Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned there will be no peace in Ukraine until Russia achieves its overarching goals: the "denazification" and demilitarisation of the country.
After skipping his end-of-year address in 2022, due to military struggles, Putin was back on Friday, calling for Ukraine's unconditional surrender.
Confident and uncompromising, Putin is back, basking in the highly-orchestrated spotlight.
A year ago, Russia's president cancelled his annual pre-Christmas press conference.
But as Western support for Ukraine wanes, and as sanctions fail to cripple Russia's economy, Putin wanted to spread some good news.
"The peace will come when we reach our goals, and coming back to the goals, they remain unchanged," he told Russian reporters.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is equally defiant, but working harder than ever to reach an audience.
As the war approaches its two-year mark, western leaders are no longer turning up in Kyiv offering unlimited support.
And Zelensky is now on a seemingly endless tour, fighting not to be forgotten.
He's jetted from the US to Norway just this week.
"Thank you, again, Norway."
On Friday Zelensky made a plea to the EU summit, where a €50 billion (NZ $88.6b) aid package is in serious doubt.
"Putin will surely use, of course, this against you personally and against all of Europe. Don't give him the first and only victory of the year," he said.
The money is being blocked by Viktor Orban, Prime Minister of Hungary, but also Putin's closest EU ally.
"There is no reason to discuss anything because pre-conditions were not met," Orban told reporters.
But under pressure Orban did allow a surprise win for Ukraine, leaving the room as a vote was cast to let negotiations begin on Ukraine's future EU membership.
It's something Orban has been threatening to veto for weeks.
"It's a very powerful political signal," said Charles Michel, president of the European Council.
Not quite the very merry Christmas Putin had in mind.
