International
EU countries agree to a new military support fund for Ukraine of 5 billion euros
The countries of the European Union (EU) reached a political agreement on Wednesday to promote a specific fund of military support to Ukraine endowed with 5 billion euros for this year.
The ambassadors of the Twenty-seven reached an agreement in principle to reform the European Peace Support Fund (FEAP), through which they have been co-financing the delivery of lethal and non-lethal equipment to Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion and that will have the aforementioned item, specific to Kiev.
“The EU remains determined to provide lasting support to Ukraine and to ensure that the country receives the military equipment it needs to defend itself,” the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU said through social network X.
The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security, Josep Borrell, welcomed the political agreement and assured that the fund will increase European military support to Ukraine with another 5 billion euros.
“The message is clear: we will support Ukraine with whatever is necessary for it to prevail,” he said.
The EU countries have reached an agreement on this 5 billion euro EAFF supplement after extensive negotiations, although the details of the pact are not yet known.
Germany asked that the 8 billion it will dedicate to support Ukraine this year when establishing the compensations in the fund be taken into account, so that its contribution – which the countries make based on their Gross Domestic Product – takes into account the bilateral support already granted.
Berlin also wanted the fund to be used to encourage joint purchases of weapons and new ammunition for Ukraine, rather than to finance the delivery of existing material in the arsenals of the countries, in much of the Soviet era.
Countries such as France, Greece and Cyprus, in addition, insisted that the fund should privilege the acquisition of material in Europe.
In addition to the difficulties faced by the reform of the FEAP, Hungary had stated that it did not want to continue participating in that fund.
In addition to the difficulties faced by the reform of the FEAP, Hungary had stated that it did not want to continue participating in that fund.
To solve the issue of the a posteriori compensation raised by Germany, it has been agreed to maintain a contribution amount from each Member State but allowing it to integrate already agreed reimbursements, Community sources said.
Thus, a country can subtract from its contribution the amount that the fund has agreed to reimburse you, and this can mean that the figure is zero if the contribution and the reimbursement are equal, or if the expected reimbursement is higher.
On the other hand, on the question of the origin of the acquisition of the equipment, the proposal made by the Belgian presidency tried to balance the request of some Member States that the fund be used exclusively to finance purchases in the European defense industry and Norway, and the position of others who advocated greater flexibility.
In this way, the possibility of making joint acquisitions outside the European and Norwegian industry has been introduced in cases where its technological and military industrial base cannot supply material in time for Ukraine, while part of the fund would be reserved for joint acquisitions to the EU industry (and Norway), the sources specified.
The text of the agreement agreed today is expected to officially receive the green light at the Foreign Affairs Council to be held next Monday in Brussels.
At the beginning of the year, the military assistance provided to Ukraine by the EU and its member states since the beginning of the war was estimated at about 28 billion euros.
International
Ukraine declares nationwide energy emergency amid russian attacks and extreme cold
The Ukrainian government on Wednesday declared a nationwide energy state of emergency amid continued Russian military attacks and extreme winter weather, with nighttime temperatures dropping as low as minus 18 degrees Celsius.
“The consequences of Russian attacks and worsening weather conditions are severe (…) Overall, a state of emergency will be declared for Ukraine’s energy sector,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a statement posted on social media following a meeting with senior officials.
Zelensky announced the creation of a “permanent coordination headquarters” to manage the crisis in the capital, Kyiv, and tasked former defence minister and current energy chief Denys Shmyhal with overseeing support efforts for affected individuals and communities, including addressing power outages, heating shortages and other “practical issues.”
“There are many problems that require urgent solutions,” the president said, noting that repair crews, energy companies, municipal services and the State Emergency Service are working “around the clock” to restore electricity supplies. Kyiv has been particularly affected after Russian strikes last Friday disabled key parts of the power grid, as daytime temperatures hover around minus 12 degrees Celsius and plunge to minus 18 at night.
Zelensky added that public authorities will “maximize efforts with partners to obtain the necessary equipment and additional support,” while the government will ensure “maximum deregulation of all processes” to speed up the connection of backup power equipment to the grid. He also confirmed that work is underway to significantly increase electricity imports into Ukraine.
The Ukrainian leader further instructed his Cabinet to review curfew regulations in light of the extreme cold, arguing that citizens must have the greatest possible access to assistance centers, while businesses should be given flexibility to plan their operations according to the state of the energy system.
International
France joins Denmark’s ‘Operation Arctic Resistance’ in Greenland amid U.S. tensions
French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed in the early hours of Thursday (Wednesday afternoon in El Salvador) that France will take part in “Operation Arctic Resistance,” after Denmark announced it would expand its military presence in Greenland amid rising tensions with the United States over Washington’s stated ambitions regarding the semi-autonomous territory.
“At Denmark’s request, I have decided that France will participate in the joint exercises organized by Denmark in Greenland, ‘Operation Arctic Resistance,’” Macron said in a brief message posted on social media at 5:18 p.m.
The French president added that “the first French military elements are already on their way, with others to follow,” though he did not specify the number of troops being deployed or the scale of France’s planned contribution.
The governments of Sweden, Norway and Germany have also confirmed the deployment of military contingents to Greenland. Germany’s armed forces will send a 13-member reconnaissance team to the Greenlandic capital, Nuuk, to take part in a mission scheduled to run from Thursday through Saturday, according to the German Ministry of Defence.
Denmark’s announcement came shortly before a Danish delegation met at the White House with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss Washington’s plans regarding Greenland. Copenhagen said the military activities would be carried out “in close cooperation with NATO allies.”
International
Iran closes airspace amid U.S. threats and deadly nationwide protests
Iranian authorities closed the country’s airspace in the early hours of Thursday, according to data from flight-tracking website FlightRadar24, amid growing threats of a possible U.S. attack as protests across the country continue and have reportedly left thousands dead.
According to FlightRadar24, the Iranian government suspended all flights to and from the country, except for international flights that have received special authorization. The notice was initially issued for a duration of just over two hours.
The move comes after U.S. President Donald Trump in recent days threatened to strike Iran if its security forces failed to halt the deaths linked to weeks-long protests that began in Tehran and later spread to other Iranian cities. Despite the threats, the White House said diplomacy remains Trump’s preferred option.
Speaking from the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump claimed that “the deaths in Iran have stopped” and said there would be no executions of protesters following his warnings to Tehran. He added that his administration would seek to verify those claims.
“I’ve been told the deaths in Iran are stopping. They’ve stopped, and that there are no plans for executions,” Trump told reporters, cautioning that the United States would be “very upset” if those assurances proved to be untrue.
The statements contrast with reports from rights groups. The Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) said on Wednesday that more than 3,400 people have been killed since the protests erupted. Meanwhile, Kurdish-Iranian rights group Hengaw reported this week that a 26-year-old Iranian man, Erfan Soltani, was facing execution as of Wednesday.
Ukraine declares nationwide energy emergency amid russian attacks and extreme cold
France joins Denmark’s ‘Operation Arctic Resistance’ in Greenland amid U.S. tensions
Iran closes airspace amid U.S. threats and deadly nationwide protests
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