Zelensky after meetings with EU leaders: 'Working to send updated peace plan to US tomorrow'

Volodymyr Zelensky hopes to be able to transmit to the United States tomorrow an updated plan for ending the war with Russia, after the 'corrections' made in recent hours at meetings with European leaders. 'We are working today and will continue tomorrow,' the Ukrainian president said, speaking to reporters who asked him when he planned to transmit the plan, reduced to 20 points, to the Americans. 'I think we will deliver it tomorrow.

Envoys of the US president, Donald Trump, have given the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, 'days' to respond to a proposed peace deal that would require Ukraine to accept territorial losses in exchange for unspecified US security guarantees. The Financial Times writes. The Ukrainian president told his European counterparts that he was pressed during a two-hour call on Saturday by Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the US president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to make a quick decision. A person familiar with the proposed timeline in Kiev said Trump hoped for a deal 'by Christmas'.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Italy 'for the package of energy aid and necessary equipment: these are precisely the tools that will support Ukrainian families, our people, our children and daily life in our cities and communities, which continue to suffer constant attacks from Russia'. "We must protect human lives. Thank you, Italy!" he added on X.

"We appreciate Italy's active role in generating concrete ideas and defining measures to bring peace closer. I informed Meloni about the work of our negotiating team and we are coordinating our diplomatic efforts". This was written by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a post on X, commenting on his meeting with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at Palazzo Chigi.

"I met in Rome with the President of the Italian Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni. We had an excellent and very concrete discussion on all aspects of the diplomatic situation. We appreciate Italy's active role in generating concrete ideas and defining measures to bring peace closer. I informed you about the work of our negotiating team and we are coordinating our diplomatic efforts. We count a lot on Italy's continued support: it is important for Ukraine'. This was written on social networks by the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, after being received at Palazzo Chigi by the premier. "I would also like," Zelensky adds, "to express my gratitude for the energy aid package and the necessary equipment: these are precisely the tools that will support Ukrainian families, our people, our children and daily life in our cities and communities, which continue to suffer constant attacks from Russia. We must protect human lives. Thank you, Italy!" the Ukrainian leader concluded. The meeting between Meloni and Zelensky lasted about an hour and a half.

At least two people were killed in Russian drone attacks in the Ukrainian region of Sumy. On Telegram, the head of the region's military administration, Oleh Hryhorov, denounced 'Russian drone attacks that killed two civilians along the border area of Sumy district' and hit the area of 'Myropillia, where a 73-year-old man was killed in a deliberate enemy attack on a civilian car', and the area of 'Krasnopillia, where an enemy drone attacked another vehicle'. Here, a 61-year-old man died and a female person was injured.

"We will not do in Ukraine what others did in Afghanistan. We will continue to support Ukraine". This was said by the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, at a press conference in Dublin with the Irish Prime Minister, Micheàl Martin. "We were strong during the Covid. We are strong in supporting development and we are strong enough to support Ukraine. And, when others have doubts about what they should do, whether to continue supporting Ukraine or to give up, we continue. And we maintain our unwavering support' to Kiev, he stressed.

"The Donbass used to be part of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic but Lenin changed his mind and ceded it to Ukraine, it is a historical territory" of Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting of the Presidential Council for Human Rights at which he spoke via video conference.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently left Palazzo Chigi, at the end of his meeting with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The face-to-face meeting lasted about an hour and a half.

The meeting between Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky concluded at Palazzo Chigi. The bilateral meeting lasted about an hour and a half.

"We are working very actively on all components of possible measures to end the war. The Ukrainian and European components have already been worked out in more detail and we are ready to present them to our partners in America'. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote this on X. "Together with the American side, we expect to make the possible measures as feasible as soon as possible," he added.

Russia will bring the war in Ukraine to 'its logical conclusion', 'achieving its goals', Russian President Vladimir Putin said today.

"We will certainly take this matter to its logical conclusion, achieving the objectives of the special military operation," Putin said at a meeting of the Council for Civil Society and Human Rights.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in afternoon talks with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, wrote on his Telegram channel that Kiev is interested in 'genuine peace and we are in constant contact with the United States'.

"Everything depends on whether or not Russia is ready to take concrete steps to stop the bloodshed and prevent the war from flaring up again. In the near future we will be ready to send the revised documents to the US," Zelensky concluded.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, while concluding talks with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, wrote on his Telegram channel that 'today we have already discussed with our negotiating team the results of the work done in London, in view of the meeting between the national security advisors of the European partners. This is precisely what we had agreed on yesterday at leader level'.

'I am always ready for elections'. This was Volodymyr Zelensky's answer to a question from Il Messaggero, Repubblica and Il Fatto, on Donald Trump's attack that the Ukrainian president is 'using war not to call elections'. Then, just before going to Palazzo Chigi for a meeting with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Zelensky said: 'I trust her, she will help us'.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has just arrived at Palazzo Chigi, where he was welcomed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. On the sidelines of the square there was a flash mob promoted by representatives of Più Europa, who displayed 27 EU flags together with that of Ukraine, greeting Zelensky's arrival with the chorus 'Slava Ukraini'. Bilateral talks between Meloni and Zelensky are scheduled to begin shortly.

