Ukraine's operation to kill Russian general in Moscow and Tusk's visit to Lviv - Tuesday brief

Ukraine's Security Service kills Russian general Igor Kirillov in Moscow

An explosion in Moscow kills Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, chief of the Russian Armed Forces' radiation, chemical, and biological defense troops. The Security Service of Ukraine is behind the operation to eliminate him, according to RBC-Ukraine sources.

A scooter with explosives was detonated when Kirillov and his assistant were entering the entrance of a house on Ryazanskiy Prospekt in Moscow. They were both killed.

Poland's PM in Lviv urges partners to stop speculating about possible defeat of Ukraine

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk arrived in Lviv for a visit. He called on the world not to speculate on the potential defeat of Ukraine.

"I appeal to all the leaders of the Western world - we must all support Ukraine now more than ever. Stop speculating about the possible defeat of Ukraine," Tusk said.

Ukraine needs 12-15 more air defense systems to protect itself from Russian strikes - Zelenskyy

Russia is once again launching large-scale missile strikes against Ukraine's energy infrastructure. That is why Ukraine needs a reliable guarantee of protection against air terror, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during his address to the Joint Expeditionary Force summit.

Court rejects request to overturn verdict in Trump bribery case

The New York State Supreme Court refused to overturn the jury's verdict. Earlier, they found US President-elect Donald Trump guilty in the hush money case.

Judge Juan Merchan rejected the argument of Trump's lawyers, who insisted that the case against Trump falls under presidential immunity, and this allegedly exempts him from liability.

UK urgently allocates £35 million to restore Ukraine's energy infrastructure

£20 million will be allocated to meet emergency energy needs. This includes support for critical repairs of the power transmission network and securing additional energy capacity. Funds will also be used to protect Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

An additional £15 million will be directed toward humanitarian aid for the most vulnerable segments of the population.

Zelenskyy rejects Orbán's role as peacemaker, backs US alliance

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán cannot become a peacemaker in the war between Ukraine and Russia. He has no leverage to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"I truly believe and hope that he will strengthen our plan. Strengthen the relationship between Ukraine and the USA. And only this alliance, a strong alliance. We don't need countries that today, like Hungary (I'm not talking about the people, the people support Ukrainians), like Prime Minister Orbán (Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán – ed.) who wants, you know, in some way... It won’t work. I won’t let him, or people like him," Zelenskyy noted.

Pistorius outlines Germany’s possible role in Ukraine peace mission

"If there is a ceasefire, then of course the Western community, NATO partners, potentially the United Nations and the European Union will have to discuss how such a peace, such a ceasefire can be secured. And it is obvious that Germany as Europe's biggest economy would play a role there," said German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.

Russia’s border provocations signal to Estonia that it may be next – The Telegraph

On the border with Estonia, the Russians are trying to show that the Baltic states are under the sights and could be next. They have started to organize large-scale provocations.

For example, a blimp was recently spotted on the Russian-Estonian border, which was initially ignored by Estonia. However, the next day, Russia escalated and painted the letter Z on the blimp, associated with Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.