Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,395

On December 20, 2025, the 1,395th day of Russia's war on Ukraine, Russian attacks on Odesa killed seven and wounded 15, targeting port infrastructure with ballistic missiles and causing power outages. Russian forces also shelled the Dnipro region, damaging homes and infrastructure. Despite Russian claims, Ukraine regained control of most of Kupiansk. The EU agreed to provide Ukraine with a $105.5 billion loan for military and economic needs, funded by borrowing on capital markets. Putin blamed Zelenskyy for stalled truce negotiations due to territorial disputes and criticized Europe's plans for frozen Russian assets. US Secretary of State Rubio indicated progress in ceasefire talks but acknowledged challenges remain, emphasizing that only a negotiated settlement can end the war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Friday that Russian troops are advancing in Ukraine and that Russia will achieve its objectives militarily if Ukraine does not agree to Russia's terms in peace talks. Putin made the remarks during his annual news conference, claiming that Ukrainian forces are retreating across the entire front line. Meanwhile, the European Union has approved a loan of over $105 billion to Ukraine as the war continues. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the EU for the loan, stating that Ukraine is defending the future of the continent. The loan aims to support Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict.

In December 2025, Vladimir Putin addressed the war in Ukraine during his annual televised question and answer session. The event, broadcast from Russia, focused heavily on the ongoing conflict. Despite numerous questions regarding the future of the war, President Putin declined to comment on whether the conflict was nearing its end. The televised session offered no clear indication of Russia's intentions or timeline for the war in Ukraine. The reasons behind Putin's silence remain unspecified.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is urging the U.S. and allies to respond to Russia's "signals" that it is preparing for a prolonged war in 2024. Zelenskyy stated on Wednesday that Russia's actions contradict claims from the U.S. that Russia is interested in ending the conflict. He emphasized the need for security, financial, and political measures to counter Russia's intentions, including action on Russian assets. Zelenskyy warned that Russia's goals extend beyond Ukraine, potentially threatening other European nations. The statement comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin declared Russia will achieve its goals in Ukraine through either diplomacy or military force.

During his annual press conference in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia would not launch new military operations in other countries if treated with respect and if its interests are observed. He claimed Russia is open to peacefully ending the war in Ukraine but offered no specific compromises. Putin asserted that Russian troops are advancing along the front lines and that Russia will achieve its goals in Ukraine, especially if Ukraine does not agree to Russia's terms for peace. He also accused the West of deceiving Russia through NATO's eastward expansion. The press conference, which included questions from reporters and the public, focused heavily on the conflict in Ukraine.

Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) claimed responsibility for an underwater drone strike on a Russian Kilo-class submarine docked in Novorossiysk, Russia. The SBU stated the "Sub Sea Baby" drone critically damaged the submarine, which is equipped with Kalibr cruise missiles. The attack, a joint operation with the Ukrainian Navy, marks the first known underwater drone strike. The Novorossiysk base has become a refuge for Russia's fleet amid increased Ukrainian strikes on Sevastopol. While Russia denied any damage, Ukraine asserts the submarine was forced to remain in Novorossiysk due to previous Ukrainian operations. The strike occurred as Russia continues drone and missile attacks on Ukraine and as Ukrainian President Zelenskyy met with U.S. officials to discuss security guarantees.

EU leaders have agreed to provide Ukraine with a €90 billion interest-free loan for 2026-27 to address its military and economic needs. The decision was made after failing to reach an agreement on using frozen Russian assets to secure the loan. Instead, the funding will come from borrowing on capital markets, secured against the EU budget. Ukraine would only repay the loan if Russia pays reparations for the war, with the EU reserving the right to use frozen Russian assets for repayment if Russia fails to compensate. Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic will not contribute to the financing. EU governments and the European parliament will continue working on setting up a loan for Ukraine that would be based on the frozen Russian central bank assets.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told the BBC that Donald Trump's pressure on NATO members to increase defense spending to 5% of their economic output is his "biggest foreign policy success," strengthening the alliance. Rutte's comments come amid warnings that Russia could attack NATO allies within five years, though Putin dismissed these concerns as "nonsense." Putin reiterated that Russia's goals in Ukraine would be achieved, preferably through diplomacy, but by military means if necessary. Rutte also criticized Putin's pursuit of regaining access to Ukraine, which has resulted in significant casualties. He praised Trump's efforts to find an end to the war, including US envoys negotiating a peace plan that involves ceding territory to Russia and providing security guarantees to Ukraine.

