian military bloggers (milbloggers) also claimed on 6 & 7 December. The Russian troops had advanced near east of Avdiivka.
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/12/8/7432169/

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This is tenth year in a row to celebrations for Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).

Today is day 651 Russia’s “special military operation” where Kremlin thought it would capture Ukraine’s capital in day or few days - yet today it stands free, is actually day 3,577 since Moscow began attacks Ukraine, Feb. 20, 2014, when mad mad Putin and his military began seizing Ukrainian territory illegally, to annex Crimean Peninsula too.

Every year on Dec. 6, Ukrainians celebrate the Day of the AFU, which was established as a holiday in 1993 by the Ukraine’s national parliament. A holiday honors to Ukrainian soldiers, its sons and daughters, for true courage, dedication and heroism, with great pride and respect. This holiday celebrates to members defending Ukraine and remembers the fallen who have given their all.

Peace may came about is year 2027.
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/25076

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky is going to Washington DC to try to rescue a threatened US defence package to Kyiv worth billions of dollars.


The aid has become embroiled in US domestic, partisan politics.

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Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky is going to Washington DC to try to rescue a threatened US defence package to Kyiv worth billions of dollars. The aid has become embroiled in US domestic, partisan politics.

Zip-tying grenades and mortars to tiny online bought drones & using virtual reality headsets to direct into Russian targets. This 4-man drone unit signed up for is as effective as it is cheap.In a rickety old cottage, near Kherson city, Dnipro River, 11th National Guard Samosud Squad are making up for US stalling on aid with low-budget ingenuity small explosive drones to fight Russian on the other side of the Dnipro River.

CNN was granted rare access to one of dozens of Ukraine’s First Person View (FPV) drone along riverbank outside of Kherson city to observe attacks made by game-changing technology. Both Ukraine and Russia have harnessed the power of these cost-effective, mobile units, which can deliver payloads from light grenades to thermobaric weapons on enemy infantry, positions or armor, to devastating effect.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/12/europe/uk...index.html

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Zip-tying grenades and mortars to tiny online bought drones & using virtual reality headsets to direct into Russian targets. This 4-man drone unit signed up for is as effective as it is cheap.In a rickety old cottage, near Kherson city, Dnipro River, 11th National Guard Samosud Squad are making up for US stalling on aid with low-budget ingenuity small explosive drones to fight Russian on the other side of the Dnipro River.

CNN was granted rare access to one of dozens of Ukraine’s First Person View (FPV) drone along riverbank outside of Kherson city to observe attacks made by game-changing technology. Both Ukraine and Russia have harnessed the power of these cost-effective, mobile units, which can deliver payloads from light grenades to thermobaric weapons on enemy infantry, positions or armor, to devastating effect.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/12/europe/uk...index.html

The Russians Couldn’t Take Avdiivka With Tanks. Then Putin Threw Tbousand of Soldiers, Still Couldn’t Take It With Infantry. Now They’re Trying With Drones.After two months Russian assault on Avdiivka, a key Ukrainian strongpoint in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region, appears to be petering out...
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/20...45c0d7194c

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The Russians Couldn’t Take Avdiivka With Tanks. Then Putin Threw Tbousand of Soldiers, Still Couldn’t Take It With Infantry. Now They’re Trying With Drones.After two months Russian assault on Avdiivka, a key Ukrainian strongpoint in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region, appears to be petering out...
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/20...45c0d7194c

The unit CNN visited asked for their names and location to be withheld for their safety. Their operations room is about 15 square meters, with boxes and plastic bags of munitions, multiple piles of drone chassis and propellers, one large TV screen, and two pairs of goggles, more commonly used in gaming. 

“We’ve had days so busy to launched 15 to 20” drones, said one pilotand “got 10 minutes between flights to rest, never imagined this would be my war.” Pilot said that only about a third of those trained are able to operate the goggles extended period, and some experience dizziness or disorientation after use.

This eastern bank has become an unexpected success story. Begun as a series over summer, so Kyiv has augmented its forces on occupied side of the Dnipro River. 

