Live updates: Putin says ball is in Ukraine's court to end the war as Trump pushes for peace deal

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.

The Russian leader was holding his marathon year-end news conference Friday, as the Kremlin sticks to its hardline demands despite U.S. pressure for a peace deal by Christmas.

As Putin touts Russia's military prowess at his year-end event, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) struck a Russian tanker in the Mediterranean for the first time, an SBU source told NBC News.

Informed of the attack by one of the press conference's hosts, Putin said it "will not lead to the expected result and will not damage any supplies," only creating "additional threat."

According to the SBU source, the tanker had been used to bypass international sanctions and generate revenue that financed Russia’s war against Ukraine.

"Our response will follow," Putin said.