LONDON — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned on Tuesday that he believes the U.S. “desires to achieve a closing settlement,” to finish the battle in Ukraine, with Kyiv providing its full backing for a peace deal.
“We sense that America desires to achieve a closing settlement, and from our aspect, there may be full cooperation,” Zelenskyy mentioned. “Ukraine has by no means been, and can by no means be, an impediment to peace.”
Ukraine and Russia continued their nightly alternate of long-range drones in a single day into Wednesday. Russia’s Protection Ministry mentioned on Wednesday that its forces downed no less than 195 Ukrainian drones, together with 5 over Moscow area of which two had been “flying towards” the capital.
Russia’s federal air transport company, Rosaviatsiya, mentioned flight restrictions had been launched at two of Moscow’s 4 worldwide airports — Domodedovo and Vnukovo — throughout the assaults. Restrictions had been additionally put in place at airports in Volgograd, Yaroslavl, Orenburg, Ufa and Orsk, Rosaviatsiya mentioned.
The Grand Kremlin Palace and church buildings are seen behind the Kremlin Wall in Moscow, Russia, on Dec. 8, 2025.
Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP
Ukraine’s air power, in the meantime, mentioned Russia launched 116 drones into the nation in a single day, of which 60 had been shot down or suppressed. Forty-eight drones impacted throughout 19 areas, the air power mentioned.
On Tuesday evening, Zelenskyy mentioned Ukrainian restore crews had been working to revive energy after a serious Russian drone and missile strike on Monday evening. “All through the day, restore crews have been working at vitality amenities — placing in most effort to make sure that Ukrainians have electrical energy for Christmas,” Zelenskyy mentioned.
“After all, the Russians try to spoil this vacation, this sacred day, as nicely. No shock there,” Zelenskyy added.
Zelenskyy additionally supplied an replace on the progress of peace talks, after members of Ukraine’s negotiating staff met with U.S. officers over the weekend in Miami, Florida.
On this picture supplied by Ukraine’s sixty fifth Mechanized Brigade press service, recruits attend drills at a coaching floor within the Zaporizhzhia area, Ukraine, on Dec. 12, 2025.
Andriy Andriyenko/AP
The Ukrainian delegation “reported on the working drafts of agreements that exist already, and on factors of the agreements we’ve managed to strengthen,” on Tuesday, Zelenskyy mentioned.
On Monday, Zelenskyy mentioned the U.S. and Ukraine are working to agree on a 20-point peace plan, in addition to separate offers concerning safety ensures and an financial growth plan for Ukraine.
The negotiating groups “are very near an actual final result,” Zelenskyy added.
ABC Information’ Ellie Kaufman contributed to this report.
