Desertion of Ukrainian soldiers abroad and Zelenskyy's explanation of NATO invitation: highlights for December 1
Every month, about 12 Ukrainian soldiers escape during exercises in Poland, the Financial Times reports. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy explains why only part of Ukraine cannot be invited to join NATO. Next year, Ukraine will receive €1.5 billion a month from the proceeds of frozen Russian assets. We have collected the main news for December 1.
FT: Ukrainian troops flee exercises in Poland
The Ukrainian army has recorded an increase in desertions. Some military personnel are using exercises in Poland as an opportunity to flee abroad, the Financial Times writes.
The publication quotes a representative of the Polish security service, who said on condition of anonymity that about 12 Ukrainian soldiers escape from military exercises in Poland every month.
Applications for Zelenskyy's “thousand” are open
Starting December 1, every Ukrainian can receive a thousand hryvnias from the state. The authorities assure that the program will be funded by partner assistance, which cannot be spent “on war.”
According to the Minister of Digital Transformation, Diia received more than a million applications for winter support in 5 hours.
Military Medical Commission reform to be completed by June 2025
The government has approved the reform of military medical commissions to avoid bureaucracy and corruption risks. It is planned to be completed by June 2025.
According to Deputy Defense Minister for Digitalization Kateryna Chernohorenko, the reform will not just be a “digital tool” but “a new philosophy of interaction with citizens based on respect for time, effort, and dignity of each and every one”.
Sending Western troops to Ukraine
The possibility of sending Western troops to Ukraine has been raised again in the political environment.
First, five French MPs from five different political groups wrote a letter to the Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, asking him to send military instructors from France to Ukraine.
Later, the head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, said that she did not rule out the possibility of foreign troops in Ukraine.
At the same time, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy explained that a request to send troops to Ukraine could scare off some of our partners.
Zelenskyy: Ukraine will not join NATO in parts
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that only a part of Ukraine's territories cannot be invited to join NATO, as this would mean recognizing the rest of the land as “not Ukrainian”.
“Therefore, Ukraine will never do this. If this is an invitation, then only all the territories,” he said.
Radio Liberty: Trump consulted with Orban on the war in Ukraine
After the election, US President-elect Donald Trump called Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban several times to ask his opinion on the war in Ukraine, Radio Liberty reports, citing sources.
The journalists also learned that Orban plans to make new trips as part of his “peacekeeping mission”.
Ukraine will receive €1.5 billion a month
Starting in January 2025, the European Union plans to provide Ukraine with €1.5 billion a month from the proceeds of frozen Russian assets. This was stated by the newly appointed President of the European Council Antonio Costa.
The official emphasized that Ukraine will be able to use these funds, in particular, for military purposes.
E-hryvnia to be tested next year
The National Bank of Ukraine plans to conduct an open test of the electronic hryvnia in 2025. This means that everyone will be able to use the electronic form of the Ukrainian currency, Ekonomichna Pravda reports.
The key purpose of the e-hryvnia, according to the NBU, is to effectively perform all the functions of money, complementing the cash and non-cash forms of the hryvnia.
Georgian volunteers are ready to return to Georgia
Commanders of a number of Georgian units defending Ukraine have said they want to return to their homeland, where citizens are protesting against the ruling Georgian Dream party. They say they are “waiting for a signal” from President Salome Zurabishvili.
However, Zurabishvili believes that this information is a provocation.
Other important news of the day
- Occupiers dropped explosives on a bus in Kherson: there are dead and wounded.
- The new EU leaders arrived in Kyiv for the first time since their appointment.
- Podcaster Lex Friedman wrote that he would like to interview Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The President replied that he was waiting for him in Ukraine.
- Mahuchikh is recognized as the world's best non-running athlete of the year.
- The Podil Bridge, which had been under construction for 30 years, was opened in Kyiv.