**Ukraine’s President Zelensky to Meet with Italian Leaders in Italy**
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Italian President Sergio Mattarella on January 9, according to Suspilne.
The meeting comes after Zelensky attends the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting in Germany. This will be the last gathering of this format before US President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20.
**Zelensky to Discuss Further Support for Ukraine**
During his visit, Zelensky is expected to discuss further support for Ukraine in its war against Russia with international partners. He has previously announced a series of meetings aimed at securing additional aid for the country.
In a speech at the Ramstein format meeting, Zelensky urged allies not to relent in helping Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression. “We’ve come such a long way that it would honestly be crazy to drop the ball now and not keep building on the defense coalitions we’ve created,” he said.
**US Announces $500 Million Aid Package for Ukraine**
The US Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, also announced a $500 million aid package for Ukraine during the Ramstein summit. This includes air defense missiles, ammunition, and equipment for F-16 fighter jets.
The aid package is expected to be the final U.S. defense tranche provided by the Biden administration before Donald Trump takes office on January 20.
**Other Developments**
Russian forces dropped guided aerial bombs on the city of Kherson on January 9, injuring at least six people. The situation in Ukraine remains difficult, with Russian attacks killing at least 19 civilians and injuring at least 132 over the past day.
Lithuania has announced plans to enhance security measures around its power grids with Poland in preparation for next month’s decoupling from the Russian energy system.
North Korea is benefiting from receiving Russian military equipment, technology, and experience, rendering it more capable of waging war against its neighbors, according to a US official.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com