By Anthony Deutsch and Stephanie van den Berg THE HAGUE, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Europe launched an International Claims Commission for Ukraine on Tuesday in an effort to ensure Kyiv is compensated for hundreds of billions of dollars in damage from Russian attacks and alleged war crimes.

As it tries to demonstrate its continuing ability to fight, Ukraine said it had used drones to inflict serious damage on a Russian Kilo-class submarine at a Black Sea port.

Germany is ramping up its military operations amid security concerns over the Russia-Ukraine war. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorious talked about the rearming on "60 Minutes." Isaac Stanley Becker,

Ukraine war at ‘major moment’ but allies must keep pressure up on Putin – Healey - The Defence Secretary was speaking at a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group.

Often left out by the United States in peace negotiations, European countries are working to assert their leadership and bolster Ukraine with an ambitious funding plan. But can they agree?

Kyiv has now expressed readiness to drop its bid to join the NATO military alliance if the U.S. and other Western nations give it similar security guarantees.

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump to offer ‘Nato-style security guarantee’ for Kyiv in bid to push Putin to peace - Ukraine’s top negotiator hailed progress in talks on Monday, compounding positive out