From RFE/RL's news desk:
France says it might hand over two Mistral helicopter assault ships to Russia if a cease-fire takes hold in Ukraine and a "political road map" for peace is put into place.
Speaking on Europe 1 radio on January 1, Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that so far efforts to deescalate the conflict "are neither tangible nor verifiable."
Russia paid $1.2 billion for the two ships, but Paris has frozen the handover because of the crisis in Ukraine.
Last month, Le Drian warned Moscow that France "may never" hand over the ships.
Russia's envoy to NATO, Aleksandr Grushko, said on December 26 that the failure to fulfill the contract would undermine Russia's confidence in foreign suppliers and "be yet another incentive for becoming increasingly less dependent on foreign components."
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on December 24 that Paris's position "is merely a demonstration of the geopolitical weakness of France."
From the French news agency AFP:
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko promised to defeat the "cruel-hearted foe" trying to break his former Soviet republic apart, in a traditional New Year's message.
The pro-Western leader delivered the midnight television address surrounded by soldiers and volunteers who handed out food during protests last winter that ousted an unpopular Russia-backed president.
"A cruel-hearted foe has encroached on our lives, territory, freedom and independence," said Poroshenko, without mentioning Russia or President Vladimir Putin by name.
"We will definitely win this patriotic war because for us, it is just. Truth is on our side. God is with us."
The 49-year-old chocolate baron won a snap election in May on a promise to stamp out the pro-Russian mutiny that erupted in Ukraine's industrial east in April and has since claimed more than 4,700 lives.
A truce brokered by Russian and European envoys in September has been repeatedly broken and new talks aimed at consolidating that agreement broke up without progress last week.
Relations between Kiev and Moscow -- accused by both Poroshenko and NATO of supporting the rebel uprising -- are now more hostile than at any point since the 1991 breakup of the USSR.
Poroshenko's name was notably missing from the dozens of New Year congratulatory messages that Putin sent out to world leaders on Wednesday.
Putin and Poroshenko are tentatively expected to meet in Kazakhstan on January 15 for their first face-to-face talks on the crisis since a brief October encounter in Milan.
Poroshenko said that meeting would also be attended by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande.
Here is today's situation map of eastern Ukraine by the National Security and Defense Council:
Russia Critics Omitted From Putin's New Year's Greetings
Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued his New Year's greetings to fellow world leaders and dignitaries, but Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is not among the dozens of recipients.
A summary of Putin's messages to the leaders of more than 30 countries, plus Pope Francis and the heads of the breakaway Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and a select group of former world leaders, was posted on the Kremlin's website on December 31.
In addition to Poroshenko, the leaders of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland -- all countries that have led global criticism of Russia's actions in Ukraine -- were omitted.
Norway and Sweden were also skipped.
Estonian President Toomas Ilves quipped on Twitter that he was "crushed."
In his message to U.S. President Barack Obama, Putin mentioned that the two countries fought "shoulder to shoulder" during World War II and stressed the "responsibility of Russia and the United States" in maintaining peace and international stability.
He said relations should be based on equality and mutual respect.
Addressing German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Putin expressed the hope of "constructive dialogue and active joint work" in 2015.
Serbia has taken over the rotating chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), saying that de-escalation of the crisis in Ukraine is its top priority.
Serbia will present the agenda of its chairmanship in Vienna on January 15, according to an Internet statement posted on January 1.
On December 31, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic told RFE/RL's Balkan Service that he believes Serbia can help the OSCE act as "a fair and objective mediator" because the country has good relations with both Kyiv and Moscow.
The OSCE, together with Ukraine and Russia, are participating in the contact group in talks with pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, and the OSCE has a monitoring mission in Ukraine, with the exception of Crimea.
Russia annexed the Ukrainian Black Sea region of Crimea in March.
Dacic said in the January 1 statement that Serbia intends to "bring its own experience as a country that has emerged from conflict and that is in transition toward democracy."
During Serbia's chairmanship, the OSCE will mark the 40th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act, which served as the foundation for the creation of the OSCE.
From RFE/RL's News Desk:
Russian President Vladimir Putin used his New Year's speech to hail Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula.
Putin said Crimea's "return home" will "forever remain an important milestone in our history."
Putin also thanked Russians for their "unfaltering readiness to defend Russia's interests."
Putin said: "I would like to sincerely thank you for unity and solidarity, for the deep feelings of truth, honor, justice and responsibility for the fate of your country."
Putin also hailed Russia's hosting of the Winter Olympics in the resort town of Sochi as the "best ever."