This is to pressured Russian units and Putin costly progress, Ukraine forces can then move toward the Western access route to meet Putin soldiers in the Crimean peninsula.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/12/europe/uk...index.html

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Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky is going to Washington DC to try to rescue a threatened US defence package to Kyiv worth billions of dollars. The aid has become embroiled in US domestic, partisan politics.

Swedish Archer artillery system from BAE represents current pinnacle of shoot-and-scoot artillery. A 155mm howitzer sits on the back of a large truck can use whatever sufficiently large truck they like, Sweden built theirs on a Volvo dump truck chassis.

The synchronized shots do greater damage to defenders than other barrages, but Ukraine faces a larger problem right now. Their soldiers must ration artillery ammunition as the West struggles to produce what is needed. The Archer, for all of its capabilities, cannot change that. For now, only Congress can likely do so.

Ukraine. Now, video shows system in action. Each Archer system can fire a series of rounds in rapid succession, allowing a single gun to achieve "time on target," synchronized effects like a whole battery. The awesome Archer artillery system Ukraine is finally using it.
https://www.wearethemighty.com/tactical/...lly-using/

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Ukrainian army is forming five new mechanized brigades. On paper, the 150th, 151st, 152nd, 153rd and 154th Mechanized Brigades represent a significant force—a five-percent expansion of the Ukrainian ground forces. Dec 7, 2023.

In reality, they may end up riding in thinly-armored vehicles—with an obvious effect on their combat power. The brigades reportedly are drawing their cadres of experienced officers and non-commissioned officers from existing brigades, while filling out their 2,000 or so other billets with new recruits.

What’s unclear is where the brigades are getting the equipment that makes them mechanized brigades rather than light infantry brigades: their infantry fighting vehicles.

The Ukrainian military hasn’t exactly been shy about the new brigades’ formations. Several of the brigades have social-media accounts, and there have been a few official photos depicting the units’ new recruits in training.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/20...-vehicles/

White House scrambles in last-ditch effort to salvage border talks. As Zelenskyy visits Washington, Dems race to find common ground as Ukraine aid remains in limbo. Top Biden admi officials are scrambling to keep border talks alive as a deal with Senate Republicans over Ukraine funding has grown increasingly elusive, four people familiar with the talks said.

Among ideas under consideration to two of the people, is a version of Title 42-like expulsion authorities and a nationwide expansion of the process known as expedited removal, which allows govt to deport anyone unable to establish a legal basis. In addition, conversations have centered on including a mandatory detention policy until migrants can be placed into expedited removal proceedings, as well as changes to the credible fear standard, which would ultimately deny more migrants the opportunity to apply for asylum.

People both on the Hill and the administration cautioned that talks were fluid. They also warned that no specific policies have been agreed to and simply because an idea was under consideration didn’t mean it would be included, let alone presented, as a Democratic-authored proposal.
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/12/12...s-00131421

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The unit CNN visited asked for their names and location to be withheld for their safety. Their operations room is about 15 square meters, with boxes and plastic bags of munitions, multiple piles of drone chassis and propellers, one large TV screen, and two pairs of goggles, more commonly used in gaming. 

“We’ve had days so busy to launched 15 to 20” drones, said one pilotand “got 10 minutes between flights to rest, never imagined this would be my war.” Pilot said that only about a third of those trained are able to operate the goggles extended period, and some experience dizziness or disorientation after use.

This eastern bank has become an unexpected success story. Begun as a series over summer, so Kyiv has augmented its forces on occupied side of the Dnipro River. 

This is to pressured Russian units and Putin costly progress, Ukraine forces can then move toward the Western access route to meet Putin soldiers in the Crimean peninsula.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/12/europe/uk...index.html

In April of this year, it became known that Ukraine will receive Polish 120mm self-propelled mortars. In December some signs that Ukrainian military got the system emerged

The press service of 44th separate mechanized brigade has published a number of photos, from which it appears Ukrainian troops are already using 120mm Rak self-propelled mortars on battlefield against russian occupation forces.systems were manufactured by the Polish company Huta Stalowa Wola.

