EU’s von der Leyen:

Russia must pay for the destruction it has caused.

We are making a further €1.4 billion from the proceeds of immobilised Russian assets available to Ukraine.

Ukraine's Air Force reported downing 98 of 115 attack drones, but zero of the 28 Russian missiles overnight.

None of the 24 Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missiles nor the 4 Zircon/Oniks anti-ship missiles were intercepted.

NEW: Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir are expected to visit Saudi Arabia tomorrow.

BIG: A drone was found on the tarmac at Germany's Leipzig/Halle Airport, carrying an attached mass with a detonator that investigators classified as a possible explosive device.

The drone was reportedly lying right next to a Ukrainian Antonov cargo plane.

Federal police deployed bomb-disposal experts and a robot and planned a controlled detonation.

Source: Bild

A Russian FPV drone struck an ATB delivery truck carrying groceries in Kherson, destroying the vehicle and its cargo.

Trump declined Zelensky's request for hundreds of additional Patriot interceptors.

He cited a shortage in US stocks, saying they were needed to defend American assets in the Middle East and Gulf nations amid the war with Iran.

Source: FT

NEW: The Pentagon is drafting a classified nuclear strategy that would place greater emphasis on the potential use of shorter-range tactical nuclear weapons in a regional conflict with China or Russia.

Source: NBC News

Zero Missiles Intercepted: 17 Dead as Ukraine's Stockpiles are Depleted

Kyiv’s air defense shield suffered a total breakdown overnight as depleted interceptor stocks left the city unable to down any of Russia’s 28 incoming ballistic missiles.

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India Steps Up Defense Shipments to Israel With Over 2,500 Military Cargoes

India has emerged as a major military supplier to Israel, transferring over 2,500 shipments of weapons, ammunition, and drone components between October 2023 and November 2025.

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Pakistan Army Ditches WhatsApp for WeChat Over Hacking Fears

Pakistan Army has instructed personnel to stop using WhatsApp for official communications, mandating a transition to China's WeChat platform due to heightened concerns about hacking.

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Zelensky:

This year, unfortunately, the supply of anti-ballistics from partners has significantly decreased.

The number of missiles for air defense in supply has fallen threefold, compared to 2025.

The partners have the missiles.

Trump-backed Amir Hassan lost Michigan's Republican primary for the 8th Congressional District to Thomas J. Smith, who won despite suspending his campaign weeks earlier.

Japan is considering integrating U.S.-made AI systems—such as Palantir's Maven Smart System and Anduril's Lattice—into its Self-Defense Forces to speed up military decision-making and improve interoperability with U.S. forces.

To reduce dependence on foreign technology and address security concerns, Tokyo is also exploring a Japanese AI "command center," potentially powered by Sakana AI, to oversee and coordinate multiple AI systems, with plans to host the supporting infrastructure inside Japan.

Source: Nikkei Asia

The U.S. Navy awarded $76.6 billion to General Dynamics Electric Boat and Newport News Shipbuilding to expand production of Virginia-class attack submarines and Columbia-class nuclear ballistic missile submarines.

The funding supports the U.S. nuclear deterrent, the AUKUS partnership, and efforts to strengthen the submarine industrial base despite ongoing shipbuilding delays and workforce shortages.

Source: Axios

Ex-European and Russian Officials Hold Secret Talks to Explore Ukraine Peace

Former senior diplomats from the UK, France, Germany, and Russia convened secretly in Vienna last month to discuss potential pathways for peace negotiations in Ukraine.

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing a major leadership crisis after abandoning a controversial proposal to sell a 20% stake in FIFA's World Cup commercial rights business to private investors for $4.2 billion.

Infantino is now meeting top officials in Morocco to secure support ahead of FIFA's presidential election in March 2027.

Although some confederations and countries continue to back him, growing opposition from Europe and parts of Asia and North America has made what once seemed like an easy reelection campaign far more uncertain.

Source: NBC News

NEW: At least two IDF soldiers were killed and seven wounded when an explosive device detonated inside a booby-trapped building in Majdal Zoun, southern Lebanon.

Eleven U.S. cities that hosted matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup say Gianni Infantino and FIFA verbally promised each city a $1 million "legacy" payment for community projects, similar to payments made after the 2025 Club World Cup.

However, the money has still not been paid, and host cities are now pressing FIFA for answers.

Source: NYT