Joanna Kakisis

Zelensky said Europe loves to talk about the future but avoids taking action today.

And he said Europe has not faced the reality of the changing world order.

Zelensky asked, what if Russia attacked a NATO country?

He said Europe must learn how to defend itself and that Ukraine will help.

Zelensky has suggested forming a European armed force of up to three million troops.

Joanna Kakisis, NPR News, Kyiv.

Writing on social media, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said energy imports will be increased and he is considering lifting midnight curfews so people can access shelters.

Kyiv is among the hardest hit areas with power outages lasting more than 12 hours at a time.

Kirill Budanov is 39, a career soldier with a resting poker face.

He has received training from the CIA.

He has served since 2020 as Ukraine's head of military intelligence, transforming the agency into an effective tool of sabotage inside Russia and Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory.

Budanova has led covert operations, worked on prisoner exchanges, and survived alleged Russian assassination attempts.

Recent surveys also show him as a potential presidential challenger to Zelensky.

The previous chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, was forced to resign in November over a corruption scandal.

Yerimak had served as Ukraine's chief negotiator during peace talks.

Joanna Kekises, NPR News, Kiev.

Zelensky wrote on social media that, quote, a lot can be decided before the new year.

Territorial issues remain the most sensitive.

Earlier this week, Zelensky said he was open to withdrawing Ukrainian troops from the eastern region of Donbass, as long as Russia also pulled back its troops.

Ukraine controls about a quarter of this region.