When he took his leave this morning after a conversation lasting about half an hour, Leo also wished "Merry Christmas" to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who at that point, even more emotional than he had appeared when he sat down at his desk and later during the traditional exchange of gifts, replied: "I really hope it is", accompanying the sentence with a clenching of his fist, as if to give himself strength. The two conversed in English, the Pontiff's mother tongue.

In his interview with Politico, US President Donald Trump told 'the truth about European leaders'. This was written on X Kirill Dmitriev head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, and influential member of the Russian negotiating team in the Ukraine peace talks. Dmitriev shared passages from Trump's interview where the tycoon said European leaders are "destroying their countries". "I think they are weak, but I also think they want to be so politically correct...Europe doesn't know what to do," another thought Trump shared with Dmitriev.

Donald Trump 'tells the TRUTH about European leaders'. Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian presidential adviser on foreign investment and negotiator with the US, wrote this on X regarding the US president's interview with Politico. Dmitriev specifically quotes some of Trump's phrases, including: "I think they are weak, but I also think they want to be politically correct..., Europe does not know what to do". In the interview, the White House chief also said that on Ukraine the Europeans "talk, but do not produce (results), and the war simply continues"

"I think it is an important time to call elections. They are using the war not to call elections, but I think the Ukrainian people should have that choice. And maybe Zelensky would win. I don't know who would win. But they haven't had elections for a long time." Donald Trump said this in an interview with Politico. "They talk about democracy, but you get to a point where it's no longer a democracy," he added

"I will refrain from commenting on these statements, except to confirm that we are very proud and grateful to have excellent leaders, starting with the leader of this institution, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. We are very proud of those who lead us in addressing the many challenges the world presents us with'. This was said by EU Commission spokeswoman Paula Pinho when asked at the daily press briefing about Trump's words that the EU is a group of declining nations led by weak people. "The sentiment of millions of Europeans is clear: we are proud of our leaders."

European leaders 'I think they are weak'. So said US President Donald Trump in an interview with Politico, adding however: 'I think they want to be politically correct'. 'I think they don't know what to do, Europe doesn't know what to do,' he added. 'There is no doubt about it. It is Russia. It's a much bigger country. It's a war that should never have happened,' he then responded when asked which country is currently in a stronger negotiating position.

"The US strategic plan did not surprise me in substance," said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, answering journalists' questions at a press conference in Mainz. "The most important issue is that we in Europe and Germany have to become much more independent from the US. And this is not a surprise, it is now documented," he added

"I have invited the Pope to visit Ukraine. This will be a strong signal of support for our people". Thus Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Telegram after his meeting with the Pontiff. "Ukraine greatly appreciates," says the Ukrainian leader, "all the support of Pope Leo XIV and the Holy See: the constant humanitarian assistance and the readiness to expand the presence of humanitarian missions. I informed the Pope of the diplomatic work with the United States to achieve peace. We talked about further efforts and the Vatican's mediation for the return of our children, kidnapped by Russia"

The Lithuanian government has declared a state of national emergency over security risks posed by 'weather balloons' from Belarus that have violated Lithuanian airspace in recent weeks. Tensions rose after the balloons forced Lithuania to repeatedly close its main airport, leaving thousands of people stranded. The authorities regard the balloon launches as 'deliberate acts of destabilisation'. Lithuania is a Nato member and a strong supporter of Ukraine in its fight against Russian forces.

'In countering the Belarusian hybrid attack, we must take the strictest measures and defend the areas most affected by this attack,' said Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene.

Hungary 'protects its energy supplies' from Russia against 'attacks' by Kiev and the European Union. This was said by Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto on a visit to Moscow. "We must continuously protect oil and gas supplies from attacks by Kiev and Brussels," said Szijjarto, quoted by Tass, "Brussels' attacks on us are done in a legal, legal sense. Our oil and gas infrastructure is physically attacked by Kiev'.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has named candidates for the post of head of the presidential office, following the resignation of his former chief of staff Andriy Yermak at the end of November following his involvement in a corruption scandal. Among them - reports the Kiev Indpendent - are Denys Shmyhal, former premier and currently Defence Minister, Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov , deputy head of the presidential office and former commander Pavlo Palisa, and Sergiy Kyslytsya, first deputy foreign minister and one of Ukraine's main negotiators.

"The best choice is to get Zelensky and Putin to sit at the peace table, this is the first effort to make, reassuring Zelensky and telling Russia that we are not at war with Russia". This was said by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, arriving at the Conesercenti assembly, speaking about the conflict in Ukraine.

Pope Leo and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky just appeared together from the balcony of Villa Barberini at the end of a conversation that lasted about half an hour. The two greeted journalists and photographers without making comments

The war in Ukraine was the focus of talks between Pope Leo XVI and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, received this morning at Castel Gandolfo.

