Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Thursday in his late-night speech that Ukraine has never "been nor will be an obstacle to peace," a day after Donald Trump pointed it out as one of the reasons for the slow progress in peace negotiations.
The Ukrainian president denounced the attacks that in the middle of winter aim to "destroy our energy system and our population, it is Russia that should be pressured."
Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that their anti-aircraft defenses neutralized 106 Ukrainian drones overnight in ten regions, mainly in the border regions of Belgorod and Bryansk.
Kremlin: no date set for Kushner and Witkoff's visit to Moscow
The Kremlin announced on Friday that a visit by the U.S. President's envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to Moscow for peace talks on Ukraine is being prepared, but dates have not been set yet. Reuters reports.
Russia sees "significant progress" in the willingness of some European leaders to talk to Putin
The Kremlin considered today a "significant progress" the willingness expressed by some European leaders to resume contacts with Russian President Vladimir Putin to address a peaceful settlement in Ukraine.
"That is already a significant progress, from our point of view," said Dmitry Peskov, presidential spokesperson, during his daily phone press conference.
Finland to deliver a new arms package worth 98 million euros to Ukraine
The Finnish Government announced on Friday a new military aid package to Ukraine worth 98 million euros, the thirty-first since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022, bringing the total Finnish assistance to Kiev to 3.1 billion euros.
"This time we have put together a package in an accelerated timeframe that will help meet the most urgent needs of the moment," said Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen in a statement.
Finland, a neighboring country of Russia, is the sixth nation that has provided the most aid to Ukraine in relation to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) since the start of the war, only behind Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Sweden, according to data from the German Kiel Institute. Efe reports.
Ukraine forced to increase energy imports due to Russian attacks
Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal ordered on Friday state-owned companies to increase their electricity imports to cope with the difficulties in the energy grid, weakened in recent months by massive Russian bombings and an especially cold winter.
The sector's fragility regularly causes widespread power and heating outages, while sub-zero temperatures have settled in the country.
"State-owned companies (...) must urgently ensure the purchase of imported electricity during the 2025/26 heating season, in a volume representing at least 50% of total consumption," Denys Shmyhal stated on Telegram, specifically mentioning the railway company Ukrzaliznytsia and the gas operator Naftogaz. Afp reports.
Russia captures another village in Donetsk
Russian troops took control of the village of Zakitne in the eastern Donetsk region, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on Friday, as reported by Reuters.
Kiev works to restore heating supply amid cold weather
Kiev authorities are still working to restore centralized heating supply, after much of the city was left without access to the main source used to heat homes in Ukraine due to two Russian attacks on the energy system last Friday and this Tuesday.
The military administration of the Ukrainian capital announced on Friday that 127 residential blocks still lack heating. The number of residential buildings without supply was close to 300 the day before and over 400 two days ago.
Despite having restored the supply, central heating operates at a much lower intensity than usual in homes, businesses, and public buildings in Kiev, where the minimum temperature on Friday will be -16 degrees Celsius. Efe reports
Lithuania says Russia behind 2024 attempted arson attack
Lithuanian authorities have accused the Russian military intelligence GRU of being responsible for a 2024 attempted arson attack on a plant in Lithuania that supplies radio wave scanners to the Ukrainian army.
Six citizens from Spain, Colombia, Cuba, Russia, and Belarus were charged for the attack, and the group also allegedly attempted similar attacks in Poland, Romania, and the Czech Republic, as indicated by the police and prosecutors.
"The crimes were coordinated, and the orders were given to the perpetrators by a group of people living in Russia and linked to the Russian GRU," said Saulius Briginas, deputy director of Lithuania's criminal police, as reported by Reuters.
Russia shoots down 106 Ukrainian drones
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that their anti-aircraft defenses neutralized 106 Ukrainian drones overnight in ten regions.
The highest number of attacks took place in the border regions of Belgorod (44) and Bryansk (22). Drones were also targeted in the regions of Rostov (11) and Voronezh (11), and the border region of Kursk (7).
Additionally, drones were shot down in the regions of Tula, Volgograd, the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, Oryol, and Lipetsk.
Ukraine continues to prioritize attacks on Russian refineries and fuel depots to reduce supplies to the Kremlin's war machinery. Efe reports.
Zelenskyy: "Ukraine has never been nor will be an obstacle to peace"
Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Thursday that Ukraine "has never been nor will be an obstacle to peace," a day after Donald Trump pointed it out as one of the reasons for the slow progress in peace negotiations.
The Ukrainian president denounced the attacks that in the middle of winter aim to "destroy our energy system and our population, it is Russia that should be pressured."
Trump, interviewed by Reuters on Wednesday, said he believed Ukraine was less prepared than Russia to reach an agreement. When asked why U.S.-led negotiations had not yet resolved the war, which is about to turn four years old, the American responded: "Zelenskyy."