Zelensky`s statements after the peace talks in Berlin

President Zelensky made it clear what he expects from the USA if Russia rejects solutions agreed with Washington.

Volodymyr Zelensky has said that if Russia rejects agreements on ending the war worked out jointly by Ukraine, the United States, and Europe, it would be time for U.S. President Donald Trump to apply serious pressure on Moscow.

Speaking to journalists after talks in Berlin on 15 December, Zelenskyy was asked what should happen if Kyiv, Washington, and European partners finalise a set of proposals and the Kremlin refuses to accept them.

“If Putin rejects everything, then we’ll have what we have on the plane right now – turbulence,” Zelenskyy joked. “It’s happening now. But of course, it’s nothing compared to the war, or to what would happen if Putin destroyed all diplomatic opportunities and the willingness of Ukraine, Europe, and the United States to seek peace.”

Zelenskyy said that in such a scenario, it would be logical for the United States to intensify pressure on Russia and expand military support for Ukraine.

“I think America would apply pressure through sanctions and provide us with more weapons if he rejects everything,” he said. “That would be a fair request from Ukraine to the Americans. Because if the United States is ready to provide security guarantees and enforce them if Putin violates them, then tell me honestly how that differs from a situation in which Putin simply does not want to end the war.”

Zelenskyy added that Ukraine and its European partners would reasonably expect at least partial security guarantees to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to defend itself.

“Air defence systems and long-range weapons,” he concluded.

According to the President, Ukraine will not recognise Donbas as Russian either de facto or de jure.

Regarding the teritorial concessions President Zelenskyy has stated that Ukraine will not recognise Donbas as Russian, either de facto or de jure, despite ongoing discussions over possible territorial arrangements.

Speaking during a briefing with Ukrainian media, Zelenskyy said that Russia’s position remains unchanged, while Ukraine continues to hold what he described as a realistic and fair stance.

“As for the Russian position, it has not changed so far. You know that they want our Donbas,” Zelenskyy said. “Our position is practical, realistic and fair, and we stand by it: we do not want to give up our Donbas.”

Zelenskyy noted that the United States is seeking a compromise and has proposed the creation of a free economic zone, but emphasised that such a proposal does not imply Russian control over the region.

“The Americans want to find a compromise and are proposing a free economic zone. I want to stress once again that a free economic zone does not mean it would be under the control of the Russian Federation,” he said.

The president acknowledged that territorial issues are being discussed as part of broader negotiations, but underscored that Ukraine’s position on sovereignty remains firm.

“Neither de jure nor de facto will we recognise Donbas as Russian – the part that is temporarily occupied,” Zelenskyy said. “However, we will discuss the territorial issue. You know it is one of the key issues. At present, we do not yet have a consensus.”

The referendum is not on the agenda.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that a referendum is not currently being considered, while reiterating his readiness to hold elections if a ceasefire is achieved.

Speaking to Ukrainian media, Zelenskyy stressed that discussions about a referendum are not on the agenda at this stage.

“In any case, for now we are not talking about a referendum,” the president said.

At the same time, Zelenskyy confirmed that he is open to holding elections, noting that the issue has previously been raised by the United States. However, he emphasised that a ceasefire is a fundamental precondition for any electoral process.

“Today I once again emphasised this to our partners. I am ready for elections,” Zelenskyy said.

“But for the people of Ukraine to be ready for this, cooperation among lawmakers is needed – and, above all, the most important thing is the ability to hold legitimate elections or elections with a legitimate outcome. This requires a security infrastructure.”

The president underlined that without adequate security guarantees, organising free and fair elections would not be possible.

Russians attacked a high-rise residential building in Zaporizhzhia with a drone

A Russian drone struck a high-rise residential building in the city of Zaporizhzhia during the night of 15–16 December, injuring at least three people.

The attack involved a Shahed-type UAV and caused a fire on the upper floors of the building. Emergency and rescue services were deployed to the scene, and residents were evacuated from the affected floors.

According to preliminary reports, one man sustained shrapnel wounds, while a woman suffered carbon monoxide poisoning. Later updates confirmed that the total number of injured had risen to three.

Rescue operations were ongoing as authorities assessed the damage and provided assistance to those affected.

288,000 families in Odesa Oblast remain without power due to Russian attacks

Energy workers have restored electricity to nearly 330,000 households in Odesa Oblast following a large-scale Russian attack on Ukraine’s energy system.

Power has also been reconnected to critical infrastructure facilities. However, about 288,000 households in the region remain without electricity, and repair work is continuing as crews address the damage caused by the strikes.

Ukraine claims that the first Sea Baby underwater drone struck a Russian submarine

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) said its underwater drones struck a Russian submarine in the port of Novorossiysk on December 15, marking the first publicly reported attack of its kind.

According to the SBU, Sea Baby naval drones targeted a Varshavyanka-class submarine, a variant of Russia’s Kilo-class fleet, which is capable of launching Kalibr cruise missiles used in strikes against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. The operation was carried out jointly with Ukraine’s Navy.

“The vessel sustained critical damage and is effectively out of service,” the SBU said. The submarine is estimated to be worth about $400 million, with replacement costs potentially reaching $500 million due to international sanctions.

The submarine had been relocated to Novorossiysk after earlier Ukrainian drone attacks forced much of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet to withdraw from Sevastopol and other ports in occupied Crimea.

Another submarine of the same class, Rostov-on-Don, was reportedly destroyed in September 2023 during a Ukrainian missile strike on a shipyard in Sevastopol. Ukrainian officials have described that incident as the first known destruction of a submarine by a cruise missile.

Despite lacking a traditional navy after much of its fleet was lost early in the war, Ukraine has increasingly relied on maritime drones to challenge Russian naval operations in the Black Sea. Ukrainian authorities say these operations are part of a broader effort to limit Russia’s ability to launch missile attacks from the sea.

75% of Ukrainians reject peace plan requiring withdrawal from Donbas - poll

A new poll shows Ukrainians remain open to a negotiated peace with strong security guarantees but overwhelmingly reject any deal that would force Ukraine to withdraw from Donetsk Oblast.

75% of respondents opposed a proposed peace plan that would require a full withdrawal from Donbas, impose military restrictions, and offer no clear security guarantees. At the same time, 72% said they could accept a ceasefire that froze the front line at current positions, included firm security guarantees, and did not recognize occupied territories as Russian.

Despite battlefield pressure and ongoing Russian strikes on energy infrastructure, 63% of Ukrainians said they are prepared to continue the war as long as necessary.

Domestic support for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remains relatively strong, with 61% saying they trust him. Calls to hold elections during the war continue to lack public backing, with only 9% supporting elections before hostilities end.

The survey was conducted nationwide in government-controlled areas of Ukraine in late November and early December.

Moscow rejects proposals for a Christmas ceasefire

Russia has rejected a proposal for a temporary ceasefire over the Christmas and New Year holidays, signaling once again that it is unwilling to pause fighting along the front line.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow opposes any ceasefire that would give Ukraine time to regroup or prepare for further combat, insisting instead on what he described as a “comprehensive peace” on Russia’s terms. He added that Russia’s position has long been known to both Kyiv and Washington.

Peskov stressed that the Kremlin remains focused on achieving its strategic objectives and suggested that Moscow would not engage in talks if Ukraine pursued what he called short-term or unrealistic solutions rather than a broader agreement.