Indian state refiners are considering tapping the Middle East crude market as supply from their top supplier Russia has fallen, refining sources said. The 3 large state refiners- Indian Oil Corp, Bharat Petroleum Corp, and Hindustan Petroleum, are short of 8-10 million barrels of Russian oil for January loading, the sources told Reuters.
The rapid collapse of the Assad regime in Syria – a regime that the Kremlin helped prop up since 2015 – is a strategic political defeat for Moscow and has thrown the Kremlin into a crisis as it seeks to retain its strategic military bases in Syria. The Kremlin reportedly secured an agreement on December 8 with unspecified Syrian opposition leaders to ensure the security of Russian military bases in Syria, but the contours of this arrangement and its longevity remain unclear given the volatile and rapidly evolving political situation on the ground in Syria. The loss of Russian bases in Syria will have major implications for Russia’s global military footprint and ability to operate in Africa – ISW.
Bryan Lanza, a senior advisor to President-Elect Donald Trump, said the incoming administration will aim to focus on achieving peace in Ukraine rather than enabling the country to gain back territory occupied by Russia. Lanza stated that if Zelensky were to demand peace if Crimea were returned then “he shows us that he’s not serious” and added, “Crimea is gone”.
The Biden administration is planning to rush the last of the over $6 billion remaining in Ukraine’s security assistance before the inauguration of President-Elect Donald Trump. There are problems facing Biden’s administration as it usually takes months for munitions and equipment to reach Ukraine so anything rolled out in the next weeks won’t arrive until well into Trump’s Presidency and there are fears Trump could halt the shipments before they reach Ukraine.
“The United States stands ready to engage in talks with Russia, China, and North Korea without preconditions to reduce the nuclear threat. There is no benefit to our nations or the world to forestall progress on reducing nuclear arsenals. Reducing the nuclear threat is important not despite the dangers of today’s world but precisely because of them” – US President Joe Biden.
India has surged to become the second-biggest supplier of restricted critical technologies to Russia, US and European officials said, highlighting the challenge in efforts to choke off exports fueling Russia’s war machine – Bloomberg.
Turkish President Erdogan, at the UNGA, pledged to boost Turkey’s diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine war, emphasizing Ukraine’s sovereignty and the Montreux Convention. He also called for reforming the UN, criticizing its inefficiency within the Security Council.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met with Yoko Kamikawa and Mauro Vieira in New York, discussing support for Ukraine’s recovery and advancing the Peace Formula. He emphasized Japan’s upcoming trade office in Kyiv and shared intelligence on threats to Ukraine’s nuclear energy.
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has requested parliamentary approval to create a maritime training center for Ukrainian marines. Supported by the international community and funded by the UK, the facility will operate for two years, aiding Ukraine’s defense.
Finland will prioritize supporting Ukraine during its 2025 OSCE chairmanship, focusing on defense against Russian aggression. Foreign Minister Valtonen emphasized the importance of resilience and upholding international law amidst Europe’s growing security challenges.
Donald Trump has suggested he might meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week. Zelenskyy, who will address the assembly on September 25, plans to discuss his peace plan with global leaders.
Ukraine aims to swiftly launch three major joint projects with Slovakia, including upgrading the Mukacheve-Velke Kapusany energy interconnector, starting direct Kyiv-Kosice rail services, and expanding the Uzhhorod-Vysne Nemecke border checkpoint. Discussions occur in October.
