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 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.

As the war between Russia and Ukraine persists, Russian President Vladimir Putin said his nation's "troops are advancing," The Associated Press reported.

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.

Ordinary Russians got the chance to question their leader at his year-end call-in show, with queries focused on an end to the Ukraine war and boosting the economy.

Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky was in Poland to highlight the important role Kyiv and Warsaw play for the security of Europe. He also thanked EU leaders for agreeing to provide his country with a €90bn (£79bn; $105bn) loan - although approval only came after a fraught, at times heated, summit.

President Vladimir Putin offered no compromise on Friday on his terms for ending the war in Ukraine and accused the European Union of attempting "daylight robbery" of Russian assets.

Vladimir Putin told the world he was 'in love' today - although it is unclear which of his alleged secret lovers the Russian President was referring too