Ukraine-Russia war - live: Anti-Putin paramilitaries 'destroy' Russian squadron in surprise cross-border raid

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

67% : The battle to send £43bn in EU aid to Ukraine after Hungary's Orban blocked itUkraine received a terrific morale boost when the European Union voted to begin membership talks with Kyiv at a summit in Brussels.
67% : Every EU country has gradually agreed to support Ukraine's bid -- except Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Putin's greatest ally within the EU.
67% : EU HISTORY AND HOW DO YOU JOIN?The European Union was born after World War II as a trading bloc with a bold ambition: to prevent another war between Germany and France.
63% : "But such new members could destabilise the EU, and since we live on the same continent as the EU, we, of course, are closely watching this.
60% : Since then, the EU has steadily expanded to contain 27 democratic nations, many from the former communist bloc in Eastern Europe, inspired by the idea that economic and political integration among nations is the best way to promote prosperity and peace.
57% : This notably led to the creation of the shared euro currency in 1999, the continent's open borders, and trailblazing rules to reduce carbon emissions and regulate tech giants.To join the EU, candidate countries must go through a lengthy process to align their laws and standards with those of the EU, and show that their institutions and economies meet democratic norms.
57% : He went on to say the summit granted EU candidate status to Georgia and would also advance an EU bid by another hopeful - Bosnia - once it reaches "the necessary degree of compliance" with criteria.
56% : Ukraine's a step closer to joining the EU.
56% : "Today is a historic day for Europe," Sanchez posted on the social media X."I would like to congratulate Ukraine and Moldova on the decision of the European Council to start negotiations for their accession to the EU.
56% : Friday 15 December 2023 01:00 , Sam RkainaUkraine is one of several countries that have long wanted to join the EU, seeing it as a path to wealth and stability.
56% : "He went on to say the summit granted EU candidate status to Georgia and would also advance an EU bid by another hopeful - Bosnia - once it reaches "the necessary degree of compliance" with criteria.
55% : That's a big boost for war-ravaged Ukraine and a loud message to Vladimir Putin -- but it could be years before the country actually becomes a member of the EU.
55% : That's a big boost for war-ravaged Ukraine and a loud message to Vladimir Putin - but it could be years or even decades before the country actually becomes a member of the EU.
54% : In a speech at the conference, Mr Medvedev referred to Mr Putin as "our candidate", and asserted that his re-election for a fifth term as head of state "should be absolutely logical, legitimate and absolutely indisputable".
53% : A victory for Kyiv on EU membership - but the headache over Western aid remainsSaturday 16 December 2023 03:00 , Sam RkainaKyivstar CEO Oleksandr Komarov said on Thursday that the company might need several weeks to reinstate all its services after the attack.
53% : "The Kremlin has welcomed Hungarian prime minister Victor Orban's decision to veto £43 billion in EU funding for Ukraine.
52% : "Thursday's decision also has an impact on other would-be members, who feel the EU is showing favoritism.
51% : The prisoners in the video appear unarmed, while the Russian soldiers force them forward at gunpoint, according to the ISW.Friday 15 December 2023 12:00 , Alexander ButlerThe EU's decision to begin negotiations on the accession of Ukraine and Moldova is a "powerful affirmation" of their respective "European future" and a "historic moment" for Europe, State Department spokesperson"We welcome the European Council vote on EU enlargement and congratulate Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina on a historic step toward their EU aspirations.
50% : Full report:EU releasing 5 billion euros to Poland by year's end as new government works to restore rule of lawOn Friday, EU leaders sought to paper over their inability to boost Ukraine's coffers with a promised 50 billion euros ($54.5 billion) over the next four years, saying the check will likely arrive next month after some more haggling between 26 leaders and the longtime holdout, Viktor Orban of Hungary.
50% : Klitschko said anti-aircraft activity was focused on the Darnytskyi district east of the river.
50% : Ukraine officially applied for EU accession less than a week after Russia invaded in February 2022.
49% : Here's a look at what Thursday's decision means, and why joining the EU is especially important, and especially hard, for Ukraine.
49% : Former FBI agent gets over four years in prison for aiding Russian oligarchA few hours previously, Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky had celebrated the EU finally agreeing to open up membership talks, a deal which was achieved after Mr Orban agreed to leave the room when the rest of the 26 nations voted.
49% : "Negotiations to join the EU can last for years or decades," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
49% : Here's a look at what Thursday's decision means, and why joining the EU is especially important, and especially hard, for Ukraine.
48% : The EU's drip-feed of aid frustrates Ukraine, despite the promise of membership talksSaturday 16 December 2023 22:00 , Matt MathersRussia and Ukraine each reported dozens of attempted drone attacks in the past day, just hours after Hungary vetoed 50 billion euros ($54.5 billion) of EU funding to Ukraine.
48% : Asked about Orban's role in the vote, Varadkar added: "He was not in the room".Thursday 14 December 2023 18:32 , Sam RkainaUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed an agreement by European Union leaders on Thursday to open membership talks with Kyiv as "a victory" for his country and Europe.
47% : Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's one-man mission to block critical European funds, mixed with a similar impasse in the US Congress leaves Ukraine with a big problem, writes Askold KrushelnyckyRead the full story here:A victory for Kyiv on EU membership - but the headache over Western aid remainsSaturday 16 December 2023 20:00 , Matt MathersA village council member in western Ukraine detonated three hand grenades during a meeting Friday, critically injuring himself and at least two dozen other people, authorities said.
