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
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
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.
A Trump presidency won’t necessarily be the gift for Putin that Moscow thinks it is...
North Korea’s troops heading to Ukraine’s frontline as cannon fodder: ‘They will surely be killed’
Why are North Koreans troops in Ukraine? Everything we know about Kim Jong-un’s soldiers joining Putin’s war
As the extreme becomes more mainstream, Trump’s best friends in Europe will be more emboldened than ever
South Korea and EU condemn North Korea's reported troop dispatch to Russia
South Korea and EU condemn North Korea's reported troop dispatch to Russia
Top South Korean and European Union officials have strongly condemned North Korea’s reported troop dispatch to Russia
MP claims ‘expendable’ Russians used to exhaust Ukraine’s soldiers
A Russian MP has sparked outrage after boasting that Moscow uses “expendable” troops to deplete Ukraine’s strongest soldiers, describing them as “meat” to be “ground up” in battle.
Alexander Borodai, a member of President Vladimir Putin’s ruling party, made the controversial remarks about Russia’s irregular military units, often made up of soldiers who sign short-term contracts with the state or regional authorities.
These fighters, who typically earn salaries well above Russia’s average wage, are viewed in Moscow as dispensable, according to Mr Borodai.
Attacking the recruits, he said: “These people have no social value,. They’re bought, like meat.”
He added that their primary role was to “exhaust enemy forces” while other Russian units prepared for major offensives.
“No one expects these forces to achieve anything. They are simply human resources being expended,” he said.
The MP claimed that the war had forced Ukraine to send “young, strong, healthy” men against Russia’s “spare” troops, depleting Kyiv’s reserves.
The average age of a Ukrainian soldier is now estimated to be 45.
VOICES | Chris Stevenson: A Trump presidency won’t necessarily be the gift for Putin Moscow thinks it is…
Washington is by far Kyiv’s largest military backer – and any loss in support will mean more deaths on the frontline, writes Chris Stevenson.
But if a push to end the war does come from the White House, that also poses a problem for the Kremlin:
A Trump presidency won’t necessarily be the gift for Putin Moscow thinks it is
Washington is by far Kyiv's largest military backer – and any loss in support will mean more deaths on the frontline, writes Chris Stevenson. But if a push to end the war does come from the White House, that also poses a problem for the Kremlin
Trump wins US election: What has the Kremlin said?
The Kremlin has responded cautiously following Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election.
Officials suggested that while Trump’s rhetoric on ending the Ukraine war was noteworthy, it remains to be seen if it will translate into tangible policy changes.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made clear that, despite Trump’s campaign promises to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, Russia viewed the US as an “unfriendly” state that remained deeply involved in the conflict.
“Let us not forget that we are talking about an unfriendly country, which is both directly and indirectly involved in a war against our state,” Mr Peskov told reporters, adding that Moscow would wait to see if Trump’s statements on Ukraine would result in concrete actions.
Despite the continued animosity, Russian state media during the election campaign showed a clear preference for Trump, suggesting some hope in Moscow that his administration could be more amenable to dialogue than the current one.
Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund and a former Goldman Sachs banker with prior contacts to Trump’s team, said that a Trump presidency could offer a “new opportunity” for a reset in US-Russia relations.
What we know about North Korean troops joining Russia’s war in Ukraine
Why are North Koreans soldiers fighting in Ukraine war? Here’s what we know
US warns Pyongyang’s troops fighting inside Putin’s ‘meat grinder’ war would be legitimate targets
US presses China to rein in North Korea and Russia as tensions rise
US presses silent China to rein in North Korea and Russia as tensions rise
With Pyongyang deploying troops to Russia, the US and South Korea urge China to curb the growing military alliance
Germany first EU nation to discuss response to North Korean troops in Russia
Germany is the first nation to discuss its response to North Korea’s military involvement in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said he had discussed with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock the “need for decisive action” in response to North Korean involvement in the war with Russia.
“We urge Europe to realise that the DPRK [North Korea’s official name Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] troops are now carrying an aggressive war in Europe against a sovereign European state,” he told a briefing after meeting Ms Baerbock in Kyiv.
Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking later during his nightly video address, said a meeting of top commanders had considered a report by Ukrainian intelligence on the presence of North Korean troops in Russia. He repeated his call for greater action from Ukraine’s Western allies.
“There are already 11,000 in the Kursk region,” Mr Zelensky said, referring to the southern Russian region where Ukrainian troops have seized chunks of land since an incursion there in August.
“We see an increase in North Koreans, but we don’t see any increase in the reaction from our partners.”
Mapped: Where has Russia made advances on the frontline in Ukraine?
Mapped: Where has Russia made advances on the frontline in Ukraine?
Ukraine’s military say the hottest fighting along the roughly 640-mile frontline is taking place on the outskirts of the eastern city of Selydove
Who does Putin actually want to win the election? As a Russian American, I know the answer
Who does Putin want to win the election? As a Russian American, I know the answer
The Kremlin has reportedly developed two alternative plans for resolving the military conflict with Ukraine — one in the event that Trump wins and another for if Harris becomes president
ICYMI: Germany pledges €200m in winter aid for Ukraine
Germany will give Ukraine another €200 m (£167m) in aid to support the country during its third winter at war with Russia, German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said during a visit to Kyiv yesterday.
Ms Baerbock has stressed Germany’s continued backing for Ukraine during the trip, which comes amid growing nerves over the impact today’s election in the United States will have on military support for the country.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments