US President-elect Donald Trump is “strong and unpredictable,” and those qualities can be a decisive factor in his policy approach to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. However, Zelenskyy said it won’t be possible to end the almost three years of war in one day, as Trump claimed during his election campaign he could do. “The ‘hot’ stage of the war can end quite quickly, if Trump is strong in his position,” Zelensky said in a Ukrainian television interview late Thursday, referring to fighting on the battlefield. “I believe (Trump) is strong and unpredictable. I would very much like President Trump’s unpredictability to be directed primarily toward the Russian Federation,” Zelenskyy said. Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, hasn’t publicly fleshed out his policy on Ukraine but his previous comments have put a question mark over whether the United States will continue to be Ukraine’s biggest — and most important — military backer. Zelenskyy is eager to guarantee that Washington’s support keeps coming, and he met with Trump in New York even before last November’s U.S. presidential election. With the war about to enter its fourth year next month, and with Trump coming to power, the question of how and when Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II might end has come to the fore. 2 dead and 18 injured in Southern California plane crash Russia controls about one-fifth of Ukraine and last year capitalized on weaknesses in Ukraine’s defenses to slowly advance in eastern areas despite high losses of troops and equipment. The war’s trajectory is not in Ukraine’s favor. The country is short-handed on the front line and needs continued support from its Western partners. Trump responded favorably to the possibility raised by French President Emmanuel Macron of Western peacekeepers being deployed in Ukraine to oversee an agreement that stops the fighting, Zelenskyy said. He met with Trump and Macron in Paris last month. “But I raised an issue, saying we didn’t hear what specific countries will join this initiative, and whether the US will be there,” Zelenskyy said. The Ukrainian leader is determined for his country to become a NATO member. The alliance’s 32 member countries say Ukraine will join one day, but not until the war ends. “The deployment of European troops (to keep the peace in Ukraine) should not rule out Ukraine’s future in NATO,” Zelenskyy said in the television interview. Zelenskyy described the incursion by Ukrainian forces into Russia’s Kursk border region as a “very strong trump card” in any future peace negotiations. In a bid to counter glum news from the front line, Ukraine seized part of Kursk last August in what was the first occupation of Russian territory since World War II. US restricts Russian and Iranian groups over disinformation targeting American voters But the incursion didn’t significantly change the dynamic of the war, and military analysts say Ukraine has lost some 40% of the land it initially captured. Nevertheless, Zelenskyy said the achievement impressed countries in Asia, South America and Africa and tarnished Russia’s military reputation.

The United States has imposed sanctions on two groups linked to Iranian and Russian efforts to target American voters with disinformation ahead of this year's election. Treasury officials announced the sanctions Tuesday, alleging that the two organizations sought to stoke divisions among Americans before November's vote. U.S. intelligence has accused both governments of spreading disinformation, including fake videos, news stories and social media posts, designed to manipulate voters and undermine trust in U.S. elections. “The governments of Iran and Russia have targeted our election processes and institutions and sought to divide the American people through targeted disinformation campaigns,” Bradley T. Smith, Treasury's acting undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said in a statement. Authorities said the Russian group, the Moscow-based Center for Geopolitical Expertise, oversaw the creation, financing and dissemination of disinformation about American candidates, including deepfake videos created using artificial intelligence. In addition to the group itself, the new sanctions apply to its director, who authorities say worked closely with Russian military intelligence agents also overseeing cyberattacks and sabotage against the West. Read: EU imposes sanctions on Putin’s daughters Authorities say the center used AI to quickly manufacture fake videos about American candidates created scores of fake news websites designed to look legitimate and even paid U.S. web companies to create pro-Russian content. The Iranian group, the Cognitive Design Production Center, is a subsidiary of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, U.S. officials said, which the United States has designated a foreign terrorist organization. Officials say the center worked since at least 2023 to incite political tensions in the United States. U.S. intelligence agencies have blamed the Iranian government for seeking to encourage protests in the U.S. over Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. Iran also has been accused of hacking into the accounts of several top current and former U.S. officials, including senior members of Donald Trump’s campaign. In the months ahead of the election, U.S. intelligence officials said Russia, Iran and China all sought to undermine confidence in U.S. democracy. They also concluded that Russia sought to prop up the ultimate victor Trump, who has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggested cutting funds to Ukraine and repeatedly criticized the NATO military alliance. Read more: US imposes sanctions on RAB, 7 individuals Iran, meanwhile, sought to oppose Trump's candidacy, officials said. The president-elect's first administration ended a nuclear deal with Iran, reimposed sanctions and ordered the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, an act prompting Iran’s leaders to vow revenge. Russian and Iranian officials have rejected claims that they sought to influence the outcome of the 2024 election. “Russia has not and does not interfere with the internal affairs of other countries,” a spokesperson for Russia's embassy in Washington wrote in an email Tuesday. A message left with officials from Iran was not immediately returned Tuesday.