Russia should have invaded Ukraine earlier, Russian president Vladimir Putin has said, as he used an end-of-year press conference to double down on his decision to start the war.
Despite the toll his war has taken on Russia’s finances and the lives of its young men, Putin claimed that sending troops into Ukraine in 2022 has boosted his country’s military and economic power.
If he could do it all again, he said, “such a decision should have been made earlier” and Russia could have “prepared for it in advance and more thoroughly”.
Putin also said he was open to talks with Donald Trump, saying “we will have things to discuss”. The US president-elect has pledged to negotiate a deal to end the conflict in Ukraine.
It comes as one person was killed in a missile attack on Kyiv and five people were injured in a separate Russian missile strike that damaged a two-storey residence in Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown, Kryvyi Rih.
Ukraine’s air force said Russia fired five ballistic missiles and 40 drones, while another 20 failed to reach their target.
Russia fires dozens of missiles and drones across Ukraine
Russia fired nearly 50 missiles and drones at Ukraine overnight, Kyiv’s air force has reported.
In an update on the Telegram messenger app, Ukraine’s air force said Russia fired five ballistic missiles and 40 drones, while an additional 20 drones were lost before they reached their target.
The five missiles were fired at Kyiv at roughly 7am local time, the air force added, killing at least one person and destroying the roof of a high rise building, as well as several other houses.
In pictures: Kyiv hit by Russian missile attack
Russia is ready to compromise with Trump on Ukraine war, says Putin
During boasts about Russia’s military achievements in his annual marathon televised news conference, Vladimir Putin says he is ready to compromise over Ukraine in possible talks on ending his war and has no conditions for starting discussions.
The Russian president told one reporter he was ready to meet Donald Trump, who he said he had not spoken to for years.
My colleague Alastair Jamieson reports:
Video: Putin repeats fake Boris Johnson quote in bizarre Ukrainian army claim
Turkey receives sanctions waiver for gas payments to Russia
Turkey has received an exemption for gas payments to Russia from sanctions imposed on Gazprombank by the United States, Turkish energy minister Alparslan Bayraktar said.
In November, the US imposed new sanctions on Russia’s Gazprombank as president Joe Biden stepped up actions to punish Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine before he leaves office in January.
Gazprom to send 42.4 mcm of gas to Europe via Ukraine on Friday
Russian gas producer Gazprom said it would send 42.4 million cubic metres (mcm) of gas to Europe via Ukraine today, the same volume as yesterday.
Ukraine hits Russia with 10 longer-range Western missiles, says Russia
Ukraine posts picture of British missiles heading towards Russian forces
The Ukrainian defence ministry has posted a photo purporting to show a British-made Storm Shadow missile being fired towards Russian forces.
Restrictions on the use of missiles to strike inside of Russia were lifted recently, prompting the Kremlin to accuse Ukraine’s western backers of trying to escalate the war. Those concerns were dismissed on the basis that the move was still defensive in nature, intended to blunt Russia’s ability to attack Ukraine.
One dead in Russian missile attack on Kyiv
One person has been killed in a Russian missile attack on Kyiv, according to the head of city’s military administration.
The morning attack sparked fires across the city, in addition to damaging an office building, Serhiy Popko said this morning, citing preliminary information.
European leaders line up to support Ukraine ahead of Trump’s presidency
European leaders are voicing their support for Ukraine as Russia continues to gain ground on the battlefield.
“We need to stand with Ukraine, and every step … needs to be taken with Ukraine and in the presence of the European Union,” said Luxembourg prime minister Luc Frieden. “The future of Ukraine is decided in Europe and not elsewhere,” he said.
Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof underlined that only Ukraine can determine the conditions for talks, “and it is not for us to talk about that. At the moment, Ukraine has not yet indicated that they are prepared to do so.”
The message of support for Ukraine has strengthened amid Ukraine’s weakened position in the war as president-elect Donald Trump is set to assume office next month.
Volodymr Zelensky has also doubled down on his diplomatic efforts, calling on the EU and the US to stay united next year, saying that “only together the United States and Europe can stop Putin and save Ukraine.” He said that the only effective security guarantee remains Nato membership.
Important to ensure longterm aid to Ukraine, says Scholz
German chancellor Olaf Scholz said it’s important to “ensure long-term aid to Ukraine – it must be clear that we are prepared to enable support as long as it is needed.”
Air defence, artillery and ammunition are high on the list, he told reporters.
On 20 January, Donald Trump returns to the White House, having promised to end the war in Ukraine quickly and talked up his relationship with Russian president Vladimir Putin. Many Europeans are concerned that it might result in a poor deal for Ukraine.
Asked about Mr Trump, Mr Scholz said that his impression from talking to the president-elect “is that good cooperation between Europe and the US is possible”. He said that “the principle is always: no decisions over Ukrainians’ heads, and that of course means over those of the European states.”
Source: independent.co.uk