During the VII Ukrainian-German Economic Forum, Chancellor Olaf Scholf confirmed that Germany will hand over the (previously pledged) sixth IRIS-T air defense system and Patriot launchers by the end of the year.

The 36th Marine Brigade finished off an APC, a tank, and 3 BMD's.

NATO’s European members are discussing increasing defense spending to 3% of GDP at next year’s summit. This rise, driven partly by Trump’s return and to support Ukraine, would strain national budgets. Seven EU countries still miss the current 2% target.

https://www.ft.com/content/c4942166-c61b-46ec-832f-1671aecf1b02

German Chancellor Scholz is ready to continue talks with Putin, although he considers the phone call between them in November a "disappointment."

"Its frustrating, he keeps repeating his lines. but I will do it again, without any illusions," he said.

https://www.zeit.de/news/2024-12/12/anruf-bei-putin-frustrierte-scholz-will-es-aber-wieder-tun

French President Macron has arrived in Warsaw to talk with Polish PM Tusk. One of the subjects is the possibility of deploying peacekeeping forces in Ukraine after the war ends.

⚡️Medvedev claims the U.S. could resolve the "crisis" in Ukraine: "If the new U.S. administration is truly committed to resolving this crisis, they can achieve it because Kyiv exists thanks to military and financial support from the U.S. and some European countries."

🇵🇱 PM Tusk on troops in Ukraine: "We’re not planning such actions now. Any Polish decisions will be made in Warsaw. We'll work with France and others to ensure lasting peace and prevent renewed conflict if a ceasefire is reached."

https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/kraj/emmanuel-macron-z-wizyta-w-polsce-premier-tusk-zabral-glos/4pdsc7k

Zelensky: "Mykhailo Drapatyi, the new commander of the Land Forces, is a major general and a strong warrior. He has received clear tasks and is ready to fulfill them. I expect results."

Commander in Chief Syrsky: "The Pokrovsk direction has been one of the most difficult in the context of the confrontation with the Russian occupiers for several months. We are calculating and preparing for all possible options for the enemy's further actions."

Zelensky: "Zaporizhzhia – security situation, protection of the sky. I held a meeting of the Headquarters today. And it is here, primarily regarding air defense. Stabilization of the front, achievement of our main security tasks. We need real peace, and therefore, we must be really strong for this. And we must do everything so that every day brings us closer to peace."

🇺🇦 President Zelensky visited troops from the 65th Brigade on the Zaporizhzhia front. He discussed improving training for mobilized soldiers and the possibility of conducting basic military training directly within brigades.

Zelensky: "Zaporizhzhia. Our soldiers from the 27th Rocket Artillery Brigade. HIMARS Division. The guys are working to protect our Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk region from the occupier."

A Ukrainian defender mows down a Russian assault group with a machine gun as they approach his position

The West might divide Ukraine like Czechoslovakia in 1938, Slovak PM Fico said. He warned the West could tire of the war and agree to partition Ukraine, saying, “A time will come when the West says: ‘Well, it didn’t work out, so let’s sacrifice Ukraine.’”
https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/mundo/2024/12/ocidente-arrastou-ucrania-para-a-guerra-mas-pode-trai-la-diz-premie-da-eslovaquia.shtml

Kharkiv region, Ukrainian soldiers from the 2nd Battalion of the 101st Brigade stopped a Russian column of 3 BMPs and 1 BTR using remote mining and drone strikes. After one BMP hit a mine, the crew of the next vehicle abandoned it and fled.

Zelensky visited a private clinic in Zaporizhia that was struck by Russian ballistic missiles on December 10. The attack claimed 11 lives and injured 22 others. The president paid tribute to the victims.