In an interview published this Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin insisted Russia will seize Ukraine's Donbas region by force unless Ukrainian troops withdraw, a demand flatly rejected by Kyiv.
Kyiv's top commander Oleksandr Syrskyi affirmed that Ukrainian forces continue to hold positions in the northern part of Pokrovsk, showing resilience on the frontline.
Meanwhile, the European Commission has proposed an unprecedented plan to tap into frozen Russian assets or borrow on international markets to fund Ukraine's military needs and basic services.
- Russian strikes left tens of thousands without power and heating in Kherson and Odesa after night-time attacks.
- Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova claimed Ukrainian attacks on oil tankers aim to derail peace talks.
- Discussions in Beijing between Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron included the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
- Türkiye urged all parties to protect energy infrastructure and keep supplies flowing.
- US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Ukrainian officials in Miami, followed by a debrief seen as very useful by Putin.
As winter deepens and the conflict nears its fourth year, global actors are scrambling to support Ukraine and seek a path to peace. With stakes this high, every move on the diplomatic and military chessboard matters.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