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin called on Russia to increase the intake of skilled and semi-skilled manpower from Bangladesh and simplify visa procedure. The President made this request during a meeting with newly appointed Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Khozin who presented his credentials at Bangabhaban. Welcoming the new ambassador, President Shahabuddin highlighted the growing bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Russia in various sectors, including trade and investment. He also mentioned Russia’s ongoing support for Bangladesh’s development and urged the timely completion of the 'Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant' project. During the meeting, the President sought greater opportunities for Bangladeshi students to pursue higher education in Russia. He also expressed the hope that Russia would continue pressing Myanmar for the repatriation of forcibly displaced Rohingyas. In discussing bilateral trade, President Shahabuddin acknowledged Bangladesh’s imports of agricultural products such as wheat and fertilizer from Russia and stressed the importance of collaboration to address food security challenges. Ambassador Khozin sought the President's full cooperation during his tenure in Bangladesh. President's Military Secretary Major General Mohammad Adil Chowdhury, Press Secretary Sarwar Alam, Russian embassy minister-counsellor Ekaterina Semenova, and Foreign Secretary Jasim Uddin.

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said Sunday that the Azerbaijani airliner that crashed last week was shot down by Russia, albeit unintentionally, and criticized Moscow for trying to “hush up” the issue for days. "We can say with complete clarity that the plane was shot down by Russia. (...) We are not saying that it was done intentionally, but it was done,” he told Azerbaijani state television. Aliyev said that the airliner, which crashed Wednesday in Kazakhstan, was hit by fire from the ground over Russia and “rendered uncontrollable by electronic warfare." Aliyev accused Russia of trying to “hush up” the issue for several days, saying he was “upset and surprised” by versions of events put forward by Russian officials. “Unfortunately, for the first three days we heard nothing from Russia except delirious versions,” he said. Putin apologizes for 'tragic incident' but stops short of saying Azerbaijani plane shot down The crash killed 38 of 67 people on board. The Kremlin said that air defense systems were firing near Grozny, the regional capital of the Russian republic of Chechnya, where the plane attempted to land, to deflect a Ukrainian drone strike. Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized to Aliyev on Saturday for what he called a “tragic incident” but stopped short of acknowledging Moscow’s responsibility. The Kremlin also said a joint investigation by Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan has begun at the crash site near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan. The plane was flying from Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, to Grozny when it turned toward Kazakhstan, hundreds of kilometers (miles) across the Caspian Sea from its intended destination, and crashed while making an attempt to land.

Russia’s state nuclear agency Rosatom has said that it has completed necessary tasks of Unit-1 of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) and is getting ready to start its operation from next year. Rosatom hailed 2024 as a successful year in Bangladesh, marking the completion of construction and installation for one of Rooppur NPP's power units, set to start next year. The second power unit of the country's maiden nuclear power plant has also achieved significant progress in construction and installation. Rooppur NPP: Engineers receive training on nuclear fuel handling  “We have entered the final straight in terms of preparation of Rooppur NPP Unit 1 for the physical start-up. This is an important stage, under which we must carry out a large scope of works and tests to prove the operability of the process systems in all the operating modes,” pointed out Andrey Petrov, First Deputy Director General for Nuclear Energy of State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, and President of ASE. Earlier in September dummy fuel assemblies were loaded into the reactor pressure vessel of unit-1 paving the way for the loading of real nuclear fuel assemblies. During the same month, diesel generators underwent cold runs. These diesel generators act as standby suppliers of power for equipment when the reactor needs to be stopped for any reason. In October the reactor assembly process was completed and got prepared for the key test to ensure the efficient operation of the unit. In November the first ignition of the start-up standby boiler room took place to supply technological steam. On December 18, the works began to bring the reactor plant to the rated parameters and to conduct tests without nuclear fuel. Large-scale tests are being conducted to confirm the process system in all operating modes. Cold run of diesel generator completed at Rooppur Nuclear Plant’s unit 1 For power unit-2, concreting of the outer containment was completed ahead of schedule. A passive heat removal system deflector was installed. Other construction