Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has vowed that his country will use 2025 to fight to end nearly three years of Russian aggression. The Ukrainian leader's speech caps a difficult year for the war-torn country, which has been fending off resource-rich Russian forces for nearly three years. “May 2025 be our year,” President Zelenskiy said in an address to the nation just before the clock struck midnight in Kiev. “We know that peace cannot be given as a gift, but we will do everything in our power to stop Russia and end the war.”
President Zelenskiy said that no one will gift peace to his country, but he believes that the United States will stand shoulder to shoulder with Kiev in the fight.. He recalled conversations with outgoing US President Joe Biden, President-elect Donald Trump and “all of you who support us here in the United States.” “I hope that the new president of the United States will bring peace and end the aggression of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, and I have no doubt that that is possible,” he said.
Russian gas will not be sent to Europe via Ukraine on January 1, data from Ukraine's gas pipeline operator showed on Tuesday, as a key transport agreement between Moscow and Kiev nears its end. It became clear. Under a five-year contract signed in 2019, Ukraine allows Russia to pipeline gas to Europe through its territory, but President Zelenskiy has announced plans to move ahead with the move amid continued Russian aggression. He denies an extension. According to data from Ukrainian telecommunications operator OGTSU, deliveries through the only entry point of Russian gas to Ukraine have decreased to zero as of January 1, 2025.
Russia will advance approximately 4,000 square kilometers (1,500 miles) in Ukraine in 2024, seven times more than in 2023.The AFP analysis of data from the Institute for the Study of War revealed on Tuesday. The data highlights the challenges Ukraine faces as it enters 2025, as Russia pours resources into the invasion and uncertainty over future U.S. aid to Kiev under President Donald Trump. It highlights the pressure that exists. Most of Russia's gains came in the fall, gaining 610 square kilometers in October and 725 square kilometers in November. In the past two months, Russian forces have captured more territory than at any time since March 2022, during the early weeks of the conflict. The Russian advance slowed in December, reaching 465 square kilometers in the first 30 days of the month.
Ukraine's military announced on Tuesday that its forces had attacked a Russian oil depot in the western Smolensk region.setting fire to tanks storing petroleum products. Ukraine's military general staff said on the Telegram app that the warehouse was being used for military purposes. He did not specify the weapon used in the attack, but said it was carried out in conjunction with a drone squad.
Smolensk Oblast Governor Vasily Anokhin said the attack caused a fuel spill and fire. He said 10 Ukrainian drones were shot down by Russian air defenses, and the remains of one of them fell on an oil facility. Ukraine has carried out numerous attacks on Russian oil storage facilities and refineries.
