Kyiv received 114 prisoners released by Belarus under a US-brokered deal on Saturday, including Ukrainian citizens accused of working for intelligence services and Belarusian political prisoners. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff is set to meet Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders in Berlin this weekend for renewed peace talks. Read about the day’s events as they unfolded on our liveblog.
'A huge relief to hear her voice': Kolesnikova's sister
"To see my sister, to hear her voice, to see that she is free, that she is fine, was a huge relief for me", said Tatsiana Khomich, sister of Belarusian opponent Maria Kolesnikova, who was released on November 13, in an interview with FRANCE 24's Gavin Lee.
Starmer and von der Leyen discuss Ukraine peace plan and Russian frozen assets
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Saturday discussed work on US-led peace proposals for Ukraine and moves to use frozen Russian sovereign assets to help provide funds for Kyiv.
"Both agreed that this is a pivotal moment for Ukraine's future, and that Europe will stand with them for as long as it takes to achieve a just and lasting peace," a Downing Street spokesperson said after the two leaders spoke.
Zelensky says he will meet US and European representatives in Berlin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday he would meet U.S. and European representatives in Berlin to discuss "fundamentals of peace."
Zelensky said Ukraine needed a "dignified" peace and a guarantee that Russia, which invaded his country in 2022, would not attack again.
Germany said earlier on Saturday that it would host U.S. and Ukrainian delegations over the weekend for talks on a ceasefire in Ukraine, before a summit involving European leaders and Zelensky in Berlin on Monday.
US says Belarus could release remaining political prisoners in months
US President Donald Trump's envoy John Coale said on Saturday that around 1,000 remaining political prisoners in Belarus could be released, hopefully in one big group, in the coming months.
"I think it's more than possible that we can do that, I think it's probable ... We are on the right track, the momentum is there," Coale told Reuters after Belarus freed 123 prisoners earlier on Saturday.
Ukraine says Russian drone hit Turkish cargo vessel in Black Sea
Ukraine accused Russia of striking a Turkish vessel transporting sunflower oil in the Black Sea, a day after a Russian attack triggered a fire on a Turkish-owned ship at a Ukrainian port.
"Russia delivered a targeted strike using a drone against the Turkish vessel 'VIVA', which was en route to Egypt carrying sunflower oil," Ukraine's navy said on social media, adding that none of the 11 crew were wounded and the ship was able to continue its journey.
Millions in Ukraine lose power after Russian drone and missile attacks
In Ukraine, Russia launched overnight drone and missile strikes on five Ukrainian regions, targeting energy and port infrastructure. Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said that over a million people were without electricity.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia had sent over 450 drones and 30 missiles into Ukraine overnight.
An attack on the Black Sea city of Odesa caused grain silos to catch fire at the port, Ukrainian deputy prime minister and reconstruction minister Oleksiy Kuleba said. Two people were wounded in attacks on the wider Odesa region, according to regional head Oleh Kiper.
Kyiv and its Western allies say Russia is trying to cripple the Ukrainian power grid and deny civilians access to heat, light and running water for a fourth consecutive winter, in what Ukrainian officials call “weaponizing” the cold.
Ukrainian drone attack kills 2 in Russia
A Ukrainian drone attack in southwestern Russia killed two people authorities said Saturday, as US-led peace talks on ending the war press on.
The drone attack damaged a residential building and several windows were also blown out at a kindergarten and clinic, said Saratov regional Governor Roman Busargin. Russia’s Defense Ministry said it had shot down 41 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory overnight.
Freed Kolesnikova urges release of all political prisoners
Belarus protest leader Maria Kolesnikova called for the release of all political prisoners on Saturday, hours after her shock release from prison more than five years after being jailed for opposing President Alexander Lukashenko.
"I'm thinking of those who are not yet free, and I'm very much looking forward to the moment when we can all embrace, when we can all see one another, and when we will all be free," she said in a video interview with a Ukrainian government agency, after being sent to Ukraine after being released.
An American among Belarus prisoner release, says US official
An American citizen was among the 123 people released from detention in Belarus on Saturday, a US official told AFP, without identifying the individual.
Hailing the prisoner release as "yet another testament to President Trump's leadership" and a "significant milestone in US-Belarus engagement," the official -- speaking on condition of anonymity -- thanked US ally Lithuania for helping facilitate the release, and called for Minsk to work toward resolving recent complaints by Vilnius.
Nobel committee demands release of all Belarus political prisoners
The Norwegian Nobel Committee is relieved by the release of Belarusian activist Ales Bialiatski, co-recipient of the 2022 Peace Prize, its chairman told AFP, calling for all other political prisoners to be similarly freed.
"The Norwegian Nobel Committee expresses its profound relief and heartfelt joy at the release of Ales Bialiatski," said Jorgen Watne Frydnes. "His freedom is a deeply welcome and long-awaited moment."
"At the same time, more than 1200 political prisoners remain behind bars in Belarus, and their continued detention starkly illustrates the ongoing, systemic repression in the country," he added. The "Committee calls on the Belarusian authorities to release all political prisoners."