and installation works are underway to prepare the unit for commissioning and start-up. Both the units have received automated radiation monitoring systems (ARMS), developed especially for the Roopur project to meet its specific requirements. During the year Rosatom continued its support in providing special education to Bangladeshi students and training Bangladeshi specialists of Rooppur NPP at Rosatom Technical Academy in Russia. Talking on the implementation of the Rooppur NPP, the new Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Khozin said, "From the very beginning of this project, Rosatom, together with the Russian Embassy in Dhaka, has been carrying out significant work aimed at raising awareness among the local population about this project. Bangladeshi people now understand the importance of this project for the country." Indian staff yet to resume work on key power transmission projects linked to Rooppur Nuclear Plant Rooppur Nuclear Plant is being implemented with financial and technological support from Russia. The plant hosts two power units each of 1,200 MW capacity. The latest generation 3+ Russian VVER 1200 has been chosen for the project that fulfills all international safety requirements. Once launched, the Rooppur NPP is expected to meet about 10 percent of the total energy demand of Bangladesh. Rosatom Engineering Division is the general designer and contractor of the Rooppur NPP. Rosatom is a major player in the field of international atomic energy. It is considered a global leader in terms of the number of nuclear power plant constructions worldwide. Rosatom is now implementing 22 nuclear power units in 7 countries, including Bangladesh. The company today is executing an export order of 39 small-capacity reactors from 10 countries, said Rosatom.

Russia’s state-owned energy giant Gazprom said Saturday it will halt gas supplies to Moldova starting on Jan. 1, citing alleged unpaid debt by the European Union candidate country, which has brought in emergency measures as it braces for power cuts. Gazprom said in an online statement that it reserved the right to take further action, including terminating its contract with Moldovagaz, Moldova's main gas operator, in which the Russian company owns a majority stake. The cessation of gas will stop supplies to the Kuciurgan power plant, the country’s largest, which is situated in the separatist pro-Russian Transnistria region. Moldova reacted by accusing Moscow of weaponizing energy supplies. Gazprom supplies the gas-operated Kuciurgan plant, which generates electricity that powers a significant portion of Moldova proper. The plant was privatized in 2004 by Transnistrian officials and later sold to a Russian state-owned company. Moldova, which has a West-leaning central government and has repeatedly complained of Russian interference, doesn’t recognize the privatization. Earlier this month, Moldova's parliament voted in favor of imposing a state of emergency in the energy sector over fears that Russia could leave Moldova without sufficient energy this winter. A special commission was also set up to manage “imminent risks” if Moscow fails to supply gas to the Kuciurgan plant and on Friday approved a series of measures aimed at saving energy. Gazprom has said Moldova owes close to $709 million for past gas supplies, a figure fiercely disputed by the government in the capital Chisinau. Read: Russia's Gazprom stops flow of natural gas to Austria Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean on Saturday condemned the move, saying that his government does not recognize the debt cited by Gazprom, which has been “invalidated by an international audit.” Moldova claims, citing findings by British and Norwegian audit firms, that its debt stands close to $8.6 million, a small fraction of that claimed by Gazprom. Recean added that Chisinau has pushed to diversify its natural gas supplies to reduce dependence on the Kuciurgan plant, and said the government will “carefully analyze legal options, including resorting to international arbitration” to protect Moldova’s national interests. “Our country is prepared to handle any situation that arises following the Kremlin’s decision,” he said. Moldova’s government on Friday announced it would implement a series of measures starting Jan. 1 to reduce energy consumption. These include limiting lighting in public and commercial buildings by at least 30%, and energy-intensive businesses operating during off-peak hours. In late 2022, Moldova suffered major power outages following Russian strikes on neighboring Ukraine, which is interconnected to the Kuciurgan plant. Transnistria, which broke away after a short war in 1992 and is not recognized by most countries, also declared its own state of emergency earlier this month, in case the region does not receive gas supplies. When Russia fully invaded Ukraine in 2022, Moldova, a former Soviet republic of about 2.5 million people, was entirely dependent on Moscow for natural gas but has since pushed to diversify and expand its energy sources. Read more: Gazprom keen on exploring 5 more gas wells in Bhola; Russia will continue to support Bangladesh: Ambassador In October, Moldova’s pro-Western President Maia Sandu won a second term in office, and a referendum voted in favor of securing the country’s path toward the EU, in two votes overshadowed by ongoing claims of Russian interference to derail the country’s westward shift in recent years. Russia denies it is meddling in Moldova. Russia cut off most natural gas supplies to Europe in 2022, citing disputes over payment in rubles, a move European leaders described as energy blackmail over their support for Ukraine against Russia’s invasion. European governments had to scramble to line up alternative supplies at higher prices, much of it liquefied natural gas brought by ship from the U.S. and Qatar.

