In our weekly digest, you will learn about the latest news in Ukraine, key events and international support for Ukraine provided by our partners to strengthen Ukraine’s economy and defense capabilities. We will tell you about the events that are changing the world and affecting our future.
Bauer: NATO is taking over US responsibility for supporting Ukraine
The Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer, said that the Alliance is taking on part of the responsibility for coordinating military assistance to Ukraine, which was previously carried out by the United States.
This was reported by a Suspilne correspondent from a meeting of the Military Committee of the Chiefs of Defense Staff in Brussels.
Following the framework agreement reached in Washington, some mechanisms previously organized by the United States are now under NATO control. SACU and IDCC were a group of countries that helped Ukraine. Now NATO is taking over this responsibility. And the United States has agreed to this, – Bauer said.
The admiral emphasized that these changes are aimed at creating permanent assistance mechanisms that will ensure stability for Ukraine, regardless of changes in the political structure:
For people like General Oleksandr Syrskyi, who is directly in charge of operations on the front line, the war does not depend on what happens in the White House or anywhere else. The war will continue on Monday. That is why constant assistance is critical for him, – said Bauer.
The Chairman of the Military Committee emphasized that the Alliance is committed to providing Ukraine with everything it needs to continue the fight.
As the Secretary General said, we must do everything we can to ensure that Ukraine is in the strongest possible position when the negotiations begin. Until then, our support must be as strong as possible, – he emphasized.
Tusk announces new aid package for Ukraine worth over €200 million
On January 15, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced a 46th military aid package for Ukraine worth more than €200 million. He made the announcement at a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Warsaw.
Another 46th aid package is already ready. Deliveries will begin soon. This time, the aid is worth more than 200 million euros, – Tusk said.
The Prime Minister did not say what was included in the aid package.
We need to talk about it as little as possible and do as much as possible, – he said.
Ukraine and the UK sign an agreement on a century of cooperation
On Thursday, January 16, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed an agreement on a century of cooperation between the two countries in Kyiv. The United Kingdom will expand the training program for the Ukrainian military and develop cooperation in the field of long-range weapons and weapons development, Suspilne reports.
We have signed an agreement on a century of cooperation. This is the basis for the interaction of our peoples for centuries to come. We are closer than ever, – the Ukrainian president said.
At a joint press conference, the president said that Ukraine and Britain had agreed to receive annual military aid. Ukraine will also receive funds from frozen Russian assets.
In addition, Britain is expanding its training program for the Ukrainian military. There will be more cooperation in the field of long-range weapons, as well as cooperation in the creation of weapons. In addition, Britain will help in the field of education. British universities will cooperate with Ukrainian ones.
It’s not just about what’s happening here and now, but also about investing in our two countries for the next century, combining technology, scientific achievements and cultural exchanges, and harnessing the phenomenal innovation that Ukraine has demonstrated in recent years for future generations, – Starmer said.
Poland wants to host a conference on the restoration of Ukraine
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that Poland is ready to organize a conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine in 2026. He said this at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
According to Tusk, Polish business is ready to take part in the reconstruction of Ukraine.
We all want to rebuild Ukraine and everything that the Russians destroyed as soon as possible. Poland should be and will be one of the main partners in this process. We are ready to organize a summit on rebuilding Ukraine. The nearest one will be held in Rome. We are ready to organize the next one. I hope that we will jointly convince our partners that Poland is the right place and the right partner in this process, – the Polish prime minister said.
In response, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine accepts this invitation.
It is very important for us that Poland will be one of our key partners in rebuilding Ukraine, – he said.
EU confirms work on 16th package of sanctions against Russia
The European Union is preparing the 16th package of sanctions against Russia for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Anita Hipper, spokesperson for the European Commission for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said this in a commentary to Suspilne.
Regarding sanctions, we never predict what will happen and what will happen, we know clearly and precisely what we want – to make Russia pay for all the crimes it has committed, and it should be very painful. We have 15 packages of sanctions that have been adopted and are causing serious damage to the Russian economy and the Kremlin’s ability to wage war, as we have recently seen in Syria, – she said.
The spokeswoman confirmed that Brossel’s office is preparing a new package of sanctions.
That’s a question for the Sanctions Council, and we can’t say anything in advance, but it’s true that we are working on it, – she said.
Zelenskyy announces preparations for meeting with Trump
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that preparations are underway for a meeting with US President-elect Donald Trump. He said this at a joint press conference with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw.
Of course, after the inauguration, our teams are already working on the content and format of the upcoming meeting. We will discuss key issues there. The most important thing for us is that we want to end this war, but not just somehow, we want to end it with a just peace, – Zelenskyy said.
He noted that there are currently no exact dates for a meeting with Trump.
Of course, there will be meetings with the new president and his new team. They will be worked out. We are not yet ready to talk about dates, – the president said.
Syrskyi presented the Armed Forces Strategy for 2025 to the Allied Chiefs of Defense
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi briefed his NATO counterparts on the operational and strategic situation at the front, an assessment of Russia’s plans to continue the war and forecasts for its further actions. He also presented the Ukrainian army’s strategy for 2025. This was reported by the press service of the Mission of Ukraine to NATO.
They said that on January 16, a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council at the level of the Commanders-in-Chief of the Armed Forces was held at NATO headquarters, in which Syrskyi took part via video link.
Among other things, the Ukrainian general presented Ukraine’s 2025 strategy. Syrskyi emphasized the importance for Ukraine of strengthening its air defense, in particular to protect critical infrastructure, as well as the ability to strike at military targets deep in the territory of the Russian Federation.
The Chief of the Armed Forces also called on NATO member states to invest in the Ukrainian defense industry according to the Danish model, as well as to provide additional support in training the military, in particular, along with training outside Ukraine, to support the initiative to conduct training at Ukrainian training grounds with the involvement of Alliance instructors.
In turn, the allies assured that their support for Ukraine “will remain unchanged” and confirmed their readiness to provide the necessary assistance.
Kateryna Yashchuk
