Pope Francis has called for negotiations between Ukraine and Russia to end the war triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In his traditional Christmas Day address, the Pope said "boldness [was] needed to open the door" to dialogue "in order to achieve a just and lasting peace" between the two sides.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday condemned a Russian attack which saw more than 170 drones and missiles launched on Ukraine's energy grid, killing one person.