This is Jared Goyette, blogging from Kyiv on the 1,392nd day of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Our top stories so far today: ・SBU says drones hit Russian equipment worth hundreds of millions at Belbek airfield in occupied Crimea ・Zelensky arrives in Brussels to attend crucial EU summit,

Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely to send a signal to the United States and European powers on Friday over his appetite for peace or more war in Ukraine when he speaks at a marathon end-of-year news conference.

European Union leaders have agreed to provide a massive interest-free loan to Ukraine to meet its military and economic needs for the next two years. The loan will not rely on frozen Russian assets.

Brussels settles on a budget-backed loan after divisions derail plans to tap frozen Russian assets, offering Kiev short-term stability as war and diplomacy converge.

President Donald Trump on Monday described an end to the war in Ukraine as closer than ever, with American officials earlier in the day suggesting beefed-up security guarantees for Kyiv had advanced the peace talks — but that the US offer would not be on the table forever.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told ABC News during an exclusive interview in Moscow on Monday that he believes the warring parties are close to a deal.

Europe launched an International Claims Commission in an effort to ensure Kyiv is compensated for hundreds of billions of dollars in damage from Russian attacks and alleged war crimes.

European leaders gather in Brussels to decide on using frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine for the next two years.