In our weekly digest, you will learn about the latest news in Ukraine, key events, and international support for Ukraine provided by partners to strengthen Ukraine’s economy and defense capabilities. We will tell you about the events that change the world and influence our future.
Croatia is preparing the 12th military assistance package for Ukraine
Croatia is preparing the 12th package of military and technical assistance for Ukraine. The country’s authorities are to approve it on Thursday, January 30.
This was announced by Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal at a press conference in Zagreb following a meeting with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.
I thank Prime Minister Plenkovic for announcing tomorrow’s decision. I hope it will be adopted and Ukraine will receive the 12th package. We are grateful for the preparation of this package, which is now extremely important on the battlefield, – the Ukrainian prime minister said.
Shmyhal noted Croatia’s assistance in introducing new sanctions against the Russian Federation.
Sanctions remain the number one tool to weaken the aggressor. We agreed to explore the possibility of creating a joint Ukrainian-Croatian working group to monitor the illegal activities of the Russian “shadow fleet, – he said.
The United States is transferring about 90 Patriot missiles to Ukraine from warehouses in Israel
This week, the United States shipped about 90 Patriot air defense missiles from a warehouse in Israel to Poland for further delivery to Ukraine. This was reported by Axios, citing three informed sources.
It is noted that this is the largest transfer of arms from Israel to Ukraine in the last three years. In April last year, the Israeli Air Force officially decommissioned Patriot air defense systems, which had been in service for more than 30 years. They were first transferred to Israel during the first Gulf War.
Patriot became irrelevant as Israel developed its own air defense systems, and most of the Patriot batteries were used for training or remained in storage, – the report said.
Sources told Axios that after the Israeli Defense Forces announced the decommissioning of the Patriot, Ukrainian officials approached the United States and Israel with a proposal: Israel would return the missiles to the United States for repair and send them to Ukraine. For several months, Israel hesitated, fearing that Russia would retaliate, possibly by supplying advanced weapons to Iran.
Robert Fico threatens Zelenskyy to block all EU aid to Ukraine
Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has threatened to block all aid to Ukraine from the European Union if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy does not resume the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine. Robert Fico said this in an interview with Slovak media.
The prime minister said that he allegedly intended to meet with Zelenskyy on January 21 during the World Economic Forum in Davos to discuss gas transit, but the meeting never took place.
I was ready to meet in Davos. Do you know what Zelensky did? He sent me the minutes of a meeting that I hadn’t even held yet. The minutes already spelled out everything we had to do for Ukraine, including supporting its membership in NATO. There was not a single word about gas, – Fico said.
According to him, Zelenskyy’s decision to avoid discussing the transit of Russian gas is evidence of his “unwillingness to change his political position”.
In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico pays for Russian gas “not only with money, but also with the independence and sovereignty” of his country. Zelenskyy also wrote on Platform X that US President Donald Trump had made a decision that would increase the export of American LNG, particularly to Europe. The Ukrainian president added that “you have to pay for American LNG with money, but you have to pay for Russian gas not only with money, but also with independence and sovereignty”.
Many people in Europe have already gone through this and chose to preserve their independence and sovereignty. But not Mr. Fico. He chooses Moscow instead of America and other partners who can provide his country with gas on commercial terms, – Zelenskyy writes.
Ukraine manages to return 1037 children abducted by Russia
Ukraine has managed to return 1037 illegally abducted Ukrainian children from Russia, including more than 450 over the past year.
This was stated by Daria Zarivna, Advisor to the Head of the Presidential Office, Chief Operating Officer of the Presidential Initiative Bring Kids Back UA, Suspilne reports.
So far, we have returned 1037 children, more than 450 of them over the past year alone. In general, of course, compared to the number of children in captivity, we would like this figure to be higher. The main obstacle is that the Russians hide information about the children and change their location, – she said.
According to her, Ukraine uses mediator countries to return children.
