LONDON — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned in an deal with on Wednesday that Russia is getting ready “the approaching yr as a yr of battle,” regardless of ongoing U.S.-brokered peace talks to finish Moscow’s full-scale invasion of its neighbor.
Zelenskyy mentioned Russian President Vladimir Putin despatched “alerts” of Moscow’s aggressive intent in remarks made on Wednesday, saying the bellicose feedback had been meant “not just for us.”
“It can be crucial that companions see this,” Zelenskyy added. “And it’s important that they not solely see it, but additionally reply, specifically companions in the US of America, who usually say that Russia supposedly desires to finish the battle. However fully totally different rhetoric and totally different alerts are coming from Russia.”
Zelenskyy mentioned an upcoming summit in Brussels to debate the usage of frozen Russian property to help Ukraine was “necessary,” and that the end result of the talks “have to be such that Russia feels that its want to proceed the battle subsequent yr is not sensible, as a result of Ukraine could have help. This relies 100% on Europe, it’s Europe that should make this selection.”
Zelenskyy arrived in Brussels on Thursday morning.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and Chief of the Basic Employees Valery Gerasimov attend an expanded assembly of the Russian Defence Ministry Board on the Nationwide Defence Management Centre in Moscow, December 17, 2025.
Mikhail Tereshchenko/Sputnik through AFP through Getty Photographs
European chief burdened the importance of Thursday’s assembly.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that both the European Union would agree on “cash [for Ukraine] at the moment or blood tomorrow.”
European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen mentioned in a publish to X, “We’ve got one final aim: peace for Ukraine by means of energy.”
Zelenskyy additionally mentioned that extra talks are anticipated between U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators within the coming week.
Zelenskyy’s feedback had been prompted by remarks made by Putin on the Russian Protection Ministry’s annual assembly on Wednesday, the place the Russian chief claimed that his forces had “gained and firmly holds the strategic initiative throughout your complete entrance line.”
Putina added that Russian troops had been “confidently advancing and ‘grinding down’ the enemy, its teams and reserves, together with the so-called elite items and formations educated in Western army facilities and outfitted with fashionable overseas expertise and weapons.”
Putin mentioned the aims of what the Kremlin calls its “particular army operation” might be achieved both by means of diplomacy or by means of army power.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy listens throughout a press convention with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, on Dec. 15, 2025.
Maryam Majd/AP
“We most well-liked to do that and eradicate the basis causes of the battle by means of diplomacy,” Putin mentioned. “If the opposing facet and their overseas patrons refuse to interact in substantive talks, Russia will obtain the liberation of its historic lands by army means.”
The Russian president once more sought to border Ukraine’s European companions as being liable for the elongation of the battle, which Moscow launched in February 2022. The Kremlin has continued to wage its battle regardless of a number of rounds of diplomacy aimed toward securing a ceasefire.
“We welcome the progress that has been made within the dialogue with the brand new U.S. administration,” Putin mentioned. “Sadly, the identical can’t be mentioned concerning the present management of most European international locations.”
Putin even referred to European leaders as “little pigs” in his Wednesday feedback, and was additionally important of the pro-Ukraine insurance policies of former President Joe Biden’s administration.
In the meantime, each Kyiv and Moscow continued their long-range strikes in a single day into Thursday.
On this picture, taken on Dec. 16, 2025 and offered by Ukraine’s 93rd Kholodnyi Yar Separate Mechanized Brigade press service, troopers trip a quad bike close to Kostyantynivka, Donetsk area.
Iryna Rybakova/AP
Ukraine’s air power mentioned Russia launched 82 drones into the nation in its newest barrage, of which 63 had been shot down or suppressed. Nineteen strike drones impacted throughout 12 areas, the air power mentioned.
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service mentioned six folks had been injured by a drone strike within the ️Cherkasy area, as had been three folks within the Dnipropetrovsk area.
Russia’s Protection Ministry mentioned its forces downed a minimum of 77 Ukrainian drones from Wednesday night time into Thursday morning.
ABC Information’ Oleksiy Pshemyskiy, Othon Leyva and Tom Soufi Burridge contributed to this report.
