Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s refusal to negotiate peace. Putin reiterated demands for Kyiv to accept territorial concessions and demilitarization—a position Ukraine has consistently rejected.
Speaking during his annual news conference in Moscow on December 2025, Putin claimed Russian forces have “fully seized strategic initiative” along the eastern front, portraying Moscow as holding the upper hand nearly three years into the conflict. Meanwhile, Ukrainian military leadership carried out a drone strike targeting an Oman-flagged tanker identified by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) as part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” in the Mediterranean Sea.
The SBU confirmed that the vessel was empty at the time of the attack and described it as a legitimate military target under international law. The European Union has approved a $100 billion aid package for Ukraine, structured as an interest-free loan backed by EU funds to support military operations over the next two years.
However, proposals to use frozen Russian assets to finance Ukrainian defense have been rejected due to internal divisions within the bloc. Putin warned that Moscow would retaliate against Ukraine’s actions, signaling heightened tensions in the ongoing conflict.
