Kupiansk gains and indefinite freeze of Russian assets - Friday brief
RBC-Ukraine collage
Ukrainian defenders carried out successful operations in Kupiansk. Meanwhile, the European Union decided to freeze Russian assets indefinitely.
For more details on what happened on Friday, December 12, see the report on RBC-Ukraine.
Ukrainian forces block access to Kupiansk and surround Russian troops in the city
Ukrainian Defense Forces successfully repelled a Russian attack near Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region. Ukrainian forces blocked access to the city and surrounded the Russian troops.
European Union freezes Russian assets indefinitely
European Union countries have agreed to freeze Russian assets worth €210 billion indefinitely. The decision will no longer need to be renewed every six months.
This decision removes the risk that Hungary and Slovakia, which maintain warm relations with Russia, could block the extension and allow the money to return to Russia.
The indefinite asset freeze could also convince Belgium to support the EU plan to use these funds to provide Ukraine with a reparations loan of up to €165 billion to cover its military and civilian budget needs in 2026 and 2027.
Ukraine blows up Russian An-26 transport plane and two other top-value targets in Crimea
Ukrainian intelligence officers destroyed a Russian An-26 military transport aircraft and two other high-value enemy targets in the temporarily occupied Crimea.
Ukraine eyes a fast-track path to the EU with a peace-deal clause - FT
Ukraine's accession by January 1, 2027, is provided for in a draft peace proposal being discussed by officials from the US, Ukraine, and the European Union, informed sources told the media. Such a quick timeline, say the interlocutors, will simply turn the EU's entire approach to accepting new members upside down.
US Army Secretary removed from Ukraine talks, says The Telegraph
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth has removed US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll from participation in negotiations on ending Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Driscoll was sidelined after the US Secretary of War decided he was overstepping his brief.
European diplomats described Driscoll as an official with little interest in compromises favorable to Ukraine, and noted that he conducted negotiations in a tough, rigid manner.
