Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel General Alexander Syrsky. Photo: Syrsky’s social networks Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky announced that he is dismissing the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) Alexander Syrsky. The new commander-in-chief will be the commander of the Joint Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Mikhail Drapaty.

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel General Alexander Syrsky, at a meeting with President Vladimir Zelensky. Photo: press service of the President of Ukraine The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), Alexander Syrsky, said that he had no conflict with Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov, who lost his post. “ It came as a surprise to me to learn that the Minister and I had a conflict.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev (right) and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. Photo: press service of the President of Ukraine Bulgaria has achieved the exclusion of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus', as well as two major Russian businessmen, from the draft new EU sanctions list, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said.

Photo: 10th separate mountain assault brigade "Edelweiss", Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) EU countries have decided to extend the protection scheme for Ukrainian refugees until March 4, 2028. However, the scheme will not apply to newly arriving Ukrainian men who are subject to mobilization in Ukraine. “ Extending protection for another year will provide clarity and predictability for all those fleeing war ,” the EU Council said in a statement published on July 15.

EU summit December 18-19. Photo: press service of the President of Ukraine. France, Italy and Greece opposed the proposal of the post-Soviet Baltic states to ban entry into the EU of all Russian military personnel who participated in the war against Ukraine. This provision was planned to be included in the next package of sanctions against Russia, which the EU is currently considering, reports the European publication Euractiv.

Photo: 23rd separate mechanized brigade, Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) President Vladimir Putin said Russian troops have established control over the Ukrainian city of Konstantinovka in the Donetsk region. In Kyiv, this information is denied. “ Russian control has been established over the city of Konstantinovka.

President Donald Trump meets Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Photo: Getty Images Russian President Vladimir Putin said that at a meeting with Donald Trump in Anchorage, “ compromises ” to end the war in Ukraine, which Washington presented, were discussed. According to him, as a result of the discussions, “no formal documents were signed, no one put any signatures .” “ But in Anchorage we discussed certain possibilities for ending the crisis in Ukraine.

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) Valeriy Zaluzhny (left) and President Vladimir Zelensky. Photo: press service of the President of Ukraine The European Commission has officially proposed extending the temporary protection scheme for Ukrainian refugees for a year, until March 2028. At the same time, it is planned to exclude newly arriving Ukrainian men liable for military service from it.

Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky at the EU summit in Brussels on June 18. Photo: press service of the European Commission Newly appointed Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar managed to remove any mention of the possibility of Ukraine's accelerated entry into the bloc from the EU leaders' statement, which was approved at the bloc's summit in Brussels.

French President Emmanuel Macron (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: AFP There has been a serious split among EU countries over who should negotiate with Russia and when, POLITICO reports. In particular, French and German leaders Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz opposed negotiations between the office of European Council President Antonio Costa and the Kremlin.

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and the EU leadership in Kyiv in February 2026. Photo: press service of the President of Ukraine Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky called for his country to be admitted to the EU under an accelerated procedure. “ Ukraine is counting on an accelerated process. I know that not all leaders like this format - accelerated.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev (right). Photo: press service of the Bulgarian Parliament Bulgaria will no longer supply weapons and ammunition to Ukraine, said Prime Minister Rumen Radev. “ We have already delivered enough, and our country continues to suffer socio-economic damage from this bloody war. We are confident that achieving a peaceful solution is impossible through military means ,” Radev said , as quoted by the government press service.

EU summit December 18-19. Photo: press service of the President of Ukraine. EU countries are considering excluding newly arrived Ukrainian men of military age from the program to provide temporary protection to Ukrainian refugees. This program was introduced after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Previously, the EU Council extended until March 4, 2027 the validity of this protection scheme for Ukrainian refugees located on the territory of the union.

President Vladimir Zelensky, December 2025. Photo: press service of the President of Ukraine Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky rejected Germany's proposal to grant Ukraine " associate membership " in the EU, which implies restrictions on some rights, in particular the right to vote in the bloc's most important decisions.

President Vladimir Zelensky with the leaders of France, Germany, Poland and Great Britain in Kyiv on May 10, 2025. Photo: press service of the President of Ukraine Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky harshly criticized the German Chancellor's proposal to grant Kyiv the status of an "associated" member of the EU with limited rights.