Russia’s aviation chief, Dmitry Yadrov, has stated that a Ukrainian drone attack was underway in the Russian region where an Azerbaijani airliner was originally destined before it diverted and crashed earlier this week.  The Azerbaijan Airlines flight, en route from Baku to Grozny, the Chechen capital, changed course toward Kazakhstan and crashed during an attempted landing, killing 38 people and injuring all 29 survivors. Azerbaijani lawmaker Rasim Musabekov and some aviation experts have suggested Russian air defenses may have been involved, though Yadrov did not address these claims.  Azerbaijan Airlines blamed the crash on unspecified “physical and technical interference” and suspended flights to several Russian airports without elaborating further. Survivors reported hearing loud noises on the plane over Grozny. Flight attendant Aydan Rahimli recounted, “After one loud noise, the oxygen masks automatically released.” Another crew member, Zulfugar Asadov, said the sounds seemed to come from outside the plane.  Rashad Nabiyev, Azerbaijan’s minister of digital development and transportation, said the aircraft suffered external damage while flying over Grozny. “The type of weapon used in the impact will be determined by investigators,” he told Azerbaijani media.  Kazakhstan Reports 42 Feared Dead in Azerbaijan Airlines Plane Crash Musabekov claimed the plane was fired on over Grozny and demanded an apology from Russia. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment, stating, “The air incident is being investigated, and we don’t believe we have the right to make any assessments until conclusions are reached.”  Yadrov noted the plane encountered heavy fog while attempting to land in Grozny, where Ukrainian drones were reportedly targeting the area, prompting airspace closure. After two failed landing attempts, the captain opted to divert to Aktau, Kazakhstan. “The situation in the area of Grozny airport was quite difficult,” Yadrov said.  Experts have pointed to damage in the plane’s tail suggesting possible fire from Russian air defenses. Investigators from Azerbaijan are collaborating in Grozny.  Azerbaijan Airlines and other carriers, including FlyDubai and El Al, have suspended or adjusted flights to Russian cities amid ongoing concerns about airspace safety.Source: With inputs from wires

A Russian cargo ship sank in the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Algeria, leaving two crew members missing, Spain's maritime rescue agency and the Russian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday. Fourteen of the Ursa Major's crew were rescued uninjured from a lifeboat and transferred to Spain, the agency said. The Russian ministry said the ship started sinking following an explosion in the engine room. The vessel was owned by SK-Yug, a subsidiary of the Russian shipping and logistics company Oboronlogistika, which was established under Russia's defense ministry and placed under U.S. and European Union sanctions for its ties to Russia's military. Spanish authorities said there were empty containers and two cranes on board. They did not confirm the cause of the accident. In a statement on Dec. 20, Oboronlogistika said the cargo ship was headed to Russia’s far eastern city of Vladivostok carrying two cranes for the port weighing 380 tons each. Ursa Major had left St. Petersburg 12 days ago, Russian state news agency Ria Novosti said. Spanish authorities said they received an alert around 1 p.m. Monday when the vessel was roughly 57 nautical miles (106 kilometers) from Almería in southeastern Spain. The maritime rescue agency contacted a ship nearby that reported poor weather conditions, a lifeboat in the water and the Ursa Major listing. Read: UAE stresses on security of eastern Mediterranean, Arab regions Authorities said a Russian warship arrived later Monday to oversee rescue operations, and the 142-meter (466-foot) cargo vessel sank around midnight. The Russian embassy in Spain told RIA Novosti it was investigating the accident and was in contact with local authorities. Ursa Major was in the western Mediterranean at the same time as Sparta — another Russian cargo ship under U.S. sanctions — whose destination as reported Tuesday was Port Said in Egypt, according to ship-spotting platform MarineTraffic.com. It’s not unusual for Russian ships going from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok to transit through the Mediterranean and the Suez Canal. With global warming, the Northern Sea Route via Russia’s Arctic is increasingly traversed year-round, but most ships still choose the southern route in winter. Spanish maritime rescue units remained in the area Tuesday to monitor for pollution and remove any floating objects that could be dangerous for navigation, authorities said.

