On the evening of December 19, 2025, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko addressed the nation with a determined message: the government was moving swiftly to restore vital transport links in the Odesa region after a devastating Russian drone attack. Just a day earlier, Russian forces had targeted the bridges over the Dniester near Mayaki on the M15 highway—a key artery connecting Odesa and Reni, and, by extension, Odesa and Moldova. The strikes forced the closure of the Odesa–Reni route and left border checkpoints in the Palanca area operating only partially. Traffic was rerouted through alternative borders, leading to significant delays and straining the region’s already burdened infrastructure, according to Radio Liberty.
In her evening address, Sviridenko laid out the Ukrainian government’s operational steps: restoring the main bridge between Odesa and Izmail, ensuring feasible alternative routes, and coordinating closely with international partners to stabilize transportation logistics. She reassured citizens that the region was equipped with the resources necessary for humanitarian stability and emphasized that no significant price fluctuations—especially for fuel—were anticipated. "The government ensures the stability of the banking and payment systems, simplifies conditions for passenger transportation, primarily for bus services, and at the same time expands the capacity of railway transport, paying attention to the uninterrupted operation of business," Sviridenko stated, as reported by Radio Liberty.
Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba has been tasked with coordinating these efforts, working hand in hand with local authorities to guarantee citizen safety and the rapid restoration of transport connectivity. The head of the oblast, Oleh Kiper, confirmed that the elimination of the consequences of the strikes on the transport bridge near Mayaki was ongoing, with teams working around the clock. The aim: to reconnect communities, keep businesses running, and ensure that daily life can continue despite the shadow of conflict. The government’s message was clear—resilience and adaptability would be the order of the day.
But Ukraine’s struggle to maintain its infrastructure is only one front in a much broader battle. On December 20, 2025, eight European Union leaders met in Helsinki and issued a powerful joint declaration: defending Europe’s eastern flank is now an “immediate” priority for the EU in the face of the ongoing Russian threat. The leaders of Sweden, Finland, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, and Bulgaria—all NATO member states—signed the statement, which called for a “coordinated and multi-domain operational approach.” Their plan includes strengthening ground combat capabilities, drone defense, air and missile defense, border and critical infrastructure protection, as well as improving military mobility and counter-mobility, according to RTP and Denys Shmyhal's Telegram channel.
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo did not mince words at the press conference. “Russia remains a threat today, tomorrow and in the foreseeable future for the whole of Europe,” he declared. The leaders’ final declaration pointed to Russia’s ongoing “hybrid operations and acts of sabotage against Europe,” calling Moscow the “most significant, direct and long-term threat to our security and to peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area.” The statement also referenced Russia’s strategic goals, which, according to the leaders, remain unchanged: “to create a buffer zone stretching from the Arctic region through the Baltic and Black Seas to the Mediterranean.”
Belarus, Russia’s close ally, was not spared criticism. The declaration accused Belarus of participating in hybrid warfare tactics, underscoring the need to strengthen Europe’s resilience and defense. The European leaders called on the EU to play a bigger role in supporting member states’ efforts to bolster their defense capabilities. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson highlighted this point, saying, “The EU can play an important role in supporting member states' individual efforts to strengthen their defence capabilities by defining financing, by simplifying regulations and strengthening military mobility.” He added, “The EU and NATO have obviously different important but very complementary roles in relation to the eastern flank.”
The urgency of these calls to action is not theoretical. The past months have seen a series of alarming incidents. In September 2025, Russia sent a swarm of drones into Polish airspace, prompting a scramble of Polish and NATO fighter jets. Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the incursion as posing “a direct threat” to his nation. NATO responded by launching Operation Eastern Sentry, designed to reinforce the bloc’s attack and defense capabilities along the eastern edge of Europe. Barely a week later, three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets—capable of carrying Kinzhal hypersonic missiles—entered Estonian airspace and circled for about 12 minutes before being intercepted by Italian F-35s under NATO command. And just last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov issued a veiled threat to Finland, warning of consequences if the country did not leave NATO.
These provocations, coupled with the attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure, have galvanized European leaders. Their Helsinki declaration is among the strongest collective rebukes of Russian aggression since Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago. The sense of urgency is palpable: Europe must act now, or risk further destabilization and the erosion of its security architecture.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is not just fighting on the battlefield and rebuilding bridges—it is also engaged in high-stakes diplomacy. Backed by European countries, Kyiv is negotiating a peace plan with the United States. On December 19, President Volodymyr Zelensky signaled cautious optimism, stating that a “very workable” draft peace plan could be finalized in the coming days. “The Americans are trying to find a compromise,” Zelensky said, adding that the plan was discussed in Berlin with American officials. The US indicated that consensus had been reached on about 90% of the peace plan as of December 15, 2025, according to Denys Shmyhal's Telegram channel.
Still, critical issues remain unresolved. Chief among them is the fate of Ukrainian territory captured by Russian forces, particularly in the Donbas region. Zelensky was unequivocal: Kyiv will not recognize Russian control over any part of Donbas. He also addressed reports of a proposed “free economic zone” in the region, clarifying, “A ‘free economic zone’ does not mean under the control of the Russian Federation.” The draft peace plan, if finalized, will be presented to the Kremlin before further possible meetings in the US next weekend.
As Ukraine works to repair bridges and restore essential services, and as European leaders rally to fortify the continent’s eastern flank, the stakes could hardly be higher. The outcome of these efforts—both on the ground and at the negotiating table—will shape the future of Europe’s security and Ukraine’s sovereignty for years to come.