Ukraine

Ukraine has exported about 13 million tons of merchandise on some 400 ships since setting up a protected maritime corridor in August to fend off Russian threats, a government minister said on Dec. 30.

While Ukraine had few military achievements on land in 2023, on the Black Sea it has pushed Russia's much larger navy away from its coasts, allowing the resumption of grain exports.

Day 673 of the invasion of Ukraine. Summary of key events in the last 24 hours:

Day 671 of the invasion of Ukraine. Summary of key events in the last 24 hours:

Many Ukrainians will on Monday celebrate Christmas Day on Dec. 25 for the first time, after the government changed the date from the Orthodox Church observance of Jan. 7 in a snub to Russia.

Ukraine passed a law in July moving the celebration to Dec. 25, the day when most of the Christian world marks Christmas.

As the head of the Ukrainian security service SBU, Vasyl Malyuk, said today, the goal is to bring the war as close as possible to the Kremlin.
"We cannot reveal our plans. They should remain a shock for the enemy. We are preparing surprises," Malyuk told the Brussels portal Politico.

According to data from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, more than 65 percent of Ukrainians would support such a move by Volodymyr Zelensky, who explained that it was requested of him by the army.

Bulgarian-based pro-Russian groups are planning a demonstration titled "End the war in Ukraine," allegedly recruiting Ukrainian-speaking individuals to participate in the event. The Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Bulgaria, "Mati Ukraine," (СУОБ "Мати Украйна") has raised concerns and cautioned against the rally's misleading agenda.

Turkey's Defense Minister, Yaşar Güler, announced plans for Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey to ink an agreement next month aimed at clearing mines lingering in the Black Sea, a fallout from the war in Ukraine. This initiative follows extensive discussions among NATO allies grappling with the ramifications of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

European Union leaders agreed on Thursday to start accession talks with EU candidates Ukraine and Moldova while granting formal candidate status to Georgia.

Accession talks themselves could take a decade or longer. Below is a list of countries hoping to one day become members of the EU, and their formal status:

COUNTRIES WITH CANDIDATE COUNTRY STATUS

Day 660 of the invasion of Ukraine. Summary of key events in the last 24 hours: