L to R: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Berlin, December 15, 2025

Thursday’s Coverage: A Christmas Wish for A “Victory of Peace”

UPDATE 0817 GMT:

A father speaks about how his son became one of the South African men lured by Russia to fight on the frontline in Ukraine:

UPDATE 0801 GMT:

Vladimir Putin has complained about US “weakness” in accepting some Ukraine-Europe proposals, pushing back the Kremlin’s ultimatum which had been prepared with Donald Trump’s envoys.

In remarks to the Duma on Thursday, Putin declared that he must have all of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine: “The position is that Donbas is ours.”

He also claimed control over the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southern Ukraine, saying Trump officials had shown interest in using the complex for cryptocurrency mining as well as supply of electricity to Ukraine. He asserted that Ukrainian specialists continue to work at the plant “as before”, but now hold Russian passports.

UPDATE 0717 GMT:

Russian opposition leader Sergey Udaltsov has been sentenced to six years in prison.

Udaltsov, the head of the Left Front movement that is affiliated with the Communist Party, was arrested last year.

The charges were triggered by an article, posted online by Udaltsov, which supported a group of Russian activists accused of forming a terrorist organization. The activists were convicted earlier this month and given prison sentences ranging from 16 to 22 years.

Udaltsov, a supporter of the invasion of Ukraine, denounced the verdict as “shameful” and said he was going on a hunger strike.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has cited progress in a two-hour phone call with Donald Trump’s envoys, real estate developer Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, on proposals to end Russia’s invasion.

Zelensky spoke with the envoys about the Ukraine-Europe 20-point plan and four complementary documents covering issues such as territory, security guarantees, and Ukrainian reconstruction.

There are good ideas that can work toward a shared outcome and the lasting peace. Real security, real recovery, and real peace are what all of us need – Ukraine, the United States, Europe, and every partner who helps us.

In his nightly video address to the nation, the President expanded on the possibilities:

Neither envoy commented publicly, but Kushner reposted Zelensky’s initial reaction.

Since late October, Ukraine and Europe have pushed back the 28-point ultimatum to Ukraine prepared by Witkoff and Kushner in collaboration with Vladimir Putin’s top financial advisor Kirill Dmitriev.

They have blocked the demand that Ukraine hand over to Russia the rest of the strategic Donetsk region in the east of the country. On Tuesday, Zelensky said Ukraine is open to the US proposal of a demilitarized “economic zone”, with Kyiv’s troops pulling back if the Russians do so as well in occupied territory.

Kyiv and Europe have rebuffed the Kremlin’s attempt to bar security guarantees and to keep Ukraine militarily and politically weak. Their latest proposal includes guarantees with European personnel in Ukraine and US-led airpower based in a neighboring country.

And the partners have stripped out the ultimatum’s provision of the US taking 50% of profits from the recovery fund for Ukraine.

Zelensky said on Tuesday that he expected Witkoff and Kushner to take the Ukraine-Europe proposal to Moscow in the near future. He anticipated the Kremlin’s rejection:

[The Russians] cannot tell President Trump: “Look, we are against a peaceful settlement.” That is, if they try to obstruct everything, then President Trump would have to arm us heavily, while imposing all possible sanctions against them.

The President said on social media that he may meet with Trump “in the near future”: “A lot can be decided before the New Year.”