Ukraine Reports Strongest Battlefield Position While Nordic Leaders Urge Putin to Stop Fighting

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that his forces are recovering territory through a series of offensives. He described Kyiv's position on the battlefield as the strongest it has been in some time. Zelenskyy cited a report from senior commanders for these assessments. He also disclosed an operation code-named Veles for the first time. This operation uses pipelines in Ukraine's northeast.

Zelenskyy pointed to two additional military efforts. An air assault operation is active in eastern Ukraine. Another effort called Vivaldi is operating further north. Both operations aim to stop Russian advances in key areas.

Diplomatic pressure mounted on Tuesday as Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere phoned Russian President Vladimir Putin. They urged him to end the war. The call attempted to influence the diplomatic process after US President Donald Trump agreed to buy Russian diesel. That decision pushed ties with Ukraine to their lowest point in 18 months.

A localised ceasefire appears to be holding in Ukraine's south. However, Russian strikes overnight damaged a university campus and Kyiv's Southern Bridge. Zelenskyy called the attack a serious escalation aimed at Ukrainian logistics. A Ukrainian military source told Reuters that Russia used four Iskander ballistic missiles against the bridge. Zelenskyy added that energy, logistics, and infrastructure sites in 10 other regions were also attacked overnight.

Kyiv's mayor announced that the city plans to set aside 1 billion hryvnias to build water crossings over the River Dnipro. The exchange rate equates this amount to $22 million. The city will use these funds as Russia steps up attacks on bridges.

In Romania, President Nicusor Dan described an alleged Russian sabotage plot as a grave violation of sovereignty. His comments followed a report that Romania's intelligence service identified a Russia-coordinated sabotage network. The network is tied to a fire in central Brasov County that damaged several commercial entities. Three foreign nationals are under investigation. Romania's foreign ministry summoned Russia's ambassador on Tuesday. The Russian embassy said the ambassador rejected the baseless accusations.

France moved a maritime patrol aircraft to Romania to help spot navigation hazards. The aim is to increase the ability to protect critical infrastructure in Romania's exclusive economic zone. At least eight cargo ships have been hit near the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria over the past three weeks. About 34 sailors are reported dead or missing.

Poland will host a maintenance centre for the US-made Patriot air-defence system. Deputy defence minister Sobkowiak-Czarnecka announced this on social media. It will be the only such facility outside the United States. Pope Leo XIV's chief almsgiver began a three-day visit to Ukraine on Tuesday. He is bringing truckloads of winter clothes, blankets, and food for distribution in Kyiv.