Commodore Ivo Värk, Commander of the Estonian Navy, has said that neither Russia nor Ukraine dominates the Black Sea in the conventional sense of naval warfare.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that the first talks on ending the war will take place with US President-elect Donald Trump after his inauguration, and then with Russian ruler Vladimir Putin if the American leader offers "strong security guarantees for Ukraine".

The United States will make additional announcements about security aid for Ukraine in the coming days.

Roderich Kiesewetter, defence spokesperson for the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), believes that there is no alternative to the deployment of German soldiers in Ukraine after the war.

A new meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, also known as the Ramstein format, is scheduled for 9 January in Germany.

Some Ukrainian citizens in Poland have received letters resembling military draft notices. However, Poland's Office for Foreigners has clarified that these letters are forgeries.

Over half of German residents (54%) believe peacekeepers should be sent to Ukraine in case of a ceasefire.

In his New Year's address, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has promised to continue supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.

As part of an increase in security assistance, the United States is providing Ukraine with a US$1.25 billion military aid package that includes the transfer of weapons from Pentagon warehouses, which will, in particular, strengthen Ukraine's air defence.

US President Joe Biden announced on Monday, 30 December, that the US will provide Ukraine with almost US$2.5 billion in security assistance.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has suggested that Russia was trying to hide the traces of the downing of the Azerbaijani passenger plane in the sea and called for a fair investigation into the crash.

A poll has revealed that 45% of Ukrainians believe that the victory of Republican Donald Trump in the US election brings peace in the Russo-Ukrainian war closer, while almost 14% believe peace is becoming more distant.

Slovakia is "ready to actively contribute to the peace process between Russia and Ukraine" and has suggested itself as a venue for talks, Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár has said.

A survey has found that most Western Europeans believe Ukraine's allies are falling short in both imposing economic sanctions on Moscow and providing military and other support to Kyiv, leaving Russia's potential victory in the war unchecked.A survey has found that most Western Europeans believe Ukraine's allies are falling short in both imposing economic sanctions on Moscow and providing military and other support to Kyiv, leaving Russia's potential victory in the war unchecked.

People in Western Europe are divided over how they feel about a peaceful settlement that would leave Russia in control of at least some parts of Ukrainian territories illegally seized since the invasion in February 2022, as reportedly planned by US President-elect Donald Trump.

Alle Dorhout, Dutch Ambassador to Ukraine, stated that the Netherlands has already given Ukraine €3.8 billion and plans to donate another €6 billion.

Alle Dorhout, Dutch Ambassador to Ukraine,  has said that sanctions against Russia cannot be entirely "watertight": until every country introduces and enforces them, the sanctions will continue to have large loopholes.

More than 30 cars for Ukrainian soldiers will set out in a convoy from Kaunas, Lithuania, on 26 December.

In his traditional Christmas message on 25 December, Pope Francis mentioned the war in Ukraine, calling for an end to it and for negotiations for a just peace.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu has stated that a Russian missile violated Moldova's airspace on the night of 24 December.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha believes that Russia’s latest large-scale attack on Ukraine indicates its unwillingness to agree to ceasefire proposals.

Romania has said that its air defence did not record the entry of a Russian missile into its airspace during the large-scale attack on Ukraine on the night of 24-25 December.

One of the cruise missiles that Russia used to attack Ukraine on the night of 24-25 December came from Moldova’s airspace.

Poland launched fighter jets into the air after Russia fired missiles into Ukrainian airspace on the night of 25 December.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is convinced that Russia's war against Ukraine will end in 2025 either through peace talks or the destruction of one of the warring parties.

Andrus Merilo, Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces, believes that Russia, as the aggressor country, has achieved its goal because it has sent a signal to the world about the "normalcy" of occupying the territory of another state.

The New York Times reported that US intelligence believes that Pyongyang was the first to suggest that North Korean troops participate in the war on the side of Russia, not the Kremlin.