Key Updates from Day 1,404 of the Ukraine War

As we turn the page on December 29, the conflict in Ukraine continues to evolve, featuring significant developments in diplomacy and ongoing fighting. Here’s an overview of the latest news regarding the war and international responses.

Diplomatic Efforts

• U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Mar-a-Lago resort, where the two leaders expressed optimism about nearing a peace agreement to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.
• Discussions focused on key contentious topics: security guarantees for Ukraine and the contested eastern Donbas region, which Russia aims to control. Both leaders reported significant progress, with Zelenskyy stating that an agreement on security was reached, while Trump indicated they were “95 percent” close to finalizing the deal.
• Despite the strides made, the future of Donbas remains undetermined. Trump acknowledged it was a challenging issue but noted discussions were advancing positively.
• Zelenskyy emphasized that any peace accord would require approval from Ukraine’s parliament or a national referendum.
• Following the meeting, Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev acknowledged the value of Trump’s peace efforts, suggesting they were recognized globally.
• Prior to their discussions, Trump had a two-hour phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, describing it as “excellent” and “productive.” He also mentioned plans to reach out to Putin again after meeting with Zelenskyy.
• Kremlin advisor Yury Ushakov remarked that the initial call was friendly, but he mentioned that a ceasefire suggested by the EU would only extend the conflict further.
• Ushakov also stated that Kyiv needed to make a “bold, responsible” political move regarding Donbas and related disputes to end hostilities entirely.
• European leaders from countries including Finland, France, Germany, Poland, and the United Kingdom participated in part of the Trump-Zelenskyy discussions via phone. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen affirmed Europe’s commitment to collaborating with Ukraine and stressed the importance of strong security guarantees.
• French President Emmanuel Macron noted progress on security guarantees during the meeting and announced upcoming talks in Paris for member states of the “Coalition of the Willing” to finalize specific contributions.
• Zelenskyy mentioned that Trump had agreed to host a gathering of European leaders, possibly in Washington, in January.
• On a different front, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov cautioned that any European military forces sent to Ukraine would be considered legitimate targets for Russian operations and criticized European leaders for their ambitions concerning Ukraine.

Current Fighting

• In Kherson, Russian forces targeted a heating plant, resulting in one injury and significant damage to the facility, according to Ukraine’s state energy company, Naftogaz.
• Meanwhile, DTEK, Ukraine’s primary private energy provider, announced the restoration of power to over a million households in and around Kyiv following extensive outages caused by a major Russian airstrike.
• Ukrainian military forces have reportedly conducted a drone strike on the Syzran oil refinery in Russia’s Samara region, igniting a fire, with damage assessments still ongoing.
• Contrary to earlier claims from Moscow, Ukraine’s forces stated that only part of the town of Huliaipole remains under Russian control, fueling continuous combat in the region.
• Additionally, Russia’s Ministry of Defence declared its troops had taken control of four settlements in the Donetsk region, identifying them as Myrnohrad, Artemivka, Rodynske, and Vilne.