The Ukraine war does not stop even on such significant dates as Christmas. Hungarian Prime Minister, the ultranationalist Viktor Orbán, who currently presides over the Council of the European Union until the end of this month, stated on Wednesday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected a Christmas ceasefire proposal and a prisoner exchange with Russia.
Instead of ceasefires, what is experienced on the front is an escalation. This Wednesday, Ukraine attacked a southern Russian airfield with long-range ATACMS missiles supplied by the United States, as indicated by the Russian army, promising to respond with "appropriate measures."
In response to the frequent Russian bombings of Ukrainian infrastructures and cities, Kiev has increased its attacks on Russian military and energy sites to disrupt Moscow's army logistics, which occupies about 20% of Ukrainian territory.
Faced with Kiev's bombings, Russia launched the Oreshnik missile for the first time on November 21. According to Putin, this was in response to Kiev's use of Western long-range weapons. This previously unknown missile can reach any location in Europe and could even reach the west coast of the United States, according to the characteristics described by the Russian president, who promised to give prior notice before launching it.
Xi Calls for "More Coordination" with Moscow and "Creating Conditions" to Stop the War in Ukraine
Chinese President Xi Jinping stated on Thursday to Russian Security Council Vice President Dmitry Medvedev that Beijing and Moscow should "coordinate more" to "lead global governance in the right direction" and added that his country will maintain the same position on the war in Ukraine, reports Efe.
"China will continue to work with the international community to create favorable conditions for finding a political solution to this crisis," Xi said in the meeting with the Russian politician, who is visiting Beijing as the head of the United Russia party, as reported by the state news agency Xinhua.
The Chinese leader pointed out that Beijing seeks to "alleviate the situation as soon as possible" and emphasized that they "will not fuel the flames of the European conflict," which he highlighted should not spread.
Kremlin Supports Orbán's Efforts to Achieve a Peaceful Settlement in Ukraine
The Kremlin today supported the efforts of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who proposed a Christmas ceasefire to Russia and Ukraine, reports Efe.
"The Russian side fully supports Orbán's efforts aimed at seeking a peaceful settlement and solving humanitarian issues related to the exchange of prisoners of war," said Dmitry Peskov, presidential spokesperson, to local press.
Russia Says It Has Regained Control of Novoivanovka in the Kursk Region
Russian forces have regained control of the settlement of Novoivanovka in the Russian region of Kursk, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday, according to Reuters.
Ukrainian forces took part of the territory in the region in a surprise raid on August 6, and Russia has been fighting since then to expel them.
Russian Forces Approach Key City in Eastern Ukraine Amid Intense Fighting
The fighting around the key city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine is "extremely intense" after months of Russian advances, said Ukraine's top military commander, with analysts estimating that Russian forces are now just a few kilometers from the city.
Ukrainian troops repelled nearly 40 Russian attempts to assault the defenses around Pokrovsk in the last 24 hours, the General Staff said in a battlefield report on Thursday.
"Russian occupiers are throwing all available forces forward, trying to break through our troops' defenses," said Ukrainian Army Chief General Oleksandr Syrskyi in a Facebook post on Wednesday night. He mentioned that his forces are outnumbered.
Trump Has Not Invited Putin to Attend His Inauguration, According to the Kremlin
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has not sent an invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend his inauguration, which will take place on January 20, the Kremlin announced on Thursday. "No, he has not sent one," said the Russian Presidency spokesperson Dmitry Peskov during his daily phone press conference, reports Efe.
Hours earlier, the U.S. television network CBS revealed, citing its own sources, that apparently the Republican has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to his inauguration.
According to the media, although no foreign leader has been present during a U.S. president's inauguration since at least 1874, Trump has also invited other leaders such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Russian Forces Capture Another Settlement in Eastern Ukraine
Russian forces have taken control of the settlement of Zoria in the eastern Donetsk region, said the state news agency RIA on Thursday, citing the Russian Defense Ministry, according to Reuters.
Russia Will "Undoubtedly" Respond to Ukrainian ATACMS Missile Attack
The Kremlin stated on Thursday that the Russian army will "undoubtedly" respond to the Ukrainian attack the day before on a military airfield, carried out, according to Moscow, with American ATACMS missiles, reports Afp.
A response "will follow, at the time and in the manner that will be considered appropriate. It will undoubtedly follow," insisted the Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov to journalists.
Finland Blocks More Russian Property Acquisitions
The Finnish Ministry of Defense said on Thursday that it had blocked seven real estate transactions involving two Russian buyers on the grounds that allowing the acquisitions to take place could threaten national security, reports Reuters.
Helsinki has long sought to limit property purchases by Russian citizens near strategic locations based on existing regulations, blocking three transactions in October 2023 and three more in January this year.
Sirsky Warns of Russian Superiority in Pokrovsk and Advocates for "Exceptional Measures"
Ukrainian Army Chief Oleksandr Sirsky reported intense fighting near the city of Pokrovsk, one of the Russian priority targets in the Donetsk region, while warning of the superiority of Russian troops and emphasizing the need to take "exceptional measures" to defend that stronghold, reports Efe.
"Russian occupiers are attacking with all available forces trying to break through our troops' defenses," Sirsky wrote on social media from the Pokrovsk front, where Russian troops, according to the Ukrainian war analysis platform DeepState, have come within three kilometers of the city.
Sirsky mentioned priorities such as reinforcing Pokrovsk's defense with sufficient ammunition and constant supplies, highlighting the high number of casualties his troops are inflicting on the attacking Russians.
Medvedev to Meet with Xi Jinping
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now a senior security official, said he will meet on Thursday with Chinese President Xi Jinping, reported the state news agency TASS, according to Reuters.
Medvedev, Vice President of the Russian Security Council, arrived in Beijing on December 10 for two days of talks with Chinese leaders.
Four Police Officers Injured in Chechnya Barracks Attacked by Ukrainian Drone
Four police officers were injured in a barracks in Grozny attacked overnight by a Ukrainian drone, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said on Thursday, reports Afp.
"A drone was shot down today at 00:55 (Wednesday at 21:55 GMT) in Grozny, above the special police regiment barracks," Kadyrov wrote on his Telegram account. The Chechen leader threatened to "kill 400 Ukrainians, NATO accomplices, in retaliation."
Russia Shoots Down 16 Ukrainian Drones, Eight of Them Over Annexed Crimea
Russian anti-aircraft defenses shot down 16 fixed-wing Ukrainian drones last night over the Kursk, Chechnya, North Ossetia, and the annexed Crimea regions, reported the Russian Defense Ministry today, according to Efe.
According to the military report published on Telegram, four drones were destroyed over the border region of Kursk, part of which has been occupied by Ukrainian troops since last August. Ukrainian drones attacked two Russian republics in the North Caucasus: Chechnya, where one drone was shot down, and North Ossetia, where anti-aircraft batteries downed three drones.