Currently, the mediator countries are Qatar, the Vatican, and during the Montreal conference on October 30-31, we added South Africa to the list of these countries. Of course, this is an effective tool for the return of children, but I would like everything to move faster, – the official said.
Zarivna also noted that rescue missions carried out by NGOs play a major role in the return of children.
USAID suspends project funding: what are the implications for Ukraine?
On January 27, the US federal government agency USAID, which has funded a significant number of programs in Ukraine, suspended allocations for all projects without exception following a State Department audit directive for 90 days.
The suspension of funding could have consequences for the public sector and the energy sector, says organizational development expert Uliana Movchan, founder of Connection Agency. Many American projects were aimed at ensuring Ukraine’s energy independence. This includes direct purchases of various technologies and products.
Every new Russian attack leads to damage to equipment. And we need to buy new equipment. Who will buy it if this aid disappears is an open question, – the expert said.
In addition, projects to support veterans and inclusive initiatives are also under threat.
Ukraine will soon receive French Mirage 2000 combat aircraft
Ukraine will receive Mirage 2000-5F combat aircraft from France by the end of the first quarter of 2025 (January-March). This was announced by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot in an interview with Sud Radio.
French Mirage aircraft will soon be flying in the Ukrainian sky. This will happen by the end of the first quarter of this year, – Barrot said.
Italy finally approves arms supplies to Ukraine
On Tuesday, January 28, the Lower House of the Italian Parliament finally approved the supply of weapons to Ukraine. This is reported by the Italian national news agency ANSA and the Il Sole 24 ORE publication.
It is noted that the Italian government approved a law on Ukraine, which provides for the supply of weapons until December 31, 2025.
According to the document, Ukraine will receive military supplies, materials and equipment listed in an annex “developed by the General Staff of Defense”, which is classified. The General Staff of Defense is also allowed to adopt “the fastest procedures to ensure the timely delivery of funds, materials and equipment”.
The costs of procuring equipment and weapons are “without burdening the host party” (i.e., the Ukrainian government – ed.) and are partially reimbursed by the European Union” through the European Peace Facility. The EU Council allocated 6.1 billion euros for these concessions. In March 2024, a special fund to support Ukraine was also created with an additional 5 billion euros.
Sweden announces $1.2 billion military aid package for Ukraine
On January 30, Swedish Defense Minister Paul Johnson announced a military aid package for Ukraine worth approximately $1.2 billion. He wrote about this on the social network X.
According to him, approximately $90 million of this amount will be used to produce Ukrainian long-range missiles and drones.
Another $250 million will be allocated to various international funds. 178 million dollars will be allocated to the “Danish model,” which raises funds for Ukraine’s defense industry, the Swedish Defense Minister said in a statement.
The Swedish government’s website states that this is the 18th package of military assistance to Ukraine. Thus, the total amount of the packages provided since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion is about 61.9 billion Swedish kronor.
Orbán again threatens to veto EU sanctions against Russia in six months
Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán Viktor has once again threatened to veto sanctions against Russia in six months if Ukraine does not resume Russian gas transit through its territory by then. Bloomberg writes about this, citing a statement by the Hungarian prime minister.
According to him, this week Budapest received a guarantee from the EU executive to resume transit through Ukraine. According to him, this is the reason why the Hungarian government has so far refused to veto sanctions against Russia.
If the promise is broken, we will not only propose to suspend the sanctions, but we will also suspend them, – Orban added.
The UK will provide Ukraine with up to 2 billion pounds
Ukraine will receive about 2 billion pounds from the United Kingdom to purchase air defense systems and missiles for air defense. This was announced by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal during a government meeting.
The government has approved a bill to ratify the framework agreement between Ukraine and the United Kingdom to support the development of our defense capabilities, – he said.
According to Shmyhal, this agreement also provides for the provision of funds for the organization of repair bases for military equipment and other weapons. He explained that such bases will be located in Ukraine, which will help the state to strengthen its defense capabilities.
Kateryna Yashchuk