"A competent mortar commander is a master sergeant, a skillful & responsible warrior, worthy of his comrades. That's why he call sign "Super", - comments on the photo in the brigade.

Read more: How Poland Can Adapt Rak Self-Propelled Mortar for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Speed Up Delivery
https://en.defence-ua.com/events/ukraini...-8831.html

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Ukrainian guerillas managed to sneak into the base of Russia’s 56th Guards Assault Regiment in temporarily occupied Feodosia, Crimea.
This was reported by the ATESH partisan movement operating in temporarily occupied Crimea, Ukrinform reports.

"Our agent has collected data on the unit's personnel, heavy equipment, and weaponry. The Mi-8 helicopters used to evacuate the wounded are worth noting," the report says.

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Russia’s ‘Best Missile’ Fails To Bait Western Air Defenses In Ukraine, But Kyiv Running Out Of SAMs: Report. noted by US-based think tank Institute for Study of War (ISW) about Kh-55 missile Russian Air Force (RuAF) often uses while undertaking long-range standoff missile and drone strikes from aircraft and land.
https://www.eurasiantimes.com/russias-be...raine/?amp

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Considerable strain’ on Putin Russia’s economy.
GDP would be more than 5% bigger if Moscow had not invaded its neighbour.

It is driving up domestic consumer prices and forcing Moscow to spend a third of its budget on defence, US Treasury department. The year long war plus.combination of US allies’ sanctions and Moscow’s policy response was “putting Russia’s economy, it put PUTIN under economic strain”
https://www.ft.com/content/5e62c011-0c94...f8072e2a64

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White House scrambles in last-ditch effort to salvage border talks. As Zelenskyy visits Washington, Dems race to find common ground as Ukraine aid remains in limbo. Top Biden admi officials are scrambling to keep border talks alive as a deal with Senate Republicans over Ukraine funding has grown increasingly elusive, four people familiar with the talks said.

Among ideas under consideration to two of the people, is a version of Title 42-like expulsion authorities and a nationwide expansion of the process known as expedited removal, which allows govt to deport anyone unable to establish a legal basis. In addition, conversations have centered on including a mandatory detention policy until migrants can be placed into expedited removal proceedings, as well as changes to the credible fear standard, which would ultimately deny more migrants the opportunity to apply for asylum.

People both on the Hill and the administration cautioned that talks were fluid. They also warned that no specific policies have been agreed to and simply because an idea was under consideration didn’t mean it would be included, let alone presented, as a Democratic-authored proposal.
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/12/12...s-00131421

Republicans helping Russia by denying Ukraine aid, Biden says. US president announces emergency $200m in aid after Congress continues to deny to Zelenskiy.

Joe Biden has given his starkest warning yet that Republicans are playing directly into the hands of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, by threatening to end military aid to Ukraine.

“Russian loyalists in Moscow celebrated when Republicans voted to block Ukraine’s aid last week,” the US president said at a joint press conference with the Ukrainian leader, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in Washington on Tuesday. “The host of a Kremlin-run show said: ‘Well done Republicans, that’s good for us.’”

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The unit CNN visited asked for their names and location to be withheld for their safety. Their operations room is about 15 square meters, with boxes and plastic bags of munitions, multiple piles of drone chassis and propellers, one large TV screen, and two pairs of goggles, more commonly used in gaming. 

“We’ve had days so busy to launched 15 to 20” drones, said one pilotand “got 10 minutes between flights to rest, never imagined this would be my war.” Pilot said that only about a third of those trained are able to operate the goggles extended period, and some experience dizziness or disorientation after use.

This eastern bank has become an unexpected success story. Begun as a series over summer, so Kyiv has augmented its forces on occupied side of the Dnipro River. 