Freed Nobel laureate Bialiatski says 'fight continues'
Nobel committee expresses 'relief', 'heartfelt joy' at release of prize winner Bialiatski
The Norwegian Nobel Committee expressed "profound relief and heartfelt joy" at the release of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski from prison in Belarus, it said in a statement on Saturday.
"His freedom is a deeply welcome and long-awaited moment... The Norwegian Nobel Committee calls on the Belarusian authorities to release all political prisoners and to guarantee that Ales Bialiatski and other human rights defenders can live and work freely, without fear of renewed persecution."
Ukraine says it received 114 prisoners from Belarus
Ukraine received 114 prisoners released by Belarus on Saturday, Kyiv's POW coordination centre said, including Ukrainian citizens accused of working for Ukrainian intelligence and Belarusian political prisoners.
The centre's statement said that the released captives would receive medical attention, and those Belarusian citizens who so wished would subsequently be transported to Poland or Lithuania.
The centre posted photos appearing to show the released captives boarding a bus, with some of them smiling and embracing.
"After receiving necessary medical care and if they so wish, the released citizens of Belarus will be transported to Poland and Lithuania," Kyiv's prisoner of war coordination centre said in a statement, adding 114 of the 123 people freed were now in Ukraine.
Speaking in Vilnius, a spokesman for exiled Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya told AFP they were "unexpectedly" sent to Ukraine rather than Lithuania, a decision taken by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
Bialiatski in Lithuania after Belarus release, US embassy says
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski and eight other prisoners are in Lithuania after being released by Belarus on Saturday, while a larger group went to Ukraine, the U.S. embassy in Vilnius said.
Read more - How Russia is shipping liquefied natural gas to China
A cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia's Portovaya plant was delivered to the Beihai terminal in China on December 8. This marks the first delivery since the facility was placed under US sanctions in January 2025. The development highlights deepening China-Russia energy ties as Moscow seeks to increase its LNG exports and secure revenue to fund its war in Ukraine.
Opposition leader Viktor Babariko freed, rights group says
Belarus on Saturday freed jailed opposition leader Viktor Babariko in a major release of political prisoners, the Viasna rights group said.
"Viktor Babariko is free," the group said in a post on social media, following confirmation that protest leader Maria Kolesnikova and Nobel Prize Winner Ales Bialiatski had also been released in the US-brokered deal.
Babariko was a major challenger to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko before being jailed ahead of 2020 elections which rights groups and independent monitors widely decried as rigged, triggering mass protests across the country, a close ally of Russia.
Zelensky says five Ukrainians released by Belarus in US-brokered deal
Five Ukrainians were among the prisoners released by Belarus in a US-brokered deal on
Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, expressing gratitude to Washington for aiding their release.
"Thanks to the active role of the United States and the cooperation of our intelligence services, about a hundred people, including five Ukrainians, are now being released," Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
"We are assisting our American partners to ensure that Ukraine receives the appropriate assistance."
Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski among prisoners released under US-Belarus deal
Belarusian authorities have released Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski and key opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova from prison, Pavel Sapelka, human rights advocate with the Viasna rights group.
Their release comes as authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko seeks to improve relations with Washington. The US earlier on Saturday announced lifting sanctions on the country’s potash sector. In exchange for sanctions relief, Lukashenko pardoned 123 prisoners, the Belta state news agency reported.
Earlier Saturday, the United States said it was lifting sanctions on Belarusian potash in the latest sign of a thaw between Washington and the isolated autocracy.
Belarusian Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski, head of the Viasna human rights group, sits in a defendants' cage in a court in Minsk, Belarus, on January 5, 2023. 📸Vitaly Pivovarchyk, via AP
Belarusian opposition figure Kalesnikava freed by authorities, along with 122 other prisoners under deal with US
Opposition politician Maria Kalesnikava has been freed from prison in Belarus after serving more than five years, independent news outlet Zerkalo cited her sister Tatsiana Khomich as saying on Saturday.
Khomich said she had spoken to Kalesnikava by phone, the outlet reported. Lukashenko on Saturday pardoned 123 prisoners in return for a lifting of U.S. sanctions on Belarusian potash, his administration's Telegram channel said.
It said those pardoned were from various countries and had been convicted of crimes including espionage, terrorism and extremism.
US says it will lift some trade sanctions on Belarus
The United States will lift sanctions on Belarusian potash in the latest sign of a thaw between Washington and the isolated autocracy.
John Coale, the US special envoy for Belarus, met the country’s authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko for talks in the Belarusian capital of Minsk on Friday and Saturday.
A close ally of Russia, Minsk has faced Western isolation and sanctions for years. Lukashenko has ruled the nation of 9.5 million with an iron fist for more than three decades, and the country has been repeatedly sanctioned by Western countries both for its crackdown on human rights and for allowing Moscow to use its territory in the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The EU indefinitely froze Russian assets in Europe so that Hungary and Slovakia, both run by Moscow-friendly governments, cannot prevent any of the roughly €210 billion from being used to support Ukraine
The US plan to end the war in Ukraine envisions Kyiv joining the EU in January 2027, a senior official said.
Ukraine said it had recaptured two settlements in the northern Kharkiv region and pushed Russian troops back in Kupiansk.
