"Throughout the latest push for peace, Russia seems to conveniently reset the clock, demanding further talks as it continues its bombardments and assaults across Ukraine. "This Russian strike sends an extremely clear signal about Russia's priorities," Zelensky said in a post referring to a strike on December 23 that killed three people and injured 12. Zeleneky condemned the attack "ahead of Christmas, when people simply want to be with their families, at home, and safe.""
"Putin told Russian defense ministry officials that Moscow will persist in its mission to "liberate its historic lands" and achieve its war goals "unconditionally" - by negotiations for an agreement in Moscow's favor, or through continued war. The continued Russian attacks and Putin's bellicose language underscore a pattern that has defined Russia's position on "peace" throughout its full-scale invasion of Ukraine: not budging from maximalist demands, blaming Kyiv for the lack of progress, and leveraging Western fears of escalation to World War Three."
On December 30, 2025, Moscow claimed a Ukrainian drone attack targeted President Vladimir Putin's residence, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov threatened retaliatory strikes and a revision of Moscow's negotiating position. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the claim as a complete fabrication, and the CIA assessed that Ukraine was not targeting the Russian leader's residence. President Trump said the U.S. was "very close" to a deal. Russia has continued bombardments and assaults while demanding further talks. A December 23 strike killed three people and injured 12. Putin vowed to persist in "liberate its historic lands" and achieve war goals "unconditionally." Ukraine offered concessions including dropping NATO membership ambitions and possible troop withdrawals.
Read at The Cipher Brief
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