(2025-12-19). Is ‚Ǩ90 Billion from Europe Sufficient to Help Ukraine Defeat Russia? thinktank.pk The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia has entered a critical phase as of late 2025, with questions surrounding Ukraine's ability to sustain its defense efforts. Key factors include access to reliable energy supplies from Europe, substantial financial aid packages, and the influx of fresh military reinforcements. Understanding the Role of European Fuel in Ukraine's …
(2025-12-19). China, Ukraine hold political consultations between foreign ministries. ecns.cn China's Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Liu Bin (R) meets Serhiy Kyslytsya, first deputy minister of foreign affairs of Ukraine, in Beijing, December 18, 2025.China's Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Liu Bin held political consultations between the foreign ministries of China and Ukraine with Serhiy Kyslytsya, first deputy minister of foreign affairs of Ukraine, in Beijing on Thursday.
(2025-12-19). Why has Abramovich kept $3.3Bn from Ukraine victims for 3 years? UK goes after ex-Chelsea owner. hindustantimes.com The UK has intensified pressure on former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich over $3.3 billion in proceeds from the sale of the football club, funds that were pledged for Ukraine war victims but remain frozen three years later. Keir Starmer challenged Abramovich to pay up or face being dragged to court by the UK government. Watch why here…
(2025-12-19). Jeffrey Sachs: European Security Includes Russia. consortiumnews.com In an open letter in Berliner Zeitung, the author tells the German chancellor that peace in Ukraine cannot be achieved by pretending that Russia's security concerns do not exist. By Jeffrey D. Sachs Berliner Zeitung CN at 30 Chancellor Merz, You…
(2025-12-19). France's President goes soft on Russia? Macron invites Putin to table to talk $97,200,000,000 Loan. hindustantimes.com French President Emmanuel Macron has said he believes it would be "useful" to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin again, calling a proposed €90 billion compromise a "major step forward" amid efforts to end the Ukraine war. Macron's remarks come as questions grow over whether European support for Kyiv is shrinking, highlighting divisions within Europe on diplomacy, funding commitments, and the future course of talks with Moscow.
(2025-12-19). EU opts for joint borrowing to bankroll Ukraine, shelves risky Russian asset plan. moderndiplomacy.eu European Union leaders agreed to raise 90 billion euros through joint borrowing backed by the EU budget to support Ukraine's defence over the next two years, setting aside a controversial plan to use frozen Russian sovereign assets. The bloc holds around 210 billion euros in Russian assets, most of them in Belgium, but legal, financial …
(2025-12-19). Putin set to signal war or peace stance at year-end news conference. moderndiplomacy.eu Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to address the future of the war in Ukraine when he speaks at his marathon end-of-year news conference on Friday. Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 triggered the most severe confrontation between Moscow and the West since the Cold War, following years of conflict in eastern Ukraine. The …
(2025-12-19). Democrats release several new images from Epstein estate. tribune.com.pk 
Congressional Democrats released dozens of new images from the estate of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Thursday, a day before the US Justice Department is required by law to release unclassified files from its investigation of the disgraced financier. | The latest batch of images includes close-ups of sentences from "Lolita," a book about a man's obsession with a 12-year-old girl, scribbled in black ink across a woman's body — chest, foot, neck and back; redacted identification cards of women from Russia, Morocco, Italy, Czech Republic, South Africa, Ukraine and Lithuania; and a late…
(2025-12-19). Kremlin eyes Latin American storm: Is Venezuela the next proxy flashpoint in US-Russia tensions. hindustantimes.com The Kremlin has confirmed preparations for fresh contacts with the United States as speculation grows over possible Russia-US talks on Ukraine in Miami. Speaking to reporters, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov said Moscow is seeking updates on consultations between Washington, Europe and Ukraine. Peskov also dismissed reports that Turkey plans to return Russian S-400 missile systems, calling the claims unfounded. Addressing rising tensions around Venezuela, he warned the situation is "potentially very dangerous," reaffirming Russia's support for its ally Caracas and urging restraint to avoid unpredictable escala…
(2025-12-19). Britain sanctions Russia's energy firms. tribune.com.pk 
Britain imposed sanctions on Thursday on more Russian oil companies and Canadian-Pakistani billionaire Murtaza Lakhani as part of efforts to ramp up pressure on Moscow over the war in Ukraine. | The government targeted 24 individuals and entities, including what it described as Russia's largest remaining unsanctioned oil companies: Tatneft, Russneft, NNK-Oil and Rusneftegaz. | The latest measures aim to make it harder for Russia to trade its oil globally. In October, Britain and the US sanctioned Russia's two biggest oil companies, Lukoil and Rosneft. | Earlier on Thursday, the EU imposed sanctions on 41 more…
(2025-12-19). 'Trump' card played: Did US quietly kill Ukraine's NATO bid? Zelensky publicly calls out Biden. hindustantimes.com Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed that former U.S. President Joe Biden told him Ukraine would not be allowed to join NATO, even before the war with Russia began. Zelensky defended Ukraine's constitutional commitment to NATO and said only the Ukrainian people—not Russia or foreign powers—can decide the country's security path. Watch the full video to know more!