BBC Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg questioned Vladimir Putin about Russia's future, including the possibility of further "special military operations." Putin defended Russia's "foreign agent" law by comparing it to Western legislation, though Rosenberg notes its draconian nature. Putin stated that new military operations would not occur if Russia is treated with respect and its interests are considered, referencing NATO's eastward expansion as a point of contention. Putin also agreed with Donald Trump's criticism of the BBC. The exchange, broadcast live in Russia, highlighted Putin's resentment towards the West and his perception of disrespect and deception from Western leaders.

In December 2025, India is attempting to balance its relationships with both Russia and the United States. Despite pressure from Washington, New Delhi has been deepening economic ties with Moscow, including purchasing Russian oil, weapons, and critical minerals. This allows Russia to maintain powerful partnerships and avoid complete isolation from Western sanctions. However, India's Prime Minister Modi faces the challenge of maintaining strong relations with the U.S., India's biggest trading partner, while simultaneously pursuing deals with Russia to ensure energy security. The situation highlights India's hedging strategy between economic interests and strategic partnerships.

Ivan Urgant, formerly Russia's most popular late-night TV host, experienced a dramatic career decline after posting an anti-war black square on Instagram following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. His show was cancelled, and he was removed from films and television appearances. Despite remaining in Russia, Urgant faces an unofficial Kremlin ban from mainstream media and entertainment. He now earns income hosting private events like weddings and corporate gatherings. While still performing outside of Russia, Urgant avoids directly criticizing the war, fearing further repercussions. His situation illustrates how Putin's government has reshaped Russia's cultural scene, suppressing dissenting voices and enforcing conformity through blacklists and intimidation.

On December 12, 2025, a news report compared and contrasted Vladimir Putin's call for elections in Ukraine with criticisms of the fairness of elections within Russia. The report highlighted a perceived hypocrisy in Putin's stance, given allegations of unfair electoral practices in Russia. The analysis focused on Putin's public statements regarding Ukraine's need for elections and juxtaposed them with international concerns about the integrity and transparency of Russian elections. The report aimed to provide context and examine the contrasting perspectives surrounding electoral processes in both countries.

Donald Trump stated that Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has not yet read the U.S.-proposed peace plan to end the war with Russia, despite his team's positive reception. Trump believes Russia is likely amenable to the plan, but Zelenskyy's stance is uncertain. Zelenskyy confirmed a call with U.S. envoys regarding ending the war and preventing future Russian aggression, awaiting a briefing from his negotiating team. Putin acknowledged productive but challenging negotiations with the U.S., maintaining demands for control of Donbas or Ukrainian troop withdrawal. Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with European leaders in London to discuss the peace plan amidst intensified Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure.

In December 2025, the Kremlin welcomed the revised US national security strategy under President Donald Trump, noting its alignment with Russia's global perspective. The US document identifies ending the war in Ukraine as a key interest and signals a desire to restore strategic stability with Moscow. A Kremlin spokesperson stated that the changes correspond with their vision, particularly regarding NATO expansion. However, caution was expressed about potential discrepancies between the strategy and the views of the US "deep state." This shift in US strategy occurs as White House-led efforts to mediate an end to the Russia-Ukraine war reach a critical stage, with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy scheduled to meet with leaders from the UK, France, and Germany.