The head of Russia’s Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defence Forces, Lt. General Igor Kirillov, was killed early Tuesday by an explosive device planted close to a residential apartment block in Moscow, Russia’s Investigative Committee said. Kirillov’s assistant also died in the blast. Russia launches massive attack on Ukrainian infrastructure with missiles Kirillov was sentenced in absentia by a Ukrainian court Monday for the use of banned chemical weapons during Russia’s military operation in Ukraine that started in Feb. 2022. During the almost 3-year operation, Russia has made small-but-steady territorial gains to the nearly one-fifth of Ukraine it already controls.

Russia launched one of its largest aerial assaults on Ukraine on Friday, firing 93 cruise and ballistic missiles along with nearly 200 drones, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This attack targeted the country’s energy infrastructure and is considered one of the heaviest since Russia’s full-scale invasion nearly three years ago. Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepted 81 missiles, including 11 cruise missiles downed by F-16 fighter jets provided by Western allies earlier this year, Zelenskyy reported. Despite these defenses, the assault still caused significant damage, particularly to Ukraine’s energy sector. In a message on his Telegram channel, Zelenskyy accused Russia of “terrorizing millions of people” and called for a strong international response. "A massive strike – a massive reaction. This is the only way to stop terror," he urged, emphasizing the need for global unity against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions. As the war continues, there is growing uncertainty over the future, especially with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump set to take office next month. Trump has pledged to end the war and cast doubt on the continuation of U.S. military support for Ukraine. In response to the attack, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the missile and drone strikes targeted "critically important fuel and energy facilities" in Ukraine, which are crucial for its military-industrial complex. Russia framed the assault as retaliation for a Ukrainian strike earlier in the week using U.S.-supplied Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMs) on a Russian airbase. Read: US warns Russia may use new lethal missile against Ukraine soon Trump has expressed opposition to allowing Ukraine to strike Russian territory using U.S. weapons, a position that Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted aligns with Russia’s stance. Peskov said, "We have a shared vision of the causes of escalation," acknowledging that Trump understands what exacerbates the conflict. The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv confirmed that Friday's attack also targeted transportation networks and other vital infrastructure. Ukrainian energy company DTEK, the country’s largest private energy provider, reported that its thermal power plants had been "seriously damaged" in the strike. Russia has consistently targeted Ukraine’s power grid, seeking to cripple its electricity supply and disrupt both civilian life and Ukraine's defense production capabilities. Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko assured the public that energy workers were taking all necessary measures to mitigate the damage, promising to provide more information once the security situation allowed. The Ukrainian Air Force reported multiple drone strikes overnight, followed by a wave of cruise missile attacks across the country’s airspace. Additionally, Russia employed air-launched Kinzhal ballistic missiles in Ukraine’s western regions. This attack mirrors a similar massive strike on November 28, which also involved over 200 missiles and drones, leaving more than a million households without power until emergency teams could restore the electricity. Ukrainian officials have warned that Russia is stockpiling additional missiles and drones for future strikes. Read more: EU may suspend asylum for migrants 'weaponized' by Russia, Belarus On November 21, Russia used its first-ever intermediate-range hypersonic missile, the Oreshnik, to target an industrial facility in Dnipro, eastern Ukraine. Putin had threatened more such attacks in response to Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory using Western-supplied long-range weapons. There were no reports of the Oreshnik missile being used in Friday’s assault, but U.S. officials have warned that it could be deployed in the near future. Half of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has already been destroyed during the conflict, and widespread electricity blackouts are a common occurrence. While Kyiv’s Western allies have provided advanced air defense systems to help protect critical infrastructure, Russia continues to overwhelm Ukraine’s defenses with large-scale "swarm" attacks, launching numerous missiles and drones in a single strike. In the broader military context, Russia has maintained the initiative this year, making slow but steady progress in its eastern offensives, steadily pushing through Ukrainian defenses.