Ukrainian kamikaze drones hit two Russian S-400 launchers in Russia’s Belgorod region.

One launcher was destroyed by a direct hit, the other damaged.

The strike occurred about 50 km from the front line.

NOW: Zelensky says Ukraine will need to cut drone production if it does not receive a tranche backed by frozen assets by spring.

Zelensky on Ukraine’s air defense systems:

There are certain systems that have no missiles for them.

Zelensky:

We understand that Russians want to exclude the presence of the Europeans from negotiations.

This must not be allowed to happen.

European presence will decrease the probability of Russia attacking again.

Zelensky:

We want frozen Russian assets, so that it is not a part of the negotiating process.

We are more confident at the negotiating table if we have this instrument.

Zelensky:

I have one aim, to get an answer for the question:

What will the United States of America do if Russia comes with aggression again?

Zelensky:

Russia should understand that it’s guilty and that it will have to pay reparations.

Zelensky on Ukraine’s NATO membership:

Biden told me: "No, you will not be NATO."

I have approached this issue time and again, and certain people in the White House smiled at me and had other reactions because of that, and they always said that I was tough.

I don’t know why.

Zelensky:

The United States don’t see us in NATO, for now. Everything in our lives is for now.

Maybe, the position will change in the future.

Politicians change, somebody lives, somebody dies. And it’s life.

Zelensky:

I really count on pressure from the United States.

More pressure on Russia, because Putin doesn’t want to stop this war, but Trump can.

If the United States will pressure more, President Trump can be successful in this.

NEW: Azerbaijan is seeking a life sentence for former Karabakh official Ruben Vardanyan, accusing him of war crimes, terrorism, and crimes against humanity.

Sudan Doctors Network:

Death toll among medical personnel during the war rises to 234, with more than 507 injured, over 59 missing, and 73 detained.

U.S. Navy’s littoral combat ship USS Santa Barbara (LCS-32) successfully conducted the first-ever launch of the LUCAS loitering munition from a U.S. Navy ship in the Arabian Gulf.

LUCAS is U.S.-developed drone designed as a direct counterpart to Iran’s Shahed-136 drone.

Kremlin:

Russia is preparing contacts with the United States to understand how Trump’s peace plan has changed after being coordinated with Ukraine.

Belarusian President Lukashenko:

‘Oreshnik’ is going on combat duty in Belarus.

NATO's Rutte:

A couple of allies are saying that they will not give their consent to Ukraine entering NATO.

Countries like Hungary, Slovakia, the United States, and a couple of others.

NATO's Rutte:

Putin has to know that after a peace deal, if he tries to attack Ukraine again, the reaction will be devastating.

This is exactly how we are designing the security guarantees.

Farmers drove tractors into Brussels on Thursday, blocking roads and clashing with police outside an EU leaders’ summit to protest a proposed free-trade deal with South American nations.