This is to pressured Russian units and Putin costly progress, Ukraine forces can then move toward the Western access route to meet Putin soldiers in the Crimean peninsula.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/12/europe/uk...index.html

Ukraine Figured Out A New Way, Winning Battles: By Grounding Russia’s Drones. It’s not for no reason Russian assault. Is bad to worst.

Avdiivka, a key Ukrainian stronghold in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region, seems to be stalling out, indications Ukrainians have deployed their new drone and counter-drone strategy: targeting  radio-jammers, using drones while setting up their own jammers to ground Russian drones.

“The advantage in electronic warfare seems to be holding in this sector,” analyst Donald Hill wrote in fellow analyst Tom Cooper’s newsletter. “The number of Ukrainian drone attacks have increased. A lot. The number of Russian drone attacks have decreased by the same amount.”
That’s encouraging for free Ukraine as the winter deepens and Russia launches its traditional cold-weather attacks in several sectors of the 600-mile front line.

Avdiivka is locus of these winter assaults. After failing to capture the city’s ruins with vehicular attacks and then also failing with infantry attacks that cost them 17,000 casualties, the Russians pivoted to an aerial assault—sending explosive first-person-view drones, some outfitted for night flights, to harry Ukrainian supply lines in the hope of strangling the garrison and forcing it to withdraw. The Ukrainians are grounding the drones before they can attack, and also preventing the Russians from grounding Ukrainian drones, means the Ukrainians’ supply lines might stay open—and the Russians’ supply lines might fray.

“There is no telling how long Ukraine will have this advantage, but it’s currently saving Ukrainian lives,” Hill wrote.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/20...c341734c55

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Don’t betray Ukraine over EU accession, Zelenskiy urges leaders. Ukrainian leader says delay would give Putin a ‘satisfied smile’, as Hungary’s Viktor Orbán threatens veto...
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/d...es-leaders

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Two mi-17 heli to Ukraine...
https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/ar...to-ukraine

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Zelenskyy claims ‘victory’ as EU agrees to open Ukraine membership talks

Moment of celebration turns bittersweet as Hungary carries through on threats to block financial aid for Kyiv.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/1...or-ukraine

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Considerable strain’ on Putin Russia’s economy.GDP would be more than 5% bigger if Moscow had not invaded its neighbour.

It is driving up domestic consumer prices and forcing Moscow to spend a third of its budget on defence, US Treasury department. The year long war plus.combination of US allies’ sanctions and Moscow’s policy response was “putting Russia’s economy, it put PUTIN under economic strain”4

Exceptionally Heavy Losses’. Russia’s Newest Airborne Division Attacks Dnipro Bridgehead.
104th Air Assault Division supposed to save Putin left bank of Dnipro River in southern Ukraine. Instead, newly-formed division “suffered exceptionally heavy losses. Reinforced by army motorized regiment, it failed to cursory training in September and October, Putin airborne corps’ 104th Division arrived iand took the lead. The 104th is new, usually is a four-division airborne corps was supposed to make good, but heavy losses in 22 month. Instead the approximately 2,000-person division itself became a casualty of an escalating war attrition. The division “was reportedly poorly supported by air power and artillery, while many of the troops were highly likely inexperienced.”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/20...7a9bc111c6

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Putin Miscalculated is not only a self-inflicted, it also to kill Ukraine

https://youtu.be/8YkGrKQXZxE

Vladimir Putin’s supporters have formally nominated him to run as an independent candidate in the 2024 presidential election, Reuters cites Russian state news agencies as reporting. He is running as an independent in March’s election with all,100% to win, previously ran as a independent candidate in 2018. He happy he can Z to 24 to 2030 year.

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Ukraine hit by one of the worst cyber-attacks of the war, says UK this week, Ukraine was hit by a 48-hour cyber-attack that UK says was probably “one of the highest-impact disruptive cyber-attacks on Ukrainian networks since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion”.

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G7 moves closer to seizing Russian assets for Ukraine, US discussi paper argues to confiscat some of Moscow’s $300bn in be ‘consistent with international law’.

