In recent news, Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared Russia is ready for talks to end the war in Ukraine, and is claiming "it's not us who refuse talks — it's them". Despite the offer of talks, the country has still faced numerous attacks from Moscow, including a country-wide air raid alert, two missile strikes in the city of Kramatorsk, and a shelling of the city of Kherson. According to the Institute for the Study of War, Russian forces have continued their advance in the Bakhmut area and have shelled Kherson 71 times in the past 24 hours, killing 16 people and injuring 64.
While the Russian President has expressed his willingness to engage in talks, it is unclear what the outcome of any discussions would be and whether Ukraine would receive the support it needs. Former Ukrainian Ambassador to Canada Andriy Shevchenko and former Canadian Ambassador to Ukraine Roman Waschuk have discussed the potential for a major Russian offensive in the new year and whether Ukraine is receiving enough support as Russia continues to batter their power grid.
At this time, it is difficult to predict the future of the conflict in Ukraine and whether Russia will follow through on its offer to negotiate. As the situation continues to develop, it is important to remain informed and aware of the events unfolding in the region.