L to R: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky; UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer; French President Emmanuel Macron; and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in front of 10 Downing Street, London, December 8, 2025 (Kin Cheung/AP)
EA on TVP World: Ukraine, Europe, and Trump — The Showdown Over Security Guarantees
Thursday’s Coverage: Zelensky — “An End to the War But Not the End of Ukraine”
UPDATE 1619 GMT:
At least 19 people, including a 6-month-old baby, have been injured by two Russian missiles fired on a residential neighborhood in Ukraine’s second city Kharkiv.
Six of the adults were hospitalized, including a woman in serious condition.
The attack destroyed a five-story apartment and damaged civilian infrastructure, a shopping center, and cars.
Rescuers are searching any victims under the rubble.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky commented:
Unfortunately, this is how the Russians treat life and people – they continue killing, despite all efforts by the world, and especially by the United States, in the diplomatic process.
It is only Russia that does not want this war to end, and every day it does everything to ensure the war continues. That is why support for Ukraine must continue as well, and every day we need reinforcement of our air defense, our positions, our protection of people’s lives.
A heinous Russian strike on Kharkiv. Preliminary reports indicate two missiles struck an ordinary residential area. One of the buildings has been severely damaged. A rescue operation is currently underway, with all necessary services on site. The exact number of casualties is yet… pic.twitter.com/7MIVSlBvAM
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 2, 2026
UPDATE 1256 GMT:
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has asked Kyrylo Budanov, the head of military intelligence, to become his Chief of Staff.
“Now, Ukraine needs more focus on security issues, the development of the Defense and Security Forces of Ukraine, as well as on the diplomatic track in negotiations, and the President’s Office will serve primarily to fulfill such tasks,” Zelensky said.
Budanov would replace Andriy Yermak, Zelensky’s long-time Chief of Staff, who resigned late November because of his alleged involvement in a $100 million corruption scandal in Ukraine’s nuclear energy industry.
Budanov, 39, has led the military intelligence service HUR since 2020.
ORIGINAL ENTRY: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed the next meetings to advance the Ukraine-Europe proposals to end Russia’s 47-month full-scale invasion.
In his nightly address to the nation, Zelensky said Rustem Umerov, the Secretary of Ukraine’s National Secuurity and Defense Committee and the leader of Kyiv’s delegation, “is in contact with the American team and our partners in Europe every single day”.
On Saturday in Kyiv, national security advisors from Ukraine and European partners from 15 countries, Europe’s institutions, and NATO will convene. US negotiators are expected to attend virtually.
On Monday, military commanders will discuss security guarantees and their implementation in the air, on land, and at sea.
And on Tuesday, leaders of Ukraine and of the international “Coalition of the Willing” will gather in Paris. Zelensky commented:
We are preparing now to ensure that the meeting is productive, that support increases, and that there is greater political confidence both in the security guarantees and in the peace agreement.
Rustem Umerov is in contact with the American team and our partners in Europe every single day. We are preparing formats and important meetings. On January 3, a meeting of national security advisors will take place in Ukraine. This is the first such meeting in Ukraine and it is… pic.twitter.com/KbZWegi7ze
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 1, 2026
Ukraine and Europe have achieved a breakthrough with the Trump Administration’s acceptance of the security guarantees, although there is divergence over the length. Donald Trump has agreed to 15 years, while Kyiv and Europe want up to 50.
Differences remain in three areas. Kyiv and Europe have proposed a demilitarized economic zone in the strategic Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, with both Ukrainian and Russian forces pulling back.
The details of Ukraine’s reconstruction fund are yet to be confirmed. Ukraine is seeking support of its sovereignty over the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, rather than an equal split between Washington, Moscow, and Kyiv.
Zelensky emphasized that, while the discussions proceed, support for Ukraine’s resistance must continue:
Ukraine needs air defense missiles every day. The same goes for funding for weapons, for drones, for our army, UGVs [unmanned ground vehicles], for equipment, for everything that is necessary.
The President added that Umerov is in Turkey on Friday, meeting officials to pursue more prisoner exchanges with Russia.
