Follow live updates from NBC News as Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at his annual year-end news conference on Ukraine, peace, war and Trump.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks about the war in Ukraine during his marathon year-end news conference in Moscow. When asked by NBC News correspondent Keir Simmons whether he would take responsibility for the deaths in the conflict if he rejected President Donald Trump's peace proposal,

After almost four years of war, the International Monetary Fund estimates that Ukraine will need $161 billion in 2026 and 2027. The government in Kyiv is on the verge of bankruptcy, and desperately needs the money by spring.

There is a European push to use the assets to finance a reparations loan for Ukraine and add pressure on Russia to make peace.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told ABC News during an exclusive interview in Moscow on Monday that he believes the warring parties are close to a deal.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says a "very workable" peace plan to end the war in Ukraine could be presented to Russia within days.

President Vladimir Putin offered no compromise on Friday on his terms for ending the war in Ukraine and accused the European Union of attempting "daylight robbery" of Russian assets.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said in Brussels, where the leaders had gathered, that without the money, his country would have to reduce its drone production significantly.