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Russian President Vladimir Putin said the situation in Ukraine was evolving “drastically” and that Russia is close to its “priority goals”.
During the end-of-year press conference, he reiterated availability for peace negotiationsbut only with Ukrainian authorities deemed legitimate.
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Putin left open the possibility of dialogue with Volodymyr Zelensky, should new elections confirm its legitimacyand defined policy “the art of compromise”.
Putin – reports ANSA – has also “challenged” the USA to test the new Russian hypersonic missile Oreshnik, boasting its invulnerability to Western air defense systems. He stressed that the missile has a range of 5,500 kilometers and invited the Americans to a demonstration experiment on a simulated target in Kiev.
The Italian Minister of Defense, Guido Crosettohighlighted Ukraine’s difficulties in sustaining a protracted conflict and called attention to a diplomatic solution to ensure serious peace. Also Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani underlined the need for a ceasefire to preserve Ukrainian territorial integrity, judging the idea of troops to be premature peacekeeping.
During a meeting between Zelensky and European leaders, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, support for Ukraine for a just peace based on the principles of international law was reaffirmed.
L’Alto Representante UE Kaja Kallas criticized the pressure on Zelensky for negotiations, stating that Russia is not interested in peace. Instead, he requested that promises of security guarantees to Kiev not remain “empty”.
The conflict remains at a critical stageamid difficult negotiations and growing international support for Ukraine.
