**Poland Takes Over EU Presidency Amid Conflict**
Poland has taken over the six-month presidency of the European Union, starting on January 1. This comes at a time when Europe is facing many challenges, including conflicts and security issues.
**Security Top Priority for Poland**
The Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, said that security will be a top priority during the upcoming months. He also stated that Warsaw would continue to aid Ukraine and that the EU must strengthen its borders and counter the instrumentalization of migration.
**Ukraine Hopes for Support from Poland**
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, expressed hope that Poland would provide leadership and support in providing military assistance and speeding up the EU accession process. President Volodymyr Zelensky also hopes for a dynamic process of Ukraine’s EU accession.
**EU Accession Process for Ukraine**
The EU’s Commissioner for Enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi, said that Ukraine could potentially join the bloc by 2029 if it successfully implements necessary reforms. Two EU accession clusters for Ukraine are expected to open during the first half of 2025 under Poland’s presidency.
**Russia-Ukraine Conflict Updates**
Ukraine reported over 38,000 Russian troop casualties and more than 1,000 pieces of equipment destroyed since the beginning of the conflict. The National Bank of Ukraine said that one of its buildings in Kyiv had been damaged by falling debris. President Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine would not wait for peace to be given as a gift but would fight for it.
**Global Developments**
A senior U.S. Treasury official stated that Iran and Russia have targeted election processes and institutions in the United States through disinformation campaigns. China’s Xi Jinping emphasized that China and Russia advance together on a “path of non-alliance, non-confrontation.” An oil depot in Russia caught fire following a drone attack.
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