Prelude to the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's suggestion to reduce the size of Ukraine's Armed Forces. Speaking at a press meeting in Brussels on December 18, Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine will not agree to any reduction, even if the country receives an invitation to join NATO.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrives at the venue for the 31st Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Malta, 05 Dec. 2024.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized that Russian President Vladimir Putin shows no willingness for peace as the conflict in Ukraine continues. Speaking ahead of a NATO foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels, Rutte stated that Putin's strategy focuses on exerting pressure to seize additional Ukrainian territory, believing he can undermine both Ukraine's resolve and NATO's unity.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz made a surprise visit to war-torn Ukraine on Monday to reaffirm Berlin's support for Kiev in its fight against Russia.

His visit comes as Ukrainian forces are losing ground on the frontline and amid fears about future US support once Donald Trump returns to the White House in January.

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.

Russia's military made its largest territorial gains in more than two years in October, as it pressed farther into Ukraine's eastern Donbas region - but at a heavy cost.

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 scheduled meeting of Ukraine's leading supporters in Germany is now uncertain after US President Joe Biden canceled his visit. The event, planned to take place in Ramstein, aimed to reaffirm international support for Ukraine, but Biden's absence has raised concerns about its future.

A young Bulgarian woman, who set fire to the Russian flag and wrote "murderers" in front of the Russian Cultural and Information Center in Sofia, shared her story with Nova TV this morning. Alexandra Mileva explained that her actions were driven by her recent experiences in Donbas, where she witnessed the effects of the Russian military on Ukrainian civilians.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is set to request approval from member states to use supplied weapons for deep strikes on military targets within Russia. Speaking ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels, Kuleba emphasized the importance of obtaining permission to target what he termed "legitimate military targets" deep inside Russia.