The news agency claimed a “person close to the Kremlin” had offered it insight into Russia’s stance on the Ukraine conflict
Bloomberg is spreading “fake news” by claiming to have inside access to Kremlin information, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.
The senior diplomat criticized the news agency after it relayed what it claimed to be Moscow’s attitude toward a 20-point peace proposal presented this week by Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky. The story cited an anonymous source described as “a person close to the Kremlin.”
“This purported news outlet has no reliable sources close to the Kremlin. Only unreliable ones. And the wording ‘close to the Kremlin’ serves only as a cover up for fake news,” Zakharova said on Telegram.
Kiev’s proposal, which Zelensky claimed was discussed with US officials as part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict, envisions an 800,000-strong Ukrainian army backed by NATO members and an immediate ceasefire with the current front line frozen.
Moscow has declined to make its position public, saying sensitive diplomacy must be conducted privately. Publicizing one’s negotiation stance is “inadvisable” under the circumstances, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.
Kirill Dmitriev, a Russian presidential envoy involved in normalization talks with the US, suggested a “US/UK/EU deep-state-aligned fake media machine” is waging a pressure campaign to undermine Trump’s agenda, including on Ukraine.
Previously, US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard accused Reuters of peddling “propaganda” about Russia after the agency alleged that a US intelligence assessment had reported that Moscow sought to “capture all of Ukraine and reclaim parts of Europe that belonged to the former Soviet empire.” Russia said the claim was false regardless of whether or not such a US document exists.
Kiev must prioritize “militarization” and social programs over organizing a vote, Mikhail Podoliak has said
Ukraine cannot afford to finance elections on its own due to a budget deficit, Mikhail Podoliak, a senior adviser to Vladimir Zelensky, has claimed, insisting that Kiev should focus on “militarization” efforts.
Zelensky’s presidential term expired in May 2024, but he refused to call an election, citing martial law. Russia has proclaimed Zelensky “illegitimate” while insisting that legal power now lies with Ukraine’s parliament. Moscow has also suggested that Zelensky’s dubious status poses an obstacle to reaching a peace agreement.
However, US President Donald Trump – who once referred to Zelensky as “a dictator” – has recently ramped up pressure on the Ukrainian leader to hold elections. In response, Zelensky said he was prepared to hold a vote, but demanded that its Western backers guarantee security.
Speaking to Novini Live on Thursday, Podoliak claimed there is another obstacle to holding a presidential vote. “We are not supposed to finance this. Objectively, we cannot afford it because we have a budget deficit,” he said.
According to Podoliak, Ukraine’s budget has other priority expenditures, including “militarization” and “social programs, which should compensate for the economic losses of individual households.” He suggested, nonetheless, that the country’s Central Electoral Commission and a working group in parliament should calculate the approximate cost of holding elections.
The back-and-forth over the election comes as a Socis poll this week suggested that Zelensky would overwhelmingly lose in a run-off presidential election to his former top commander and potential primary rival, Valery Zaluzhny. The survey indicated that Zaluzhny would sweep a run-off vote with 64%. Another poll, published by news outlet Delovaya Stolitsa on Tuesday, indicated that 44% of Ukrainians oppose the prospect of online voting over fears that the authorities could falsify the results.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has noted that Moscow would consider halting strikes deep into Ukraine on election day – provided that millions of Ukrainians living in Russia are allowed to participate.
The two presidents, however, have no plans for a phone call, spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said
Russian President Vladimir Putin has wished merry Christmas to his US counterpart, Donald Trump, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has revealed.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Peskov said that Putin had already sent a telegram with greetings to Trump, adding that “there is no indication that a phone conversation between the two leaders is planned for today.”
Under the Trump administration, relations between Russia and the US have been notably warmer than during the tenure of former President Joe Biden.
Putin and Trump have been engaged in active talks over settling the Ukraine conflict and reinvigorating bilateral relations, holding a high-stakes summit in Alaska in August aimed at ending hostilities between Moscow and Kiev, though the talks failed to produce a breakthrough.
