Negotiations on Ukraine's accession to EU, rally in Kyiv and new military assistance: highlights for December 14

Negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU

The European Council decided to begin negotiations on the accession of Ukraine and Moldova to the European Union.

Now Ukraine must implement EU laws and standards. Compliance with all requirements must be confirmed by each EU member state.

Before the vote, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to the leaders of the European Union “not to betray the people of Ukraine and their faith in Europe”.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who had previously threatened to veto the vote, left the hall at the moment the decision was made.

He recorded a video in which he repeated that Ukraine’s membership in the EU is “a bad decision” and Hungary “does not want to participate in it”.

New military aid

Germany handed over a new package of military aid to Ukraine. In particular, it included the Bandvagn tracked all-terrain vehicles and the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system.

In addition, a package of military assistance worth €80 million with Javelins and ammunition was approved by the Estonian government.

Protest “Money for the Armed Forces of Ukraine”

On the morning of December 14, the day when the Kyiv City Council met to vote on the city budget for 2024, a protest was staged outside its walls. Its participants demanded increased spending for the military.

The protesters shouted: “Money for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.” — “What is it like, robbing the country?” — “Stop stealing.” — “Now it’s time for drones, not parks.” — “Kyiv will greet the occupiers with a renovated park.” — “Money for drones, not for parks.”

Against the backdrop of protests, the mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, said that the capital authorities had already allocated almost UAH 7 billion for the Armed Forces of Ukraine this year. He also added that “the state has made it impossible” to help defenders, referring to the law on the redistribution of personal income taxes from military salaries from local budgets to the state budget.

In the end, the Kyiv City Council adopted the capital's budget for 2024. UAH 1 billion is allocated for military and defense.

Night attack on the Odesa region

On the night of December 14, the Russians attacked the Odessa region with Shahed-type drones. As a result of the attack, 11 people were injured, including children.

One Russian drone fell on Romanian territory. The Romanian military said that during the massive Russian attack, they monitored the situation by activating an air raid signal. F-16 aircraft of the Romanian Air Force and Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft of the German Air Force took to the skies for observation.

The country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs “expressed a strong protest” and stated that it would summon the head of the Russian diplomatic mission.

Sabotage and reconnaissance group in the Sumy region

In the Sumy region over the past 24 hours, on December 13, the border patrol discovered several Russians from a sabotage and reconnaissance group who were leaving the territory of the Russian Federation. The fighters opened fire on the saboteurs, and a shooting battle ensued. As a result of the battle, the occupiers retreated.

Meanwhile, in the most dangerous directions of the northern border, military and regional military administrations are equipping the lines and positions of the first and second lines of defense.

As the commander of the Joint Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Serhii Naiev, said, the situation in the entire Northern operational zone is stable and controllable, the Russians have no offensive capabilities, but everything can change.

Restoration of Kyivstar

Mobile operator Kyivstar has begun restoring mobile Internet. It is already available in the first region — Ivano-Frankivsk.

The company noted that as part of the update after a large-scale cyber attack, it has already:

• more than 90% of mobile communication base stations operate in Ukrainian-controlled territory;
• subscribers have access to voice communication;
• the “Home Internet” service is active;
• restoration of mobile data services has begun.

Other important news of the day

• Ukraine received about $900 million from the International Monetary Fund.
• Prosecutors opened a case after the publication of a video of Russians hiding behind captured Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers on the battlefield.
• Investigators showed the Spanish villa of the ex-chief of the Odesa military registration and enlistment office Borysov.
• Zelensky arrived on a visit to Germany.
• Five more Ukrainian children were returned from the occupation.
• The HACS appeal overturned the closure of the Rotterdam+ case.