TOP HEADLINES

• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told U.S. Congress that aid to Ukraine was an investment in democracy and "not charity" during his flying visit to Washington as he pressed for more assistance in the conflict with Russia. MORE DETAIL BELOW

• Zelenskyy said a "just peace" with Russia meant no compromises on his country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

• The Kremlin said Washington and Kyiv were turning a deaf ear to Russia's concerns following Zelenskyy's U.S. visit. MORE DETAIL BELOW

• The Kremlin said U.S. supplies of Patriot missile systems to Ukraine would not contribute to settling the conflict between Moscow and Kyiv.

• A former Russian deputy prime minister and a pro-Moscow official were injured when Ukrainian forces shelled the eastern city of Donetsk, according to Russian news agencies.

• Russia's Rosatom state nuclear energy company said talks with International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi about a safe zone around Ukraine's Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant would continue.

• An EU and Ukraine summit has been set for February 3, with the location not decided yet.

• Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said recent military maneuvers were not aimed at Ukraine and dismissed "conspiracy theories" about deployments of Belarusian armed forces at the border.

• The Russian Defence Ministry said Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu had visited army units fighting in Ukraine, Russian state-owned news agency RIA reported.

MORE DETAIL

Zelenskyy pushes for more Ukraine aid with rallying cry

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the U.S. Congress that aid to Ukraine was an investment in democracy and "not charity" as he invoked American battles against the Nazis in World War II to press for more assistance.

In his first visit out of his country since the conflict began in February, Zelenskyy told lawmakers that he hoped they would continue to support Ukraine on a bipartisan basis.

This is a major point as Republicans are due to take the majority in the House on January 3 and have warned they will not write a "blank check" for Ukraine.

"Your money is not charity, it's an investment in the global security and democracy that we handle in the most responsible way," Zelenskyy said.

"It is a great honor for me to be at the U.S. Congress and speak to you and all Americans. Against all doom and gloom scenarios, Ukraine did not fall. Ukraine is alive and kicking.

"We defeated Russia in the battle for the minds of the world.”

Appearing at a White House news conference with U.S. President Joe Biden, Zelenskyy reaffirmed in personal terms his conditions for any settlement.

"I don't know what just peace is," he added. "It's a very philosophical description. If there is a just war, I don't know.

"For me as the president, just peace is no compromises as to the sovereignty, freedom and territorial integrity of my country. The payback for all the damages inflicted by Russian aggression."

'U.S. and Ukraine not listening to our concerns'

The Kremlin said Washington and Kyiv were turning a deaf ear to Russia's concerns following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's U.S. trip.

Zelenskyy enjoyed a hero's welcome on a lightning trip to Washington, where U.S. President Joe Biden committed nearly $1.8 billion in military supplies including, for the first time, the Patriot missile defense system.

"We can say with regret that so far neither President Biden nor President Zelenskyy have said even a few words that could be perceived as potential readiness to listen to Russia's concerns," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

"Not a single word was heard warning Zelenskyy against the continued shelling of residential buildings in towns and villages in Donbas and there were no real calls for peace."

Peskov added that these latest weapon announcements were evidence that the U.S. was fighting a "proxy war" with Russia "to the last Ukrainian."