Calls are growing for the European Union to approve a massive loan to Ukraine backed by frozen Russian assets without the support of Belgium, where nearly all the assets are located.Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Thursday that she would be willing to vote through a plan for the loan without Belgium “if necessary” as a single member of the 27-nation EU “shouldn’t be able to block what is the right thing to do.

The Kremlin leader called European leaders backing Ukraine “piglets” who wanted to feed on Russia’s collapse.

The annual news conference sets the Kremlin’s tone for the next year and highlights President Vladimir V. Putin’s grip over Russia.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Europe will have to find the way to directly engage with the Russian leader as the US pushes ahead with peace talks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday that no consensus had been reached on key territorial questions as part of a possible peace settlement with Russia.

Two days of talks between President Volodymyr Zelensky and allies have brought some progress on security guarantees, but Russia remains opposed to any foreign forces in Ukraine.

U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner will meet Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday, as Trump grows increasingly exasperated by delays.

U.S. administration officials signaled Monday a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine may be closer than ever.