LONDON — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Tuesday that he believes the U.S. “desires to achieve a remaining settlement,” to finish the conflict in Ukraine, with Kyiv providing its full backing for a peace deal.
“We sense that America desires to achieve a remaining settlement, and from our facet, there may be full cooperation,” Zelenskyy stated. “Ukraine has by no means been, and can by no means be, an impediment to peace.”
Ukraine and Russia continued their nightly trade of long-range drones in a single day into Wednesday. Russia’s Protection Ministry stated on Wednesday that its forces downed at the very least 195 Ukrainian drones, together with 5 over Moscow area of which two have been “flying towards” the capital.
Russia’s federal air transport company, Rosaviatsiya, stated flight restrictions have been launched at two of Moscow’s 4 worldwide airports — Domodedovo and Vnukovo — throughout the assaults. Restrictions have been additionally put in place at airports in Volgograd, Yaroslavl, Orenburg, Ufa and Orsk, Rosaviatsiya stated.
The Grand Kremlin Palace and church buildings are seen behind the Kremlin Wall in Moscow, Russia, on Dec. 8, 2025.
Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP
Ukraine’s air power, in the meantime, stated Russia launched 116 drones into the nation in a single day, of which 60 have been shot down or suppressed. Forty-eight drones impacted throughout 19 areas, the air power stated.
On Tuesday evening, Zelenskyy stated Ukrainian restore crews have been working to revive energy after a serious Russian drone and missile strike on Monday evening. “All through the day, restore crews have been working at vitality amenities — placing in most effort to make sure that Ukrainians have electrical energy for Christmas,” Zelenskyy stated.
“After all, the Russians are attempting to damage this vacation, this sacred day, as properly. No shock there,” Zelenskyy added.
At a briefing in Kyiv with journalists on Tuesday, Zelenskyy revealed particulars of the 20-point peace plan negotiated with the U.S. which is now being reviewed by Moscow.
Zelenskyy advised reporters that stated all sides have been “a lot nearer” to finalizing the paperwork. Kyiv expects to obtain a response from Moscow on Wednesday, Zelenskyy added.
On this photograph offered by Ukraine’s sixty fifth Mechanized Brigade press service, recruits attend drills at a coaching floor within the Zaporizhzhia area, Ukraine, on Dec. 12, 2025.
Andriy Andriyenko/AP
The proposed framework consists of safety ensures from the U.S., NATO and European companions, although territorial questions stay unresolved. Underneath the draft plan, Ukraine would maintain a presidential election as quickly as potential after any deal is signed.
Zelenskyy stated the deal would see Article-5-style safety ensures kick in if Russia assaults the nation once more, even with out Ukrainian NATO membership. Zelenskyy once more burdened that Kyiv rejected any ban on becoming a member of the alliance — a key Russian demand.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been briefed on current U.S. contacts.
“We now intend to formulate our future place based mostly on the data acquired by the top of state and proceed our contacts within the very close to future by the prevailing channels which can be at the moment operational,” Peskov stated, as quoted by the state-run Tass information company.
Russian Deputy International Minister Sergei Ryabkov, in the meantime, stated Moscow and Washington have “important similarities” of their positions on a potential settlement.
ABC Information’ Ellie Kaufman, Dada Jovanovic and Yulia Drozd contributed to this report.
