War in Ukraine: Zelensky will do everything to end the conflict, capture of two villages by Russia… update on the situation

Ukraine must do everything to end the war in 2025 through diplomacy

Ukraine must do everything in its power to bring the war with Russia to a diplomatic end next year, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. In a radio interview broadcast on Saturday, the Ukrainian head of state acknowledged that the situation on the battlefield in the east of the country was currently difficult and that Russia was making progress. He stressed that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin was not interested in a peace deal.

Volodymyr Zelensky noted that US law prevents him from meeting President-elect Donald Trump before his inauguration next January. The Ukrainian leader said he would only speak with Donald Trump himself, rather than an envoy or adviser.

“I, as President of Ukraine, will only take seriously a conversation with the President of the United States of America, without wanting to disrespect his entourage and anyone else.” “For our part, we must do everything to ensure that this war ends next year, by diplomatic means”he added. These comments come as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke with the Russian president on Friday and asked him to prepare to negotiate a “just and lasting peace” a Ukraine.

Russia claims capture of two villages in eastern Ukraine

Russian forces have captured the villages of Makarivka and Hryhorivka in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Saturday. Makarivka is located south of Velika Novosilka, while Hryhorivka, which Moscow calls by its former name of Leninskoye, is located west of the town of Selidove, captured by Russia last month.

Korean troops in Ukraine to have ‘extremely significant’ impact on East Asian security

The engagement of North Korean troops in the Kursk oblast”will not only aggravate the situation in Ukraine”, more will have “extremely significant implications” on the security of East Asia, said Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya during his trip to kyiv on Saturday, where he promised to support Ukraine.

“We are very concerned by this development and strongly condemn it”he added. For several weeks, there have been reports of North Korea sending thousands of troops to Russia, with the West and Ukraine saying they were already in the Russian border region of Kursk.

The minister visited Bucha, a town near kyiv, where Russian forces are accused of committing atrocities against civilians early in the war. “Our position remains unchanged, that Japan will stand with Ukraine”he insisted.

His Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, said the entry of North Korean troops into the Ukrainian conflict was “proof that the future of the security architecture, not only European, but also global, is being played out in Ukraine”. He described the visit of his Japanese counterpart as “important sign of solidarity, especially in such a difficult period”.