On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted that the country’s military forces are making progress on the battlefield. He expressed confidence in achieving Russia’s goals through military action if Ukraine does not agree to Russia’s terms in peace negotiations, as reported by The Associated Press.
Putin stated during his annual press conference that, “Our forces are advancing along the entire contact line. In certain areas, the progress is quicker than in others, but overall, the enemy is retreating across all fronts,” according to the outlet.
Meanwhile, as the conflict continues, the European Union has committed to a substantial financial aid package for Ukraine, amounting to over $105 billion.
In a photograph distributed by the state agency Sputnik, Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen addressing his end-of-year press conference in Moscow on December 19, 2025. (Photo by Vyacheslav PROKOFYEV / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his appreciation for this support.
“I am thankful to all the European Union leaders for the European Council’s decision to provide €90 billion in financial aid to Ukraine for 2026–2027. This substantial support significantly enhances our resilience. It is crucial that Russian assets remain frozen and that Ukraine has secured a financial safety net for the years ahead. Thank you for your unity and results. Together, we are safeguarding the future of our continent,” he shared in a post on X.
Putin has asserted that Russia will accomplish its objectives one way or the other.
“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, according to a Kremlin release about a Defense Ministry Board meeting earlier this week.
“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,” Putin declared.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a press conference with Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, not pictured, on Dec. 15, 2025, in Berlin, Germany. (Florian Gaertner/Photothek via Getty Images)
President Donald Trump’s administration has been striving to help broker an end to the war between the two nations.
