Putin says troops advancing as EU approves Ukraine loan; Zelensky lauds aid, calls for U.S. action
Russian leader asserts gains and commitment to reach objectives, while the EU approves a multi-billion-dollar loan package for Kyiv; Kyiv expresses gratitude and urges continued Western backing.
MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Moscow's troops are advancing along the front and that Russia will achieve its objectives in Ukraine, whether through diplomacy or military force, if Kyiv does not accept Russia's terms in peace talks, according to The Associated Press. During his annual end-of-year news conference, Putin said troops are advancing across the line of contact, progress varies by sector, and that the enemy is retreating in all areas.
At the same time, the European Union approved a loan package worth more than $105 billion for Ukraine over the coming years, a decision Kyiv framed as essential for resilience. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on X his gratitude for the EU decision to provide 90 billion euros in financial support for 2026–2027, calling it significant and saying it strengthens Ukraine's resilience and that immobilization of Russian assets, along with a financial security guarantee, are important.
Putin indicated that the goals of the special military operation will undoubtedly be achieved. He said Moscow would prefer to accomplish this through diplomacy, but 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.
Ukraine said it carried out its first underwater drone strike against a Russian submarine in the Novorossiysk area, a development Kyiv described as a demonstration of its expanding capabilities amid the Black Sea campaign.
Zelensky has urged the United States to respond to signals that Russia is preparing to make next year a year of war. His remarks come as Western partners push to sustain financial and military backing for Kyiv while the war drags on.
In Berlin, Zelensky met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to discuss security guarantees and ongoing aid, underscoring Western unity in backing Kyiv as the conflict continues.
As the war persists, Western officials emphasize that funding, arms, and sanctions will continue to shape the conflict’s trajectory, while Moscow reiterates its stance that its actions are driven by security concerns and historical claims. World leaders monitor developments closely as the next year unfolds, with Kyiv seeking to sustain its defense and secure long-term financial backing and political support.