Russian invasion

Negotiations
Zelenskyj: Disagreement on the future of Donbas

Volodymyr Zelenskyj is satisfied with Monday's summit in Berlin. But there are still issues to be resolved, he says according to Reuters.

According to the Ukrainian president, it is about what should happen to the areas occupied by Russia.

– We still have different positions.

According to information to several media outlets, the US believes that Ukraine must hand over control of the entire Donbas to Russia. Zelenskyj says that he has not seen this as a demand, and wants Ukraine to be promised security guarantees before the front lines are discussed.

Europe: International force should be deployed in Ukraine

An international force led by European countries and supported by the US should be deployed in Ukraine in connection with a possible ceasefire being reached. Several European leaders have agreed on this during a summit in Berlin.

“It should contribute to rebuilding Ukraine’s forces, securing Ukraine’s airspace and supporting safer seas, including through operations inside Ukraine,” writes Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) in a joint statement, among others.

The leaders want this force to operate alongside the Ukrainian army, which they say should number 800,000 soldiers in peacetime. That number is intended to “enable conflict deterrence and the defense of Ukraine’s territory.”

Security around the Baltic Sea
Russian operation confirmed – linked to shadow fleet

Russia is conducting a military operation in the Baltic Sea that is believed to be aimed at protecting the country's so-called shadow fleet. The navy confirms this to SVT Nyheter after information about the operation was published by several media outlets during the autumn.

The navy's chief of operations, Marko Petkovic, says that as a private individual you do not need to feel any concern, but that they want to tell you what is happening at sea.

- The Russian navy is periodically present at various hubs in the Baltic Sea, the Gulf of Finland and the North Sea, and it appears that it operates there in some way to support this shadow fleet.