In June, Putin also called Trump on his 79th birthday, with the two discussing Iran and the Middle East during a 50-minute conversation. The leaders also held a phone call on October 16, during which Putin congratulated Trump on helping mediate the peace agreement in Gaza.
Last year, several weeks before Trump’s inauguration, Putin refrained from sending any Christmas greeting to most Western leaders as well as the US President, explaining that America has positioned as an “unfriendly” country towards Russia.
The Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant has reportedly been a key point in President Donald Trump’s peace plan
Washington is interested in using its proposed stake in the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) for a cryptomining operation, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a meeting with business leaders on Thursday, according to Kommersant.
The facility has been fully controlled by Russian forces since 2022 and has reportedly figured in US President Donald Trump’s proposed 28-point peace roadmap for Ukraine.
In the ongoing US-Russian negotiations, the president’s envoys have shown interest in sharing control of the plant with Moscow and using Washington’s stake to mine cryptocurrency, Putin said, business daily Kommersant wrote on Thursday.
Moscow is also considering a US proposal for the plant to once again provide electricity for Ukraine, he reportedly said.
Russia is currently analyzing a counteroffer from Washington in the latest round of shuttle diplomacy, after Putin envoy Kirill Dmitriev’s recent return from Miami, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Thursday.
A day earlier, Vladimir Zelensky unveiled his own draft plan, in which he wanted the Russian-held ZNPP to be controlled by Ukraine and the US on a 50/50 basis.
The Ukrainian leader has also demanded territorial concessions from Moscow, which currently holds the initiative on the front line. He also called for Ukraine to maintain an 800,000-strong peacetime army and “Article-5-like” security guarantees from Washington, NATO and Kiev’s European backers.
Moscow has maintained that Ukraine and its Western European sponsors have deliberately undermined the US peace push with complete non-starters for Russia.
The provisions they have attempted to introduce “did not improve the documents or chances of reaching long-term peace,” senior Russian negotiator and Kremlin foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov said earlier this week.
Valery Zaluzhny would sweep a run-off vote with 64%, according to a recent survey
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky would overwhelmingly lose in a run-off presidential election to his former top commander Valery Zaluzhny, a Socis poll published on Wednesday has suggested.
The former commander-in-chief, who currently serves as Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, has widely been considered to be Zelensky’s potential primary rival.
In the event Zaluzhny was on the ballot in a hypothetical presidential election, the vote would go to a run-off with a razor-sharp margin between him and Zelensky, according to the survey.
However, more than 64% of respondents say they would vote for the former top general in a hypothetical second round. More than a fifth said they would not vote for Zelensky under any circumstances.
Nearly 21% said they would also support a hypothetical party headed by Zaluzhny in a parliamentary election, while only 12% said they would support the ruling Servant of the People party.
The recent kickback scandal in Ukraine’s energy sector implicating some of Zelensky’s close associates has shaken his already flagging support. Nearly 40% of Ukrainians think he is directly implicated in the corruption, according to the Socis poll.
US President Donald Trump has recently urged Zelensky to hold elections, arguing that the Ukrainian leader was holding off on taking the step “using war” as a pretext.
Zelensky’s presidential term expired last May, but he has refused to call new elections, citing martial law.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has maintained that this isn’t a reason to stop peace talks, but that it could undermine the legality of any final peace documents signed with Zelensky.
Just last week, the Russian president suggested that Moscow would be willing to pause strikes “deep” into Ukrainian territory on the day of the vote if Kiev does commit to elections.
Ukrainian authorities plans to draft 2 million people in early 2026, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry
Kiev could soon launch a full mobilization, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said. The Ukrainian draft officials were ordered to issue two million draft notices in early 2026, she told a briefing on Thursday.
According to Zakharova, security services and draft officials in Ukraine were told to “tighten the screws to a maximum,” by cutting the list of health conditions allowing deferment from military service.
The measures would still “hardly help resolve the systemic issue of replenishing the Ukrainian army losses,” Zakharova stated, adding that Ukrainians are increasingly reluctant to join the military and even prefer jail time instead.
