Dec 6, 2025 – A massive combined strike hits Kremenchuk, cutting water, electricity and heat supplies and prompting the mayor to describe the attack as “massive”[4].

Dec 6, 2025 – President Volodymyr Zelensky calls a three‑day Florida summit “very constructive” in a phone call with Donald Trump’s negotiating team, stressing that the talks aim to deter Russia and shape a post‑war settlement[4].

Dec 6, 2025 – U.S.‑led peace discussions in Miami seek to draft a settlement framework, while French President Emmanuel Macron offers “solidarity and support for de‑escalation,” and EU and UK leaders plan in‑person talks in London[4].

Dec 6, 2025 – Vladimir Putin rebuffs the idea of a post‑war peacekeeping force, stating that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be “legitimate targets”[4].

Dec 29, 2025 – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claims Ukraine launched 91 long‑range drones at a Putin residence in the Novgorod region, calling the raid “state terrorism” and saying all drones were intercepted[12].

Dec 29, 2025 – President Zelensky labels the drone claim a “fabrication,” warning it is intended to derail diplomacy and insisting Ukraine has not targeted any Russian site[12].

Dec 29, 2025 – Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha says there is “no plausible evidence” of an attack on the residence and urges restraint to avoid escalation[3].

Dec 29, 2025 – Western officials, including the U.S. ambassador to NATO, say the alleged strike lacks independent verification and that intelligence will be examined before drawing conclusions[6].

Dec 29, 2025 – The Donbas region remains the central hurdle in negotiations, with Russia controlling roughly 75 % of Donetsk and 99 % of Luhansk, underscoring the difficulty of a comprehensive settlement[3].

Dec 31, 2025 – EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas posts that Moscow’s claim is a “deliberate distraction” aimed at derailing peace talks, urging the international community not to accept Russian narratives[2].

Dec 31, 2025 – In his New Year address, Zelensky says the peace agreement is “90 % ready” and that the remaining 10 % “will determine the fate of peace for Ukraine and Europe”[1].

Dec 31, 2025 – Vladimir Putin’s New Year message to Russian forces declares, “We believe in you and victory,” reinforcing Moscow’s competing narrative of confidence[1].

Jan 1, 2026 – The CIA concludes Ukraine did not target a Putin residence in the alleged drone strike; Director John Ratcliffe briefs President Trump on the assessment[5].

Jan 1, 2026 – Trump tells reporters he is “very angry” about the alleged attack on Putin’s home, calling the claim “troubling” and questioning its veracity[5].

Jan 1, 2026 – Russia’s defence ministry hands a video and drone navigation‑memory data to the U.S. military attaché, claiming it proves the target was Putin’s Novgorod‑region residence[11].

Jan 1, 2026 – U.S. national‑security officials dispute the Russian evidence, stating they find no indication that Ukraine targeted the residence[11].

Jan 2, 2026 – Moscow reiterates the 91‑drone attack claim, releasing additional video and saying it has provided the data to the United States as “proof”[10].

Jan 2, 2026 – A New Year’s Eve drone strike on a café and hotel in Russian‑held Kherson kills at least 27 people, including a child, and injures more than 50, highlighting intensified Russian‑controlled territory attacks[10].

Jan 2, 2026 – Diplomatic talks continue as Washington offers Ukraine a 15‑year security guarantee (implementation timing remains unclear) and both sides exchange positions on a 20‑point peace framework[1][10].

Jan 5, 2026 – U.S. officials publicly state Ukraine did not target Putin’s residence, and Trump echoes this, saying the claim “didn’t happen” until proven otherwise[9].

Jan 5, 2026 – Zelensky travels to Florida for talks on a U.S.‑proposed 20‑point peace plan, reaffirming Ukraine’s commitment to negotiations despite the disputed drone incident[9].

Jan 5, 2026 – Analysts note that President Putin continues to seek full control of the Donbas, indicating the war is “not near end” and that any settlement must address this strategic objective[9].