"During the cordial conversation, which centred on the war in Ukraine," reports a bulletin from the Holy See press office, "the Holy Father reiterated the need to continue dialogue and renewed the pressing hope that the diplomatic initiatives underway could lead to a just and lasting peace. Furthermore, there was no lack of reference to the issue of prisoners of war and the need to ensure the return of Ukrainian children to their families'.

Japan has rejected the European Union's proposal to join the Brussels initiative to use frozen Russian state assets to provide financial support to Ukraine. Politico writes. According to the media, at a virtual meeting of G7 finance ministers yesterday, Tokyo responded coldly to Brussels' request to apply European mechanisms for the transfer of the monetary value of Russian sovereign assets held at the Belgian Euroclear to Ukraine. Japan reportedly indicated that it would not be able to use some $30 billion of frozen Russian assets held on its territory to provide a loan to Ukraine, two EU diplomats briefed on the discussions told Politico. Per Politico, Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama ruled out the use of Russian assets due to legal problems. The European Commission hopes that the EU member states can reach an agreement on the use of up to EUR 210 billion of sanctioned Russian assets before the 18 December summit. However, the Belgian government, the state where these funds are deposited, opposes this for fear that Belgium may one day have to repay the entire amount if circumstances change and Russia demands the return of the funds. One of the conditions set by Belgium is then that other G7 countries outside the EU also provide Ukraine with loans financed by frozen Russian assets they hold in their jurisdictions. However, the US and Japan refused to join the Brussels proposal.

"Putin can only continue his brutal war of aggression against Ukraine because he can count on the support of third parties, including China. We expect China to use its influence on Russia to bring lasting peace to Ukraine'. This was stated by German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul during his visit to China, as reported by his ministry on X.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is currently entering Villa Barberini, the papal residence, in Castel Gandolfo for a confidential meeting with Pope Leo.

During a visit today to a command of Russian troops engaged in the conflict in Ukraine, the Chief of Staff of the Russian Army, Valery Gerasimov, announced that Moscow forces had taken control of three population centres east of the city of Pokrovsk in the Ukrainian Donetsk region. These are Rovnoye, Rog and Gnatovka. "As of today, units and formations of the Second Army have liberated the settlements of Rovnoye, Rog and Gnatovka, adjacent to Krasnoarmeysk, from the eastern side," Gerasimov, quoted by Tass, as saying, referring to Pokrovsk by the Russian name of Krasnoarmeysk. Furthermore, the Ministry of Defence, quoted by State TV, announced the capture of Orestopol, in the Dnipropetrovsk region

Ukraine will share a revised peace plan with the United States today after talks in London between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the leaders of France, Germany and Great Britain. This was reported by international media. The Ukrainian president said the updated plan now consists of 20 points compared to the previous 28, after some "obvious anti-Ukrainian points" were removed

President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Rome where he will first meet Pope Leo XIV and in the early afternoon Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. This was announced by presidential spokesman Serhiy Nikiforrov on Ukrainian public television Suspilne

The US is pressing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to accept President Donald Trump's peace plan. Two Ukrainian officials told the Axios website of the two-hour phone conversation the Ukrainian leader had last weekend with US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

An official claimed that the US plan would get worse from Kiev's point of view after Witkoff and Kushner met with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, last week in the Kremlin. The same source said that during the phone call the two US negotiators seemed to want a clear 'yes' from Zelensky to Trump's plan: 'It seemed that the US was trying to sell us in different ways the Russian desire to take the entire Donbass and that the Americans wanted Zelensky to agree to everything during the phone call'.

The Pope will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky this morning. The face-to-face meeting, it was learned yesterday evening, will take place around 9.30 a.m. at Castel Gandolfo. Pope Leo XIV and the Ukrainian president had already met in July at Castel Gandolfo on the sidelines of the Conference for the Reconstruction of Ukraine in Rome. On that occasion they discussed peace and humanitarian aid; the urgent need for a just and lasting peace was highlighted in the face-to-face meeting. Pope Leo reaffirmed the Vatican's readiness for negotiations.

German lawmakers are set to approve 29 military procurement contracts worth a record EUR 52 billion next week as part of the government's efforts to turn the Bundeswehr armed forces into Europe's strongest conventional army. Bloomberg reports. The orders cover a wide range of materials and services, including EUR 22 billion for basic military equipment and clothing, EUR 4.2 billion for Puma infantry fighting vehicles, EUR 3 billion for Arrow 3 interceptor missiles and air defence launchers, and EUR 1.6 billion for surveillance satellites. It will be both the largest number of large orders and the highest value of government contracts approved by the budget committee of the Bundestag lower house in a single closed session, Bloomberg writes, citing sources who asked not to be identified before an official announcement, adding that defence ministry spokesmen in Berlin did not respond to a request for comment. After the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Germany set aside decades of restrictions to finance the expansion of its armed forces.

Nine people, including a child, were injured in a Ukrainian drone attack in Cheboksary, capital of the Russian Volga republic of Chuvashia. This was said by the deputy prime minister of the republic, Vladimir Stepanov, quoted by Tass. Earlier the Moscow Defence Ministry had said that air defences intercepted during the night about a hundred Ukrainian drones on Russian territory. (