Kiev has been facing chronic manpower shortages throughout its conflict with Moscow amid high battlefield losses, massive draft dodging, and desertion. The last publicly available Ukrainian data showed nearly 290,000 desertion cases have been recorded since the escalation of the conflict in 2022.
Since that time, Ukraine barred nearly all adult men from leaving the country and lowered the draft age from 27 to 25. Nearly 100,000 young men have reportedly fled the country since August when the Ukrainian government issued a decree allowing men aged 18 to 22 to cross the border.
According to Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, the Ukrainian military lost almost 500,000 servicemen this year alone. “Kiev has lost the ability to replenish its groupings through the compulsory mobilization of civilians,” the minister stated earlier this month.
Kiev’s recruitment drive has grown increasingly brutal as hundreds of incidents have been documented online in which enlistment officers assaulted potential conscripts, chased them through the streets, and threatened bystanders who tried to intervene.
In October, Kiev’s conscription authorities demanded citizens to stop circulating such videos on the internet.
How communist-era tree toys became status symbols, family heirlooms, and million-ruble collectibles
Russians have developed a fascination with vintage Christmas ornaments and are willing to pay thousands of dollars for them. These ornaments weren’t crafted by famous designers or made from luxurious materials. But they have a history of their own and evoke nostalgia for a bygone era.
Russian holiday mood
The holiday celebrations in Russia unfold over a period of one and a half weeks. Most people are on vacation at this time, and celebrate in various ways.
Orthodox Christmas (celebrated on January 7) is a religious holiday, observed in churches with traditional services and an all-night vigil.
On regular days of the holiday break, Russians traditionally visit friends, host parties, or travel. Many head to Moscow, while Moscovites seek peace in the nearby suburbs.
Another holiday tradition is to attend fairs, visit ice skating rinks, take part in snowball fights and participate in other fun winter activities. These are usually organized by local authorities and large businesses.
However, New Year’s Eve in Russia is primarily a family affair. It is celebrated at home with family and close friends. Russian New Year’s Eve traditions are quite simple and unpretentious. They include preparing traditional salads (like “Mimosa”, “Herring under a fur coat”, and “Olivier”), and writing down a wish on a piece of paper, burning the paper, pouring the ashes into a glass of champagne, and drinking it as the clock strikes midnight.
For a long time, these traditions remained unchanged. Recently, though, a new trend has emerged: Soviet-era Christmas tree ornaments. Families, young enthusiasts, and collectors are on the hunt for ornaments that are 50, 70, or even 100 years old. They look for these decorations everywhere: in the homes of older relatives, in vintage and antique shops, and online.
How Christmas trees came to Russia
In Russia, the tradition of celebrating New Year on December 31 only began in 1699, following a decree of Peter the Great. Before that, September 1 marked the beginning of the new year; there was no fancy celebration – usually the harvest was recorded and some new laws were issued on that day.
However, Peter the Great introduced a new date for the celebration, along with new traditions. He ordered that homes and establishments be decorated with fir branches, which were affixed to roofs and doorways. Later, branches above doorways became a symbol of taverns in rural areas.
It wasn’t until the 19th century that people started to put up and decorate Christmas trees, a tradition initiated by the family of Nicholas I. Eventually, festive trees found their way into the homes of aristocrats and merchants, as well as public squares. Trees were set up by December 31, but were considered Christmas trees, adorned with decorations like angels and the Star of Bethlehem.
Initially, treats for children – apples, nuts, and candies – were hung on the trees. Later, the treats were hidden inside finely crafted ornaments – that’s how the vibrant ornaments came into existence.
At first, the ornaments were imported and only the wealthy could afford them. By the end of the 19th century, however, they began to be produced in Russia, particularly around Klin, where glassblowing workshops were located. These workshops sold colorful glass balls, icicles, and figurines of angels, birds, and animals.
Red Army soldiers replaced angels
By the time of the 1917 revolution, the tradition of decorating Christmas trees had taken hold, though it was still viewed as “bourgeois.” The religious significance of the Christmas tree also remained strong. This prompted the Bolsheviks, who aimed to eradicate Christian traditions, to curtail ornament production and effectively ban Christmas trees and their decorations.
