Russia said at least 24 people, including a child, have been killed in a drone strike on a hotel and cafe where civilians were seeing in the new year in a Russian-controlled part of the Kherson region in southern Ukraine.

Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine continue as Ukraine spent its third Christmas under Russian onslaught.

Volodymyr Zelensky has said Donald Trump’s peace plan “looks better” following a round of talks between officials from Kyiv and Washington in Florida. The critical talks came as the White House ramps up the pressure on both sides to reach a peace deal.

Ukraine struck a shadow fleet vessel crossing the Mediterranean Sea in an unprecedented attack that could curtail Russia’s fundraising for war. The Ukrainian Security Services (SBU) claimed the drone strike on the sanctioned Qendil oil tanker, which was some 2,000km outside of Ukrainian territory and was left critically damaged.