Ukraine-Russia latest: Trump ‘to call Putin’ as Biden plans final surge in military aid to Kyiv
Biden rushing to get billions more in aid to Ukraine before he exits office in January
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump is now likely to call Russia’s Vladimir Putin and tell him to “stop the war”, a former American diplomat has said.
The incoming US president is “going to make a phone call to Putin as quickly as possible and tell Putin that he needs to stop the war, that the fighting has to stop, and that there has to be peace,” Kurt Volker, former US special representative for Ukraine negotiations, said.
Mr Trump does not want to see the Ukraine war continue once he is actually in office, he said, while emphasising that Putin would inevitably have “demands” and that this would only be the start of the conversation.
Ukrainian war-time president Volodymyr Zelensky has congratulated Mr Trump, who will return to the White House, and urged the Republican to keep supporting Kyiv against Mr Putin’s invasion.
The current US administration, expecting a more frugal handling of Ukraine from Mr Trump, is now rushing military aid worth $9bn to Kyiv before Joe Biden exits office in January.
“The administration plans to push forward... to put Ukraine in the strongest position possible” before Trump enters office, a senior Biden administration official said.
Kremlin: US remains ‘unfriendly’ to Russia
The Kremlin has said that the United States remains an “unfriendly” country towards Russia.
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said that there are no plans for President Vladimir Putin to congratulate Donald Trump on any potential election victory.
Mr Peskov’s comments came as he discussed Moscow’s cautious approach to the changing political landscape in the US, noting that Russia is closely monitoring the statements made by American politicians.
“Our relations with the United States are at a historic low,” he told reporters. “It is practically impossible for them to get any worse.”
The spokesperson acknowledged that the US has the capacity to change its foreign policy approach, but he added that Moscow would wait until January, when Trump is set to take office, to see if there would be any shift in direction.
Russian forces capture two more settlements in eastern Ukraine
Russian forces have captured two more settlements in areas of heavy military activity in eastern Ukraine, Russia’s defence ministry said yesterday.
Ukraine’s military noted fighting around both villages in eastern sectors of the 1,000km (600-mile) frontline, but did not acknowledge that either had fallen into Russian hands.
The Russian ministry identified the villages as Maksymivka, just north of the hilltop town of Vuhledar, captured by Russian forces last months after long months of fighting, and Antonivka, near the embattled town of Kurakhove, further north.
The General Staff of Ukraine’s military said Kyiv’s forces had repelled two attacks near Maksymivka and a nearby village in the vicinity of Vuhledar in Donetsk region. Four clashes were still going on, it said.
The general staff reported a “tense” situation around the city of Kurakhove, with 39 Russian attacks on Ukrainian positions. It listed Antonivka as one of several villages in the area where Moscow’s troops were trying to advance.
Australia ‘profoundly troubled’ by emerging axis of countries supporting Russia
The head of Australia‘s national intelligence agency said it was troubling to see an “emerging axis” of countries supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine emerge as allies of the Kremlin mounted a challenge for western countries supporting Kyiv.
Andrew Shearer, who leads the government’s Office of National Intelligence (ONI), said North Korea, Iran, and more significantly China, posed a “strategic challenge” for countries including Canberra as the war dragged on.
He said the emerging axis, which has China and Russia as its main pillars, had been underestimated since the war began as Beijing emboldened Moscow by providing dual-use goods as well as economic and diplomatic support.
Read the full story below:
Australia ‘profoundly troubled’ by emerging axis of countries supporting Russia
Intelligence official says West grappling to catch up with emerging axis of China, North Korea and Iran supporting Russia
Edwina Currie on selling her antiques to raise money for Ukraine
Edwina Currie on selling her antiques to raise money for Ukraine
The former MP tells Lisa Salmon about taking part in TV show Celebrity Yorkshire Auction House, and the Ukrainian family that lives with her.
Photos: Ukraine braces for Trump presidency
In pictures: Ukrainian soldiers fight near Kreminna
Russia confirms military pact with North Korea and deployment of 10,000 troops
Russia’s upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, has ratified a military agreement with North Korea that promises mutual assistance in the event of an attack.
The treaty, signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a visit to Pyongyang in June, states that both countries would provide military support “by all means” if either is attacked.
The deal marks the most significant military partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang since the Cold War.
The treaty had already been ratified by the lower house, the State Duma, on 24 October.
This comes amid growing concerns over North Korean involvement in Russia’s military efforts in Ukraine.
On Monday, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller confirmed reports that up to 10,000 North Korean troops had been deployed to Russia’s Kursk region.
These troops are reportedly preparing to join Russian forces in Ukraine, marking the first large-scale deployment of North Korean forces in a foreign conflict since the Korean War in 1950.
In full: Zelensky congratulates Trump on US election victory
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the US presidential election, hoping for a “strong bipartisan support” his country in its fight against Russia.
It comes after concerns were voiced among Ukraine’s allies that US support for Ukraine could wane under a Trump presidency.
Mr Zelensky said: “I appreciate president Trump’s commitment to the ‘peace through strength’ approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together.
“We look forward to an era of a strong United States of America under President Trump’s decisive leadership.
“We rely on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States. We are interested in developing mutually beneficial political and economic cooperation that will benefit both of our nations.
“Ukraine, as one of Europe’s strongest military powers, is committed to ensuring long-term peace and security in Europe and the transatlantic community with the support of our allies.
“I am looking forward to personally congratulating President Trump and discussing ways to strengthen Ukraine’s strategic partnership with the United States.”
North Korean troops engaged in combat in Kursk for first time, US officials say
North Korean troops were engaged in combat in Russia’s Kursk in recent days for the first time, two U.S. officials told Reuters.
One of the officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said they took part in combat on 4 November.
The officials did not say whether there were any North Korean casualties and did not provide further details on the engagement.
Trump will call Putin to ‘stop the war’, says ex-US ambassador
Donald Trump is now likely to dial his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and tell him to “stop the war”, a top former American diplomat has said.
“I think he’s going to make a phone call to Putin as quickly as possible and tell Putin that he needs to stop the war, that the fighting has to stop, and that there has to be peace. And that will start a discussion about how that actually happens. And what I expect to happen is that Putin will have demands,” Kurt Volker, former US special representative for Ukraine negotiations, told The Kyiv Independent.
“Putin will say ‘I need this, I need this, I need this.’ And I think Trump will say ‘no, you stop the war.’ But I do think it happens quite quickly, I don’t think Trump wants to see this war continue once he’s actually in office,” Mr Volker said.
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