In our digest, you will learn about the latest news in Ukraine, key events shaping the world order, and the support provided by international partners to strengthen Ukraine’s economy and defense capabilities. We will tell you about global and local events that are changing the world and affecting our future.
February 23, 2025: German President dissolves parliament and calls for elections
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has dissolved the Bundestag and called early elections for February 23, 2025, Spiegel reports.
In difficult times like these, a functioning government and a reliable majority in parliament are essential to ensure stability. I am convinced that new elections are the right way forward for our country, – German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said.
The coalition, which included Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party of Germany, the Free Democratic Party and the Union90/Greens party, collapsed in early November.
500 tons of wheat flour: Ukraine has sent aid to Syria
Ukraine has sent 500 tons of wheat flour to Syria as part of the humanitarian program Grain from Ukraine. This was announced by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Over the coming weeks, 33,250 families, or 167,000 people, will receive the flour. Each package weighs 15 kilograms and can feed a family of five for a month.
We wish Syria and its people security, stability, and recovery. We know the true value of these things, – the president said.
10 people were killed in Nigeria due to a mistaken strike by a military fighter jet on civilians
A Nigerian military fighter jet was chasing militants and mistakenly dropped bombs on civilians in Sokoto state. At least 10 people were killed, and several others were injured. This was stated by the state governor Ahmad Aliyu, Reuters reports.
The warplanes were on a mission to eliminate armed criminal groups terrorizing the state and mistakenly bombed innocent residents of the community, – the governor said.
It happened in the early morning hours of December 25, when two military aircraft dropped bombs on the villages of Gidan Sama and Rintuwa in Surame district. They did not report any civilian casualties.
In northwestern Nigeria, criminal armed groups are widespread, kidnapping people and attacking local communities. This time, the military was pursuing members of the insurgent group Lakurawa. They are infiltrating northwest Nigeria from neighboring Niger and Mali. Aliyu said the state government would investigate the circumstances of the military operation and help the victims.
The second peace summit: Ukraine has prepared everything for its holding
Ukraine has prepared everything necessary to hold the second Peace Summit, although the previously announced dates of the meeting were tentative. This was stated at a briefing by Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi, Suspilne reports.
Historical, tectonic processes are taking place now, and a new administration (in the United States – ed.) is coming, as well as in European countries. The “peace formula” remains the basis of the vision of a just end to the war. That is, it remains absolutely unchanged, – he said.
According to the spokesman, Ukraine has prepared everything for the second peace summit, held all the thematic conferences that agreed on common positions on the points of the “peace formula”.
That is, as of now, Ukraine is also in a strong diplomatic position, because it has everything prepared. But, of course, in order for this summit to take place and be effective, preparation is needed. That is, the deadlines that were announced were tentative, and Ukraine always tries to do everything as quickly as possible, as you know, – Tychy said. He added that the preparations are still ongoing.
45% of Ukrainians believe Donald Trump’s victory brings peace closer – poll results
Almost half of Ukrainians believe that Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election brings peace to the war between Russia and Ukraine. At the same time, almost 14% believe that peace is becoming more distant. These are the results of a survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology on December 2-17, 2024.
Almost half – 45% – believe that Donald Trump’s victory brings peace closer. However, 15% of them believe that peace is becoming much closer, and the remaining 30% say that peace is becoming only slightly closer, – the sociologists said.
At the same time, 14% of respondents say that peace is becoming more distant (5% say it is becoming much more distant, 9% say it is becoming somewhat distant). The remaining 40% of respondents either believe that nothing will change or have not decided on their opinion.
In addition, sociologists also asked whether Ukraine can count on a just peace under Trump. Only 7% of respondents are convinced that peace can be completely fair for Ukraine, while only 11% believe that peace will be completely unjust.
The majority of Ukrainians are between these extreme opinions, and the question is more about the proportion – whether there will be more fulfillment of Ukraine’s demands or, conversely, more fulfillment of Russia’s demands, – the report says.
Overall, 23% of Ukrainians believe that under Trump, peace will be mostly or completely fair for Ukraine. Another 31% believe that the peace will be mostly or completely unfair.
Also, 29% believe that there will be both fulfillment of Ukraine’s demands and concessions to Russia, and it is difficult to say which will be more. The remaining 18% were undecided.
