LONDON — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned in an tackle on Wednesday that Russia is getting ready “the approaching yr as a yr of warfare,” 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 supposed “not just for us.”
“It will be important that companions see this,” Zelenskyy added. “And it’s important that they not solely see it, but in addition reply, specifically companions in america of America, who usually say that Russia supposedly desires to finish the warfare. However solely completely different rhetoric and completely different alerts are coming from Russia.”
Zelenskyy mentioned an upcoming summit in Brussels to debate the usage of frozen Russian property to assist Ukraine was “vital,” and that the end result of the talks “should be such that Russia feels that its need to proceed the warfare subsequent yr is unnecessary, as a result of Ukraine could have assist. This relies a hundred percent on Europe, it’s Europe that should make this alternative.”
Zelenskyy arrived in Brussels on Thursday morning.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and Chief of the Basic Workers 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 confused the importance of Thursday’s assembly.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that both the European Union would agree on “cash [for Ukraine] right now or blood tomorrow.”
European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen mentioned in a submit to X, “We’ve got one final aim: peace for Ukraine by 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 the 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 skilled in Western navy facilities and outfitted with trendy international know-how and weapons.”
Putin mentioned the goals of what the Kremlin calls its “particular navy operation” will likely be achieved both by diplomacy or by navy drive.
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 popular to do that and remove the basis causes of the battle by diplomacy,” Putin mentioned. “If the opposing facet and their international patrons refuse to have interaction in substantive talks, Russia will obtain the liberation of its historic lands by navy means.”
The Russian president once more sought to border Ukraine’s European companions as being chargeable for the elongation of the warfare, which Moscow launched in February 2022. The Kremlin has continued to wage its warfare regardless of a number of rounds of diplomacy geared 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 in regards to the present management of most European nations.”
Putin even referred to European leaders as “little pigs” in his Wednesday feedback, and was additionally vital 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 photograph, taken on Dec. 16, 2025 and offered by Ukraine’s 93rd Kholodnyi Yar Separate Mechanized Brigade press service, troopers journey a quad bike close to Kostyantynivka, Donetsk area.
Iryna Rybakova/AP
Ukraine’s air drive 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 places, the air drive mentioned.
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service mentioned six individuals had been injured by a drone strike within the ️Cherkasy area, as had been three individuals within the Dnipropetrovsk area.
Russia’s Protection Ministry mentioned its forces downed at the very least 77 Ukrainian drones from Wednesday evening into Thursday morning.
ABC Information’ Oleksiy Pshemyskiy, Othon Leyva and Tom Soufi Burridge contributed to this report.
