**Ukraine Ends Russian Gas Transit Deal**
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on December 16 that the country will not extend a deal allowing Russian gas to transit through Ukraine beyond the end of the year.
This decision comes as several European countries are working to secure alternative energy supplies. The EU has set a target to phase out Russian fossil fuels by 2027.
Shmyhal said Ukraine is open to negotiating gas transit for any origin except Russian. He noted that significant progress has been made in ensuring EU countries have sufficient energy supplies, particularly gas.
**Slovakia and EU Negotiate Alternative Energy Supplies**
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico emphasized that maintaining gas transit is not solely a bilateral concern for Ukraine’s neighbors but an issue affecting the entire European Union.
Slovak Economy Minister Denisa Sakova said European countries and companies collectively require around 15 billion cubic meters of Russian gas next year via Ukraine. Slovakia aims to secure an agreement covering gas deliveries for the next two to three years.
**North Korean Troops Join Russian Military in Ukraine**
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that North Korea is not only involving soldiers in assaults on Ukrainian positions but also trying to hide their losses.
Major General Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesperson, confirmed that North Korean troops have joined combat operations in the Kursk Oblast, marking the first confirmed engagement of North Korean soldiers alongside Russian military.
**EU Imposes Sanctions on Chinese Firms**
The European Union imposed sanctions on December 16 on Chinese firms for supplying Russia‘s military for the war against Ukraine. The sanctions include asset freezes and visa bans.