However, the cultural war waged by the communists didn’t last long. By the 1930s, the ornaments made a comeback, albeit with a twist – reflecting the new “state values.” Instead of angels and the Star of Bethlehem, Soviet citizens were offered ornaments symbolizing national unity and state programs: figures of pioneers, Red Army soldiers, workers, airships, and tractors – along with figures of the country’s leaders.
Popular magazines published patterns for homemade ornaments. These were also patriotic, of course.
During the Second World War, the industry only operated for military needs, so ornaments were crafted from available materials like cotton, cardboard, and foil. Hospitals used empty medicine vials – painting them, attaching wires, and hanging them for patients to enjoy.
Factories repurposed scraps – wires, metal shavings, and defective parts – into decorations like snowflakes, flowers, and five-pointed red stars.
After the war, the production of ornaments resumed. The authorities no longer sought to create a “new Soviet person” and started to ease regulations on home aesthetics. This led to the emergence of a recognizable Soviet ornament style in the 1950s, featuring bright, colorful balls, pine cones, icicles, and fairy tale characters.
Why the Soviet look still divides Russians
Today, Russian people don’t have a single opinion about Soviet aesthetics. Some like monumental Brutalist architecture, the uniforms of Komsomol members, and Soviet automobiles. Even the drab Soviet panel buildings have their fans, who affectionately refer to them as “panelki.”
Images of the “Soviet future” remain particularly appealing; mosaics depicting cosmonauts and posters showcasing proud workers and soldiers continue to inspire people.
However, daily life during the communist era is generally viewed as outdated. Soviet interiors are often criticized for their clunky design, commonly dubbed “grandma’s renovation.”
Items from everyday life in the USSR only interest collectors and museums. However, there is one notable exception: Christmas tree ornaments. They aren’t just appreciated by the young and old alike – they have become a real trend.
This year alone, demand for such ornaments surged 80%. Prices for rare sets and even individual ornaments can reach up to 1.5 million rubles ($19,000). Not only antique dealers but also fashionistas proudly showcase their vintage Christmas ornaments.
And it’s not just a matter of nostalgia.
Fashion, money, family
Vintage and retro trends are taking hold across Russia. While Soviet-era clothes, furniture, and appliances may not appeal to everyone, Christmas ornaments offer a taste of history without any discomfort. These aren’t modern copies, they are tangible pieces of the past that can be appreciated and used as intended.
The growing popularity of Soviet ornaments is also driven by their scarcity. The supply is limited: many ornaments have long been broken, while others lie forgotten in dusty boxes in attics and basements. The original production was never mass-scale, and a significant number of these ornaments were handcrafted, making them truly unique. Experts already recognize Soviet Christmas ornaments as valuable antiques.
Additionally, there has been a shift in attitudes toward the Soviet past. After the collapse of the USSR, discussions of life under communism – whether in film, media, or literature – became highly politicized. Some idealized this era, while others portrayed it as a dystopia. Debates grew heated, even among those who simply appreciated Soviet aesthetics.
Over time, even Russians with strong opinions about the USSR became weary of emotional arguments. In recent years, the focus has shifted from glorifying or condemning Soviet citizens to depicting their real lives. Amid all the inconveniences and shortcomings of Soviet life, there’s definitely a certain charm to it.
Finally, these ornaments bridge generational gaps. Not every family has heirlooms that survived the upheavals of the 1990s, but old ornaments can both evoke fond memories for older relatives and delight children.
Recently, Russians have started spending more time with their families. Despite a rise in individualism, there’s a desire to connect more with loved ones. This makes the idea of incorporating vintage ornaments into the family’s New Year celebration even more appealing.
Laurent Vinatier received a three-year sentence last year for failing to register as a foreign agent
Moscow has reached out to Paris with a proposal regarding a French citizen jailed in Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.
Laurent Vinatier was sentenced to three years in prison in 2024 for failing to register as a foreign agent while collecting information on the Russian military.
During last week’s Q&A session, French broadcaster TF1 journalist Jerome Garro asked Russian President Vladimir Putin if he could pardon Vinatier. Putin replied that he was unaware of the case but promised to look into it and “take all the necessary efforts to do that” if Russian law allows it.