Despite Russian President Putin's claim, Ukraine asserts it still controls part of Pokrovsk, a key eastern city in the Donbas region. Ukrainian soldiers displayed their flag in the north of the city for the BBC to demonstrate their continued presence. The battle for Pokrovsk, a former logistics hub, has been ongoing for nearly 18 months, with Russia slowly advancing from the south. Ukrainian commanders coordinate strikes on Russian positions and acknowledge losing ground but maintain they hold the north up to the railway line. Russia has been using small teams to infiltrate Ukrainian lines, but Ukrainian forces say they are quickly identified. Ukraine aims to show the world it will not give up its territory to maintain international support.

Ukrainian and US officials met in Florida to discuss a proposed framework for ending the war in Ukraine. The meeting, which included Marco Rubio, Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Rustem Umerov, focused on revising a 28-point plan previously negotiated between Washington and Moscow. The aim is to create a peace deal that ensures Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, and future prosperity. Discussions were described as challenging, with both sides seeking practical solutions for further negotiations between the US and Russia. Following the Florida meeting, US officials are scheduled to travel to Moscow to continue talks with Vladimir Putin. The US aims to incorporate Russia's perspective into the peace plan.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that protecting Ukraine's territorial integrity is the country's "biggest challenge" in ongoing negotiations to end the war with Russia. Speaking in Paris on December 1, 2025, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, Zelenskyy emphasized the need for security guarantees and the prevention of concessions that would legitimize Russia's occupation. His comments followed discussions with European and US officials, including US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Macron reiterated that Ukraine must decide its own territorial boundaries. The meetings are part of an intensified diplomatic effort to end the war, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is seeking support from European allies, meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Monday, as diplomatic efforts to end the war with Russia continue. This comes after meetings between U.S. and Ukrainian officials in Florida to refine a peace proposal, with both sides citing progress but acknowledging unresolved issues. Simultaneously, Steve Witkoff, a special envoy for President Trump, is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to discuss ending the war. The initial peace plan, drafted with Witkoff's involvement, faced criticism for favoring Russian demands, leading to further negotiations and a revised version. Key points of contention, such as military limits and territorial boundaries, remain under discussion.

A proposed Ukraine peace deal, promoted by the Trump administration and envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, has stalled due to Russia's unwillingness to compromise. Witkoff and Kushner met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow to negotiate a deal that involved pressuring Ukraine to make concessions. Despite the US efforts, the Kremlin rejected the proposal, remaining firm on territorial control and Ukraine's political status. While Kremlin advisors described the talks as productive, media outlets reported the response as a rejection of the US proposal. The negotiations have failed to progress towards resolving the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

According to BBC's Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg, Vladimir Putin is demonstrating no willingness to compromise regarding the conflict in Ukraine. This follows a five-hour meeting on Tuesday between Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff, which Russian officials reported yielded "no compromise." Putin reportedly believes Russia holds the upper hand in the war, allowing him to set the terms for any potential peace agreement. The ongoing situation suggests a continued stalemate in diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict. Further updates on the situation are being reported live.

In December 2025, Vladimir Putin visited India for the annual India-Russia summit to discuss strengthening trade and economic ties with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Discussions included increasing India's import of Russian fertilizer, construction of nuclear plants, and a labor mobility agreement to ease the hiring of Indian workers by Russian companies. The visit occurs as India navigates a complex relationship with the U.S., which has sanctioned Russia and pressured India to reduce its oil purchases. India's largest oil companies have largely ceased buying Russian crude due to these sanctions. The summit highlights the enduring partnership between India and Russia, while Modi balances this relationship with India's economic interests and ties with the U.S.

President Putin stated that Russia will seize the Donbas region by force unless Ukrainian troops withdraw, rejecting compromise. He made the statement to India Today ahead of a state visit to Delhi. This comes after Donald Trump said his negotiators, including envoy Steve Witkoff, believed Putin wanted to end the war after talks in Moscow. Witkoff is scheduled to meet with Ukraine's team in Florida. The US peace plan, which proposes handing over Ukrainian-controlled areas of Donbas to Russia, was discussed, but Putin said there were disagreements, particularly regarding seized territory and security guarantees for Ukraine. Ukrainian officials accused Russia of stalling ceasefire agreements and seeking to seize more territory, while insisting on security guarantees for Ukraine in any deal.

On December 2, 2025, marking day 1,377 of the Russia-Ukraine war, fighting intensified. Russian forces launched a missile on Dnipro, resulting in casualties, and claimed to have captured Pokrovsk and Vovchansk, strategic locations in eastern Ukraine. President Putin hailed the capture of Pokrovsk as important for achieving the goals of the "special military operation," with plans to seize the entire Donbas region. Ukrainian officials have not confirmed the capture of Pokrovsk or Vovchansk. The Caspian Pipeline Consortium resumed oil shipments after a drone attack. President Zelenskyy met with President Macron in Paris to bolster European support, citing territorial concessions as a key obstacle in US-led peace talks.

Vladimir Putin claimed Russian forces captured the strategic city of Pokrovsk in Ukraine, a claim disputed by Ukrainian officials. The announcement came before a meeting in Moscow between Russian officials and a US delegation led by Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump's special envoy, to discuss a potential peace deal. The US delegation, including Jared Kushner, previously met with Ukrainian officials in Florida to discuss revisions to a US-Russia peace plan. Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged Russian advances but stated no operations were successful, adding that the revised peace proposal "looks better". Zelenskyy traveled to Ireland for further meetings to bolster European support.

Top Trump aides, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, will meet with Ukrainian officials in Florida on Sunday to discuss a potential peace settlement to end Russia's invasion. This meeting follows talks in Geneva last weekend and comes amid fallout from a corruption investigation in Kyiv that led to the resignation of a top Ukrainian negotiator. The renewed diplomatic efforts follow a 28-point proposal drafted by Witkoff and Kushner, incorporating Russian input, which has raised concerns about favoring Russian demands. Ukrainian President Zelensky stated that the American side is demonstrating a constructive approach to bring the war to a dignified end.

Vladimir Putin stated that he views Donald Trump's proposed peace plan as a potential "starting point" for negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. He indicated that Russia would be willing to negotiate if Ukrainian troops withdraw from territories claimed by Russia, but threatened further military action otherwise. Putin reiterated demands for Ukraine to withdraw entirely from Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia regions, and to abandon NATO aspirations. Republican Congressman Andy Barr argued that the situation highlights the need for strong American leadership and that the war wouldn't have happened under Trump. However, critics like Garry Kasparov believe Putin is insincere and that true peace is impossible with him in power, accusing him of gearing up for more war.

In November 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin defended U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff against accusations of pro-Russia bias after a leaked phone call raised concerns about his neutrality. Putin asserted that Witkoff, appointed by President Trump, was intelligently representing U.S. interests in peace negotiations regarding the war in Ukraine. These negotiations center around a U.S. peace proposal that has been criticized for favoring Russia, particularly concerning the status of Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk. Putin indicated that while some points of the proposal were acceptable, others, such as the recognition of these territories as Russian, required further discussion. He reiterated Russia's willingness to continue taking Ukrainian territory if an agreement is not reached. Witkoff is scheduled to meet with Putin again in Moscow to continue discussions.

President Donald Trump stated that he will not meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin or Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy until a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine is complete or nearly finalized. Over the past week, Trump's team made "tremendous progress" in negotiating a 28-point peace plan, which has been fine-tuned with input from both sides. The next steps include meetings between Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Putin, and Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll with Ukrainian officials. Trump plans to be briefed on progress by his advisors before considering meeting with Zelenskyy or Putin. A revised peace framework has gained preliminary acceptance from Ukraine and Washington, but Moscow is currently reviewing the latest revisions. The agreement would bring an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine.