President Vladimir Putin told some of Russia's top businessmen that he wanted the whole of Donbas, the Kommersant newspaper reported.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has sent a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin stressing the unity between the countries. He said their "alliance" today is "a precious common asset to be carried forward forever.

Follow live updates from NBC News as Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at his annual year-end news conference on Ukraine, peace, war and Trump.

Putin claims no "willingness from Ukraine" to negotiate a peace deal as he touts battlefield gains, and Kyiv claims a brazen strike on a ship far from Russia.

President Vladimir Putin said he’s willing to discuss bringing Russia’s war in Ukraine to an end, even as he ruled out changes sought by Kyiv and Europe to a US peace plan drawn up with Moscow.

Putin also claimed that Zelensky’s European allies have pushed for demands that are “absolutely unacceptable."