**Trump to Continue US Military Aid to Ukraine**
US President-elect Donald Trump plans to continue providing military support to Ukraine, according to a report by the Financial Times. The decision was made after discussions with officials, who have chosen to remain anonymous.
The plan is for the US to continue supplying Ukrainian forces with military equipment after Mr. Trump’s inauguration. His foreign policy team also intends to push NATO allies to increase their defense spending to 5% of their GDP. Currently, NATO member states aim to spend at least 2% of their GDP on defense.
This stance is in line with Mr. Trump’s “peace through strength” philosophy. However, he remains opposed to Ukraine joining NATO and wants an immediate resolution to the conflict. This approach differs from his earlier campaign rhetoric, where he suggested cutting off aid to Ukraine and pushing for peace talks.
**Russia’s Oil Shipments Halted**
Russian oil shipments to Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Germany have been halted due to technical issues at a Russian pumping station. The disruption began on December 19th and has affected oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline.
**Ukrainian President Approves Ambassadorial Appointments**
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the approval of over 30 Ukrainian ambassadorial appointments abroad during his evening address on December 20th. This move aims to strengthen diplomatic ties with other countries and promote Ukraine’s interests worldwide.
**Russia Increases Interest Rates to Combat Inflation**
Russia’s Central Bank has increased its interest rate from 7.5% in July 2023 to the current 21%, the highest level since the early 2000s. The decision is intended to combat accelerating inflation fueled by war spending.
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