Polish jet intercepts Russian spy plane – DW – 12/25/2025

As most Christians celebrate Christmas today, Pope Leo XIV called on believers to pray “for the suffering people of Ukraine.”

“May the support and commitment of the international community embolden the parties involved to engage in honest, direct and respectful dialogue,” he said, calling for an end to the “clash of weapons.”

His appeal comes just a day after details of a new peace plan were revealed to the public, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky saying Kiev and Washington were united behind the proposal. On Thursday, Moscow said it was analyzing documents on the suggested deal.

Volodymyr The question of territorial concessions in eastern Ukraine remains unresolved in the 20-point peace plan presented by President Zelensky, and Russia has given no indication that it is willing to withdraw from the region.

In a rare public move, the Kremlin said it had contacts with France regarding French citizen Laurent Vinatier, who is currently serving a three-year sentence in Russia.

Vinatier, who was previously a researcher at a Swiss conflict mediation NGO, was jailed in mid-2024. He was convicted of failing to register as a “foreign agent” under Russia’s strict law aimed at curbing foreign influence, and now faces espionage charges.

“Actually, a proposal was made to the French regarding Vinatier,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

“The ball is now in France’s court,” he said, without giving details.

Separately, a lawyer for Vinatier’s family said his family hoped the researcher could be released during the holiday season, including the Orthodox Christmas celebrated by most Russians on January 7.

“We have full confidence in French diplomacy, which is doing its best,” the lawyer said.

As Russian attacks continue, Ukrainians are skeptical that Russian aggression will end any time soon. DW reports from Kiev on the Christmas mood and what the US-proposed demilitarized “free economic zone” could mean for eastern Ukraine.

For the second time this week, Poland deployed jets in response to a potential threat over its airspace amid fighting in Ukraine.

After detecting that it was flying near Polish airspace, “Polish fighter planes intercepted a reconnaissance aircraft of the Russian Federation, identified it and took it out of its area of ​​responsibility.”

According to the Polish military, the interception occurred over international waters of the Baltic Sea.

Warsaw’s forces also detected objects entering Polish airspace from Belarus, which is allied with Russia, and determined that the objects were likely “smuggling balloons,” the Polish Defense Ministry said in an online post.

Hello and Merry Christmas from the Bonn Newsroom!

Today, we once again bring you the main headlines about the war in Ukraine and broader tensions between Russia and NATO allies in Europe, with the Kremlin still considering its response to the peace plan presented by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky this week.

Stay tuned to this live blog for latest updates.