Ukraine War at the Border: Russian drones struck a Kyiv–Warsaw rail line near Poland, hitting a locomotive moments after a “diplomatic train” carrying Boris Johnson and EU security advisers cleared the area, prompting EU condemnation and fresh warnings from Poland that escalation could spill over. Ukraine’s Winter Crunch: Kyiv says intensified strikes are crippling the economy, with GDP projected to fall and critical infrastructure and grain exports under pressure. EU Support Politics: The European Parliament is set to debate urgent EU backing for Ukraine as leaders push for continued air and missile defence funding. Canada–EU Pivot: Mark Carney is exploring an “associate member” status for Canada as US trade tensions deepen, while a Canadian source denies any EU membership push “in any capacity.” EU Sanctions Tensions: France is reportedly backing efforts to remove Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov from EU sanctions, a move that could test unity ahead of renewals. Trade and Tariffs: Trump says he will remove a 15% tariff on Irish whiskey, while economists warn his broader trade war could backfire. Kosovo Government: Albin Kurti was re-elected prime minister after a presidential deadlock, with EU membership reforms tied to stable institutions. Tech and AI: Anthropic’s CEO urges slower AI development as Europe and the US debate how to regulate fast-moving systems.