47% : Sadiq Khan rejects call to send scrapped Ulez cars to UkraineSaturday 16 December 2023 18:00 , Tom WatlingHungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's one-man mission to block critical European funds, mixed with a similar impasse in the US Congress leaves Ukraine with a big problem, writes Askold KrushelnyckyA victory for Kyiv on EU membership - but the headache over Western aid remainsSaturday 16 December 2023 17:00 , Tom WatlingA village council member in western Ukraine detonated three hand grenades during a meeting Friday, critically injuring himself and at least two dozen other people, authorities said.
47% : A victory for Kyiv on EU membership - but the headache over Western aid remainsPatriarch Kirill is now "an individual in hiding from the bodies of pre-trial investigation", according to a post of Ukraine's interior ministry's wanted list.
47% : "Hungarian PM Orban blocks £43bn of EU funding for UkraineFriday 15 December 2023 09:00 , Alexander ButlerOfficials from Russia's prison authority told a court on Friday that jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was no longer in the penal colony where he had been serving his sentence but they did not explain where he had gone, an ally said.
46% : He has rejected the charge as politically motivated.Court voids fine given to Russian activist for criticizing war and sends case back to prosecutorsA few hours previously, Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky had celebrated the EU finally agreeing to open up membership talks, a deal which was achieved after Mr Orban agreed to leave the room when the rest of the 26 nations voted.
46% : "The EU has always had strict criteria for accession and it is obvious that at the moment neither Ukraine nor Moldova meets these criteria.
45% : Speaking in Brussels at the end of a summit where EU leaders decided to open membership negotiations with war-torn Ukraine, Mr Macron said he remained open to dialogue with Mr Putin on finding a peaceful solution if the Russian leader reaches out to him.
45% : The effort to ramp up production at home has become critically important as the future of large-scale military aid from the United States and European Union appears more uncertain and Western stockpiles have become more depleted.
44% : Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the anti-aircraft units had gone into action as groups of drones flew near the city.
43% : Russia and Ukraine exchange drone attacks after EU funding stalledPatriarch Kirill is now "an individual in hiding from the bodies of pre-trial investigation", according to a post of Ukraine's interior ministry's wanted list.
43% : Debt crises, waves of migration and Brexit had all contributed to the bloc's skittishness toward expanding its ranks in recent years.
41% : Orban maintains that Ukraine isn't ready to even start talking about EU membership.
41% : While the EU is not a military alliance like NATO, membership in the bloc is seen by some as a rampart against Russian influence.
41% : "Hungary's stance is clear, Ukraine is not prepared for us to start talks on EU membership," he said, calling the decision to start talks "irrational" and "inappropriate.""But 26 member states were adamant that this decision must be made so Hungary decided that if 26 decide so, they should go on their own path and Hungary does not wish to participate in this bad decision," he said.
41% : Earlier in the day as the 27 EU leaders gathered for their last summit of the year, Orban insisted that the EU should not start membership talks with Ukraine.
40% : Even after subsequently changing its name to settle a longstanding dispute with EU member Greece, the country is still waiting for membership talks to begin because Bulgaria, another member, threw up a hurdle related to ethnicity and language.
38% : The money is part of a larger tranche that was held up due to laws passed by the previous national conservative government that eroded the independence of judges -- something that the EU deemed to be a violation of the democratic separation of powers.
38% : Ukraine puts head of Russia's Orthodox church on 'wanted' listSaturday 16 December 2023 11:45 , Tom WatlingRussia and Ukraine each reported dozens of attempted drone attacks in the past day, just hours after Hungary vetoed 50 billion euros ($54.5 billion) of EU funding to Ukraine.
38% : EU leaders, who would prefer a deal backed by all members but also have a plan B, are expected to revisit the issue at an emergency summit at the end of January or early in February.
38% : In an interview Friday with Hungarian state radio, Orban said that EU leaders told him he would "lose nothing" by dropping his veto since he'd have chances in the future to block Ukraine's accession if he chose to -- something he vowed to do if it appeared Hungary's interests were at risk.
37% : Friday 15 December 2023 02:00 , Sam RkainaEU officials had said talks couldn't officially begin until Ukraine addresses multiple issues including corruption, lobbying concerns, and restrictions that might prevent national minorities from studying and reading in their own language.
37% : While EU officials say Ukraine has made progress on these issues in recent months, it still has a long way to go.
35% : The battle to send £43bn in EU aid to Ukraine after Hungary's Orban blocked itSaturday 16 December 2023 12:45 , Tom WatlingHungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's one-man mission to block critical European funds, mixed with a similar impasse in the US Congress leaves Ukraine with a big problem, writes Askold Krushelnycky.

*Our bias meter rating uses data science including sentiment analysis, machine learning and our proprietary algorithm for determining biases in news articles. Bias scores are on a scale of -100% to 100% with higher negative scores being more liberal and higher positive scores being more conservative, and 0% being neutral. The rating is an independent analysis and is not affiliated nor sponsored by the news source or any other organization.