In Ukraine

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, based in Istanbul, has once again proposed the idea of celebrating Easter on the same day for both the Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches.

The United States is set to deliver a substantial new military aid package to Ukraine before Donald Trump assumes office in January 2025. Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden's national security adviser, confirmed this during a meeting with Andrii Yermak, the head of Ukraine's presidential administration.

Bulgaria has decided to provide additional military aid to Ukraine, as confirmed by the latest meeting of the caretaker government led by Dimitar Glavchev. While the decision was published on the Council of Ministers' website, the government has not made an official announcement regarding the new aid, and the list of specific weapons being sent remains classified.

The Biden administration is preparing a $725 million weapons package for Ukraine, according to two U.S. officials cited by Reuters.

Bulgaria has approved an updated draft of the Agreement on Security Cooperation with Ukraine, confirming its continued commitment to supporting Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. The decision to sign the updated agreement was made by the Council of Ministers, which had already agreed to the draft as a basis for negotiations back on October 4, 2024.

The United States Department of Defense announced on November 20 a new USD 275 million security assistance package to support Ukraine's urgent defense requirements. This marks the 70th tranche of military aid provided to Ukraine from U.S.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Thursday that around 10,000 North Korean troops are currently stationed in Russia, with approximately 8,000 positioned in the Kursk region. While these forces have not yet been involved in combat against Ukraine, Blinken expects their deployment to occur within days.

US and South Korean defense ministers Lloyd Austin and Kim Yong-hyun have urged North Korea to pull its troops out of Russia, with reports indicating that around 10,000 North Korean soldiers are stationed there for potential engagement against Ukrainian forces, according to AFP.

The European Union plans to issue a coordinated response to North Korea's ongoing support for Russia's actions in Ukraine, according toNabila Massrali, a spokesperson for the European External Action Service. The EU intends to align its actions with international partners.

The United Nations on Monday reiterated its commitment to maintaining dialogue with Türkiye, Ukraine, and Russia to ensure free and safe navigation in the Black Sea, as civilian casualties in Ukraine continue to mount.