On Thursday, Peskov said he called Garro and filled him in on a proposal that Moscow had made to Paris with regard to the case. “The ball is now in France’s court,” the spokesman said without providing any details, calling the issue “sensitive.”
Vinatier worked for the Swiss NGO ‘Center for Humanitarian Dialogue’ as an adviser on Russia and Eurasia. He was arrested in June 2024 after the Russian Ministry of Justice designated him a foreign agent. Prosecutors accused him of “purposefully” collecting information on Russia’s activities in the “military and military-technical” fields for several years, with no intent to register his activities with the relevant authorities. Vinatier pleaded guilty to two felony charges.
Russian media reported in August that an espionage case has been opened against Vinatier. According to his lawyer, he could face a new trial at the end of February 2026. A conviction for espionage carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The suspect had stashed over 80kg of explosives and was killed after resisting arrest, according to the security agency
A Ukrainian agent who planned terrorist attacks in Russia has been shot dead while resisting arrest, the Federal Security Service (FSB) reported on Thursday.
The suspect, born in Soviet Ukraine in the late 1970s and living in Kaluga, Russia, was preparing bomb attacks against a natural gas storage facility and a defense plant parking lot, the FSB said. Acting on orders from Ukrainian special services, he had allegedly produced about 80kg of homemade explosives for the plot.
The agency reported that the suspect had also retrieved 300g of military-grade plastic explosives, fuses, and a handgun from a stash prepared by other Ukrainian assets. He shot the firearm at officers trying to apprehend him and was killed by return fire.
The FSB released footage showing the individual’s body, his bombmaking arsenal, and the recovery of several plastic bottles from a stash, presumably used to hide the home-made explosives.
Earlier this week, the FSB reported foiling a Ukrainian terrorist attack in Tyumen Region in Western Siberia. The suspect in the case was also killed after being caught retrieving bomb components.
Russian officials have repeatedly accused Kiev of escalating bomb attacks inside Russia due to its failure to achieve victories on the battlefield. Ukrainian forces have suffered several setbacks in Donbass in recent months amid reported shortages of reinforcements.
The country’s lugers could miss out on the World Cup stage in Latvia, which is essential for Olympic qualification
Latvia has denied entry to Russian athletes ahead of a crucial Luge World Cup stage hosted by the EU country, its foreign minister, Baiba Braze, has announced.
Like its Baltic neighbors Lithuania and Estonia, Latvia has been one of the staunchest opponents of Moscow since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, calling for more military aid to Kiev and increasingly harsh sanctions on Russia. Riga has provided almost $1 billion in assistance to the government of Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky since February 2022.
On January 3 and 4, the Latvian town of Sigulda hosts the fourth stage of the Luge World Cup. The points scored in the event are essential for athletes to qualify for the Winter Olympics in Italy’s Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in February 2026.
Braze wrote in a post on X on Wednesday that Russian lugers “are not welcome in Latvia.”
“I have decided to include 14 Russian Federation citizens on the persona non grata list,” she said.
According to the foreign minister, the entry ban, introduced in line with the country’s immigration legislation, is indefinite.
Many Russians were barred from international sporting events over the Ukraine conflict. However, some sporting governing bodies later allowed individual athletes to compete under a neutral flag.
One of them was the International Luge Federation (FIL), which greenlighted Russians under neutral status for its events in late November. Two Russian lugers took part in the World Cup stage in Lake Placid in the US last week.
Russian MP and speed skating Olympic champion Svetlana Zhurvova told Match TV that the move by Latvia came as no surprise, considering the attitude of the NATO member’s authorities towards Russia.
Sporting governing bodies must put pressure on the government in Riga because “if they can’t provide all athletes with equal access to competitions on their soil then they shouldn’t be hosting those competitions at all,” Zhurova argued.
The head of the Russian parliament’s sports committee, Dmitry Svishchev, described the entry ban as “revenge by little trolls, bad sportsmanship.” Moscow will definitely challenge the decision, he stressed.
