Finland assumed the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) on Wednesday, January 1. The country will focus on upholding OSCE principles and supporting Ukraine, according to a press release on the OSCE website.

“Today, we face an unprecedented need to defend this collectively agreed security order. As the Helsinki Final Act marks its 50th anniversary, Finland will consistently stress the principles outlined in this founding document of the OSCE,” Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen emphasized.

According to her, in times when Russia challenges the foundations of common security, all must stand up in their defense and “stand tall”.

The statement highlighted that Finland prioritizes ways to strengthen the resilience of OSCE participating states. Additionally, Finland will center its work on Ukraine, with support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence remaining a key focus for the OSCE.

“The fund aims to improve the channeling and use of voluntary contributions for work aligned with the OSCE principles, while also fostering interaction between donors and beneficiaries. The fund will also strengthen civil society,” Valtonen noted.

OSCE Ministerial Council meeting

From December 4 to 5, the 31st annual OSCE Ministerial Council meeting took place in Malta. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also attended. It was his first visit to an EU country since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

At that meeting, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha did not listen to Lavrov’s speech, having left the OSCE plenary session before his Russian counterpart began speaking. Several foreign ministers and diplomats followed Kuleba’s example and also left the hall.

As of today, the transit of Russian gas through Ukrainian territory to Europe has dropped to zero. This has become one of Moscow’s biggest defeats, according to a statement from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“When (Russian President Vladimir – ed.) Putin was given power in Russia more than 25 years ago, the annual gas transit through Ukrainian territory to Europe amounted to 130+ billion cubic meters. Today, Russian gas transit is zero. This is one of Moscow’s biggest defeats,” emphasized Zelenskyy.

He explained that turning energy resources into weapons and cynically using energy blackmail against partners is what deprived Russia of its most attractive and geographically most accessible market.

The President noted that most European countries have successfully adapted to the changes associated with the energy transformation.

He stressed that the current common task is to support Moldova in this process. At the same time, he said, it is important to resist the pressure of some European politicians who, instead of transparent energy policies, continue to choose cooperation with Moscow’s mafia schemes.

“We also hope for an increase in American gas supplies to Europe, as President Trump has already mentioned. Cooperation and maximum offers from partners in the market will help make prices more comfortable,” he emphasized.

At the end of his statement, Zelenskyy summarized that the more gas there is on the market from real European partners, the sooner the last negative consequences of Europe’s energy dependence on Russia will be overcome.

Cessation of Russian gas transit through Ukraine

From January 1, 2025, Ukraine has stopped the transit of Russian gas to Europe, ending its contract with Gazprom.

Ukraine shut off the gas valve on January 1 at 07:00 AM Kyiv time, depriving Moscow of approximately $5-7 billion in annual revenue. This occurred immediately after the expiration of the five-year contract between Naftogaz and Gazprom.

The European Union had prepared for this scenario in advance by developing alternative supply routes and infrastructure for liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports, ensuring the stability of energy supply in the region.

We have already covered how the cessation of transit will affect Europe.

Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, visited Ukrainian defenders in the Kursk direction. He awarded soldiers for their bravery and contributions to the fight against Russia, according to Syrskyi.

“During my work in the Kursk direction, I awarded our brave soldiers. The heroic actions of Ukrainian troops forced the enemy to maintain a significant force in their territory and deploy reserves from other directions,” Syrskyi emphasized.

He explained that due to the resilience and bravery of Ukrainian soldiers, the enemy losses in the Kursk direction amounted to over 38,000 personnel and more than 1,000 pieces of equipment.

“On December 30, 189 more Ukrainians returned from captivity. This is also your (referring to troops in the Kursk direction – ed.) contribution, as during operations in this direction, our exchange fund has grown by more than 700 captives,” he added.

Kursk operation

In August 2024, Ukrainian forces launched a counteroffensive operation in the Kursk region. This marked the first major offensive operation on Russian territory since the full-scale invasion began.

Ukrainian troops crossed the border near the town of Sudzha and advanced deep into the Kursk region, capturing significant territories and disorganizing Russian units.

During the early months of the operation, the Ukrainian Armed Forces inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. According to Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, over the three months of fighting, Russia’s losses amounted to about 21,000 soldiers, including over 7,000 killed and 717 captured.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine would hold the captured Russian territories until it forces Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table.

The operation also had strategic importance, compelling the Russian command to cancel plans for offensives on several Ukrainian cities.

According to the General Staff, as of the morning of January 1, Ukrainian Defense Forces have advanced near Kreminna and in the Kursk region.