(2025-12-19). Russia's war budget: Kremlin spend $137 Billion, 5.1% of GDP in 2025 | Ukraine. hindustantimes.com Russia has disclosed its direct Ukraine war spending for the first time, revealing plans to spend over $137 billion in 2025, around 5.1% of its GDP. The figures highlight Moscow's deepening war economy, expanding military production, and intensified strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure amid ongoing conflict and peace talks. Watch the full video to know more!
(2025-12-19). Vladimir Putin mocks Zelensky's Kupiansk selfie, boasts Russian frontline gains. hindustantimes.com Russian President Vladimir Putin used a televised address to mock Volodymyr Zelensky's recent "Hello from Kupiansk" selfie, sneering that the Ukrainian leader was "standing on the threshold" rather than inside a city Moscow claims is already encircled. Putin argued that after Russian troops pushed Ukrainian forces out of the Kursk region, the "full and complete strategic initiative" had passed to the Russian army, which he claimed is now advancing along nearly the entire frontline while Ukrainian units "retreat" with depleted reserves. Watch for more…
(2025-12-19). Zelensky's peace talk & Drone war: Kyiv pushes talks as Rostov burns in strikes. hindustantimes.com Peace overtures are playing out in conference rooms while a shadow war of drones rages across borders, with Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles slamming into Russia's Rostov Region and triggering deadly fires and civilian casualties. In coordinated overnight strikes on Rostov-on-Don, Bataysk and Taganrog, Ukrainian drones ignited a cargo vessel in the port of Rostov-on-Don, killing two crew members and injuring three others, as well as setting private homes ablaze in Bataysk and damaging civilian infrastructure across the area. Watch for details…
(2025-12-19). Pakistan eyes January Panda Bond debut. tribune.com.pk 
Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb reviewed progress on Pakistan's inaugural Panda Bond issuance under a planned $1 billion programme aimed at diversifying funding sources and supporting debt sustainability. | He was briefed by officials of the Ministry of Finance's Debt Management Office on regulatory approvals, investor outreach and market readiness, as Pakistan prepares to enter China's onshore bond market with the first issuance targeted for January. | Pakistan Advances Toward USD 1 Billion Panda Bond Program with Inaugural Issuance Targeted for January | Federal Minister for Finan…
(2025-12-19). The Yellow Baldwin: William Gee Wong. counterpunch.org 
Reading William Gee Wong's Sons of Chinatown: A Memoir Rooted in China and America (Temple University Press, 2024), one realizes how valuable the former Oakland Tribune publishers Robert and Nancy Maynard were to the Oakland community. However, the stress that accompanied their being overachievers killed them—the Jackie Robinson curse. Maynard, who'd worked at The Washington
(2025-12-19). Russia's beast roars: First S-500 regiment deployed – NATO hypersonic, stealth jets & SATs tremble. hindustantimes.com Russia has declared its first regiment equipped with the advanced S-500 Prometheus missile system combat-ready, signaling a major boost to its upper-tier air and missile defense capabilities. Announced by Russian Defence Minister Andrei Leousov on December 7, the deployment strengthens Moscow's strategic defenses and showcases its commitment to modernizing its military amid rising global tensions. The S-500, capable of targeting aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic threats in near space, positions Russia at the forefront of next-generation missile defense technology.
(2025-12-19). Is Iran Joining "Muslim NATO" ? Saudi—Pakistan Pact and Shifting World Order. globalresearch.ca It has been reported that Iran is interested in joining the "Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement" between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Ali Larijani, the Iranian Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, recently
(2025-12-19). Dar accuses India of violating IWT as Chenab levels fall. tribune.com.pk 
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar has accused India of violating the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), warning that New Delhi's alleged manipulation of water flows into Pakistan could trigger a humanitarian crisis, as water levels in the Chenab River continue to fall. | The warning comes amid fluctuating water patterns on the river system. On December 8, reports indicated that India had released a surge of water into the Chenab River, pushing the flow up to 58,300 cusecs. However, Pakistani officials said levels have since plunged sharply. | A day earlier, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir…