Putin says troops advancing as EU approves Ukraine loan

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Russian troops are advancing and that Moscow will achieve its objectives by military means if Kyiv does not accept Russia's terms in peace talks, according to The Associated Press. Speaking at his annual end-of-year news conference in Moscow, Putin said, 'Our troops are advancing all across the line of contact, faster in some areas or slower in some others, but the enemy is retreating in all sectors.'

Putin added that the goals of the special military operation will undoubtedly be achieved. 'We would prefer to accomplish this and address the root causes of the conflict through diplomatic means,' he said. 'However, if the opposing side and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive dialogue, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands by military means,' according to a Kremlin release.

The European Union has approved a funding package to support Ukraine totaling more than $105 billion, as Kyiv continues to wage a protracted war against Russian forces. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on X that he was grateful to EU leaders for approving about €90 billion in financial support for 2026–2027. 'I am grateful to all leaders of the European Union for the European Council’s decision on €90 billion in financial support for Ukraine in 2026–2027. This is significant support that truly strengthens our resilience. It is important that Russian assets remain immobilized and that Ukraine has received a financial security guarantee for the coming years. Thank you for the result and for unity. Together, we are defending the future of our continent,' Zelensky wrote.

Amid the wider exchange, Ukraine said it carried out its first-ever underwater drone strike on a Russian submarine in Novorossiysk. The claim, if verified, signals a notable escalation in the use of autonomous or remotely piloted devices in contested maritime zones and reflects Kyiv's ongoing efforts to broaden its strike options against Russian bases.

The remarks come as European and other partners increase support for Kyiv while Moscow continues to frame its actions as defenses of national security interests. Putin’s comments at the news conference, which traditionally closes the year for Russia’s leadership, arrived as Kyiv and its allies resist a long-term mobilization and seek to maintain pressure on Moscow through diplomacy and sanctions-based strategies. The Ukrainian government has repeatedly urged Western powers to sustain or increase security and economic aid, while warning that Russia may intensify its campaign if Western attention wanes.