Russia admits being 'outwitted' but opponent fails, Ukraine shoots down 3 Su-34 aircraft, Israeli army inspects Hamas tunnel

The Russia-Ukraine conflict, President Putin admits being 'outwitted' by the West, Ukraine announces the shooting down of 3 Su-34 aircraft, the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, the earthquake in China... are impressive photos of the week compiled by Reuters, The Guardian, The Atlantic...

Ảnh ấn tượng (18-24/12): Nga thừa nhận bị ‘qua mặt’ nhưng đối thủ không thành công, Ukraine hạ 3 máy bay Su-34, quân Israel thị sát đường hầm Hamas

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu talk after an expanded meeting of the Russian Defense Ministry's Executive Board, at the State Control Center in Moscow, December 19. Newsweek magazine (USA) reported that at this meeting, Mr. Putin admitted that the US and the West "outsmarted Russia" in Ukraine after the 2014 crisis. However, according to the leader, the West's efforts to make Moscow face a "strategic defeat" were unsuccessful. (Source: Sputnik/Kremlin)

Chinese Premier Li Qiang (right) shakes hands with his Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin in Beijing, China, on December 19. A joint statement issued after the meeting between the two leaders stated: "We will actively promote cooperation projects to jointly develop long-range wide-body passenger aircraft and heavy-lift helicopters. The two prime ministers agreed to strengthen their "unlimited" strategic partnership and pledged to increase trade and technological cooperation. (Source: China Daily)

Photo cut from clip of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's nightly speech on December 22. In his speech, Mr. Zelensky said that the country's air defense forces shot down three Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers on the southern front in the Kherson region. President Zelensky said that this was a success in the 22-month conflict with Russia. (Source: Press Office of the President of Ukraine)

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski and his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba at a meeting in Kiev on December 22. On his first foreign trip since taking office, Sikorski pledged Warsaw's support for Ukraine. (Source: zdf.de)

This photo shows a general view of newly dug trenches of Ukrainian soldiers, near the Belarusian border in the Chornobyl exclusion zone, Ukraine, on December 14. (Source: Reuters)

Soldiers of Ukraine’s 45th Separate Artillery Brigade fire a Swedish-made Archer self-propelled gun at Russian positions in the Donetsk region on December 16. The Russia-Ukraine conflict has been raging for more than 22 months with no signs of abating. (Source: Reuters)

Israeli soldiers pass through what the military said was a Hamas tunnel to transport troops for a surprise attack on the border, as the Islamic State is conducting a ground operation against the group, near the Erez border crossing in the northern Gaza Strip, December 15. (Source: Reuters)

Smoke trails are seen as a barrage of rockets are launched from the Gaza Strip into Israel, amid clashes between the country and the Islamist group Hamas, as seen from southern Israel, December 21. (Source: Reuters)

Israeli troops attack a site in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on December 20. The conflict in the Gaza Strip, which broke out on October 7, shows no signs of abating. Gaza health authorities confirmed that the death toll there since the conflict began has exceeded 20,000 people. (Source: Getty)

Officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) and polling station representatives gather to count ballots at a polling center in Goma, North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, on December 20, after the country's presidential election. (Source: Reuters)

The shadows of protesters fall on the Congress building during a protest against the policies of Argentina's new President Javier Milei, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. December 21. (Source: Reuters)

Tractors line up on Strasse des 17 Juni, towards the Brandenburg Gate, in Berlin, Germany, on December 18, as farmers protest against plans to scrap subsidies on agricultural diesel. (Source: Getty)

Terrified students take cover on the windowsills of the Faculty of Arts at Charles University in central Prague, Czech Republic, during a horrific shooting on December 21. All 14 victims have been identified and none of them were foreigners, according to Czech authorities. Prague police chief Petr Matejcek said the gunman may have shot himself when police got closer. (Source: The Guardian)

Runners wearing Christmas hats play on foam at the finish line after finishing the 10km Santa Run in Caracas, Venezuela, December 17. (Source: Reuters)

Visitors look at a Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaur model wearing a Santa hat and a festive sweater during a Christmas-themed display at the Natural History Museum in London, Britain, December 21. (Source: Getty)

A tram decorated with Christmas lights drives over the Freedom Bridge in Budapest, Hungary, December 19. (Source: AFP)

People dressed as Santa Claus row boats during the Christmas boat race along the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy, December 17. (Source: Reuters)

A drone image shows lava erupting at the Grindavik volcano north of Sylingarfell, Iceland, on December 19. About 4,000 people have been evacuated from Grindavik, and authorities have closed the town's Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, Reuters reported. The eruption is part of a 1,000-year cycle of volcanic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula and is a sign that the area could see eruptions for centuries. (Source: Reuters)

Rescue workers conduct search and rescue operations in Kangdiao Village after an earthquake hit Jishishan County, Gansu Province, China on December 19. The 6.2-magnitude earthquake caused severe damage. As of the morning of December 20, the earthquake had killed at least 131 people and injured 700. (Source: China Daily)

A beautician applies makeup to Bulgarian Muslim bride Aysel Gerova, 24, during her wedding ceremony in the village of Ribnovo, in the Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria, on December 17. Ribnovo still maintains traditional wedding ceremonies. The highlight of the ceremony was the bride's makeup ritual, with her face covered in a thick layer of white powder and decorated with colorful sequins. (Source: Reuters)

An orangutan captured at the Thai-Malaysian border is taken back to its home country of Indonesia, at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, December 21. (Source: Reuters)

(according to Reuters, The Guardian, The Atlantic...)

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