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Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria plan to sign a deal in January on a joint plan to clear mines floating in the Black Sea as a result of the war in Ukraine, Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler said on Saturday, after months of talks between the Nato allies. Speaking to reporters at a meeting in Ankara, Guler said the “Trilateral Initiative” would only include Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria for now, and their defence ministers planned to hold a signing ceremony in Istanbul on 11 January.

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G7 moves closer to seizing Russian assets for Ukraine, US discussi paper argues to confiscat some of Moscow’s $300bn in be ‘consistent with international law’.

Office of Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief was wiretapping device was found in office of Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces. Details: Sources told Ukrainska Pravda that a wiretapping device was found on Sunday, 17 December, during a routine inspection.

Update: The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) later stated that a technical device that was not in working order had been found in one of Zaluzhnyi's potential locations, and that criminal proceedings have been opened.

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G7 moves closer to seizing Russian assets for Ukraine, US discussi paper argues to confiscat some of Moscow’s $300bn in be ‘consistent with international law’.

Congress unlikely to finish work on Ukraine, border deal this year, Republican side suggested January was more “realistic.”

Senate looks unlikely to advance new border security restrictions alongside billions more for Ukraine aid this month, as negotiators work through complex border law in difficult closed-door discussions with the Biden administration and top Senate aides.

Negotiating Sens. James Lankford (R-Okla.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) met for three hours on Sunday and continued to cite forward progress afterward, with Sinema saying some portions of the challenging border language had been finalized. But full deal is not complete enough for even a cursory framework or summary to be released yet, and senators on the Republican side suggested the bill shouldn’t be taken up until January when the House is back in session.

Senate negotiators are meeting on a daily basis to reach a deal on the border security measures demanded by House and Senate Republicans as a condition of passing President Joe Biden’s $106 billion supplemental aid package that includes support for Ukraine and Israel.
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/12/17...e-00132188

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Ukraine war: Kyiv forced to cut military operations as foreign aid dries up. Top general Oleksandr Tarnavskyi said troops faced ammunition shortages along the "entire front line", creating a "big problem" for Kyiv. It comes as billions of dollars of US and EU aid have been held up amid political wrangles. Ukraine said it hoped to boost its own ammunition industry with western help.

Both EU and US. Republicans in US Congress first blocked a $60bn (£47bn) military package for Ukraine earlier this month was followed by Hungary's blocking EU's €50bn ($55bn; £43bn) financial aid deal last week. EU leaders however said Ukraine would not be left without support
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67748813

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Don’t betray Ukraine over EU accession, Zelenskiy urges leaders. Ukrainian leader says delay would give Putin a ‘satisfied smile’, as Hungary’s Viktor Orbán threatens veto...
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/d...es-leaders

US says it will run out of funds for Ukraine this month.

U.S. will run out of funding for Ukraine this month if Congress does not act to pass President Joe Biden’s emergency supplemental spending request has been stalled for weeks on Capitol Hill, a top U.S. official said Monday.

Biden admin plans to announce one more last package of military aid to Ukraine this month, National Security Council John Kirby told reporters on Monday. After that, funding for Ukraine will dry up, he said. "When that one is done … we will have no more replenishment authority available to us. And we’re going to need Congress to act without delay,” Kirby said.

The Pentagon still has $4.4 billion in presidential drawdown authority to provide weapons to Ukraine directly from Defense Dept inventory, according to Pentagon spokesperson Lt. Col. Garron Garn. But weapons DOD transfer are limited by necessary funding to replenish U.S. stockpiles, and that’s what is almost gone.

Sunday, Pentagon Comptroller urged Congress in a letter to act on president’s roughly $111 bil supplemental  been bogged down on Capitol Hill as lawmakers debate tying request to deal on border security. “It is essential Congress act without delay on the Admin’s pending supplemental request.

Doing so is in our clear national interest to assistance is vitally needed so Ukraine can continue to fight for freedom,” McCord wrote in the letter.  Bloomberg first reported McCord’s letter, which POLITICO also later obtained.
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/12/18...e-00132304