Hungarian counter-terrorism forces seized two Oschadbank armored vehicles carrying $40 million, €35 million and 9 kg of gold from Austria to Ukraine, briefly detaining seven staff. Kyiv called it state racketeering as Oschadbank launched legal action to recover the assets.
Read More
Lithuanian intelligence says Russia is turning brigades on NATO’s eastern flank into divisions and training them in Ukraine. If the war ends and sanctions are lifted, Moscow could be ready for a limited conflict within two years and a wider war with NATO in a decade.
Read More
The IMF board approved a new four-year, $8.1 billion Extended Fund Facility for Ukraine and released $1.5 billion immediately. The program anchors a $136.5 billion international support package as the war enters its fifth year and backs reforms tied to EU accession.
Read MoreGerman Defense Minister Boris Pistorius says Russia launched some of the war’s most intense attacks during US-led peace talks in Abu Dhabi, calling strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid in minus 20 degrees terror on civilians. He doubts the pause on Kyiv is serious.
Read More
The EU is creating a €6 billion Drone Alliance with Ukraine to jointly produce millions of drones, funded partly by frozen Russian assets. Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius called Europe a sleeping giant that must build its own defense as the US turns to Asia.
Read More
Volodymyr Zelenskyy says a US document on security guarantees for Ukraine is 100% ready and Kyiv is waiting for a signing date, after the first three-way talks with Russia in Abu Dhabi made some progress. Territory and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant remain sticking points.
Read More
Ukrainian and Russian negotiators met with US mediators in Abu Dhabi for their first trilateral talks of the war, with Donbas territory at the center. Russia wants Kyiv to hand over the rest of Donetsk, while Ukraine has proposed a demilitarized zone along the front line.
Read More
