As the war in Ukraine grinds toward its fourth year, the diplomatic, financial, and military stakes have never been higher. On December 18, 2025, European leaders gathered in Brussels for a pivotal summit, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the helm of urgent calls for unity and action. The message he delivered was unambiguous: Europe must make it clear to Moscow that continuing the war is "pointless," and that Ukraine can count on unwavering support from its allies.
"The outcome of these meetings, the outcome for Europe, must be such that Russia feels that its desire to continue fighting next year will be pointless, because Ukraine will have support," Zelensky declared in a televised evening address on December 17, as reported by The Independent. His words set the tone for a summit dominated by questions of strategy, solidarity, and the future of hundreds of billions in frozen Russian assets.
At the heart of the summit was the debate over nearly $250 billion in Russian sovereign assets immobilized in the European Union, most of it held in Belgium's Euroclear. Zelensky pressed European leaders to take decisive action: "We need all our partners to have the courage to see the truth, acknowledge the truth and act accordingly," he insisted, urging that these assets be tapped to support Ukraine, whether as a direct loan or as reparations for Russia's invasion.
Yet, as BBC and The Guardian have noted, the plan to use frozen Russian funds is not without controversy. Some European leaders, particularly in Belgium and Italy, have expressed reservations about the legal risks of such a move. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni warned that seizing assets without a solid legal basis could be "Moscow’s first victory since the start of the war." Belgium, which holds the lion’s share of the assets, fears it could be left on the hook if Russia successfully challenges the plan in international courts.
Despite these concerns, EU governments agreed last week to extend the freeze on Russian assets indefinitely, rather than voting every six months. The debate now centers on whether these funds should be used to support Ukraine’s defense and reconstruction, or reserved until the war's end. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the chances of reaching a European agreement as "50:50," but stressed the urgency: "If we don't act now and make the decision we could make to halt this advance of the Russian army, when will we?"
Meanwhile, the rhetoric between Moscow and the West has grown sharper. Russian President Vladimir Putin lashed out at European leaders, deriding them as "little pigs" and accusing them of seeking to profit from Russia's collapse. In a characteristically defiant speech, Putin declared, "Russia will liberate its historical lands on the battlefield or through diplomacy, but we will achieve our territorial aims in the end." He dismissed Western fears of a broader conflict as "hysteria," insisting that claims Russia wanted war with Europe were "a lie."
Even as diplomatic efforts intensified, the prospects for an immediate ceasefire dimmed. Zelensky ruled out the possibility of a Christmas truce, stating bluntly that Russia was likely to reject a new European-backed peace proposal. "We will support any ceasefire," he said, but emphasized that its success depended on "Russia’s political will." Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov echoed Moscow’s hard line, saying, "We want peace – we don’t want a truce that would give Ukraine a respite and prepare for the continuation of the war." Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov reiterated that Moscow would not return any land or accept NATO peacekeepers in a post-war Ukraine.
Amid this diplomatic deadlock, news emerged of upcoming talks between US and Russian officials in Miami, Florida, over the weekend of December 20-21. According to Politico, the US delegation will include envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, while Russia will be represented by Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian sovereign wealth fund. While hopes for a breakthrough remain slim, these talks signal that backchannel diplomacy is still in play, even as public positions harden.
The summit in Brussels also coincided with the launch of an International Claims Commission for Ukraine in The Hague, designed to ensure Kyiv is compensated for damages from Russian attacks and alleged war crimes. The Register of Damage, now part of the commission, has already received over 86,000 claims from individuals, organizations, and public bodies in Ukraine. Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel emphasized, "The goal is to have validated claims that will ultimately be paid by Russia. It will really have to be paid by Russia; this commission offers no guarantee for the damages."
On the ground, the war’s toll remains painfully visible. On December 17, the body of British paratrooper Lance Corporal George Hooley, 28, was repatriated to RAF Brize Norton after he was killed in what the Ministry of Defence called a "tragic accident" in Ukraine. In a letter to be opened in the event of his death, Hooley wrote to his family, "Don't remember me with sadness and loss because I died doing what I believed in." The private ceremony and the outpouring of respect along the route to Carterton Repatriation Memorial Garden underscored the personal sacrifices made by those supporting Ukraine’s struggle.
As the Brussels summit unfolded, European lawmakers also moved to phase out Russian gas imports by 2027, a significant step in reducing the continent’s energy dependence on Moscow. Before the 2022 invasion, Russia accounted for 45 percent of EU gas imports, but that figure has since dropped to 12 percent, according to Reuters. This shift is both a response to the war and a signal of Europe’s determination to recalibrate its security and economic posture.
While the United States has denied reports that it is preparing new sanctions against Russia in the event of failed peace talks, a Treasury spokesperson told Bloomberg, "It is explicitly false to conclude any decisions have been made regarding future sanctions against Russia. As we have said for months, all options remain on the table in support of President Trump’s tireless efforts to stop the senseless killing, and to achieving a lasting, durable peace."
Despite the flurry of diplomatic activity and the slow grind of negotiations, the gap between Kyiv and Moscow on core issues—especially territorial integrity—remains wide. Zelensky has repeatedly ruled out recognizing Russian control over any part of the Donbas or Crimea, even as US proposals have floated the idea of a "free economic zone" in those regions. "A ‘free economic zone’ does not mean under the control of Russia. We do not want to give up our Donbas," Zelensky said firmly.
As 2025 draws to a close, the war in Ukraine appears set to continue into another year, with both sides digging in and the diplomatic path to peace fraught with obstacles. The Brussels summit, the fate of frozen Russian assets, and the ongoing talks in Miami may yet shape the next chapter of the conflict. For now, the message from Kyiv is clear: only a united, resolute Europe can convince Moscow that continuing its war is truly pointless.
