Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Liveupdated

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin’s Ukraine plans ‘not affected by Trump’ as Kyiv denies nuclear weapons report

Kyiv does not possess, develop or intend to acquire nuclear weapons, says official

Tom Watling ,Arpan Rai
Thursday 14 November 2024 15:56 GMT
Comments
Zelensky reveals Ukraine’s ‘good conversations’ with Donald Trump in new video address

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.

Vladimir Putin’s plans of achieving total Ukrainian capitulation have not changed despite his initial claims of interest in engaging in negotiations with Donald Trump, the incoming US president, a war monitor has claimed.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote in its latest update that the Kremlin does not appear “more willing to make concessions” to Mr Trump compared with the outgoing Joe Biden administration.

“The manner in which the Kremlin is trying to set its terms for negotiations strongly signals that Russia’s objectives remain unchanged and still amount to full Ukrainian capitulation,” ISW wrote.

It comes as Ukraine has responded to media reports that it been advised it could develop an atomic bomb in months by saying that it has no intention of acquiring nuclear weapons.

The Ukrainian foreign ministry was responding to reports on a briefing document, apparently prepared by a non-government think tank for the Ukrainian defence ministry, detailing how Kyiv could develop a rudimentary atomic bomb if the US withdraws its military assistance.

“Ukraine is committed to the NPT (the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons); we do not possess, develop or intend to acquire nuclear weapons,” foreign ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said on X.

In pictures: Ukrainian soldiers hold ground near frontline town of Chasiv Yar

Ukrainian soldiers from the artillery unit of the 24th Mechanized Brigade sit at their position near Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region
Ukrainian soldiers from the artillery unit of the 24th Mechanized Brigade sit at their position near Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region (EPA)
A Ukrainian soldier prepares to fire a 2S1 ‘Gvozdika’ 122mm self-propelled howitzer towards Russian positions at an undisclosed location near Chasiv Yar
A Ukrainian soldier prepares to fire a 2S1 ‘Gvozdika’ 122mm self-propelled howitzer towards Russian positions at an undisclosed location near Chasiv Yar (24th Mechanized Brigade of Ukrai)
Ukrainian soldiers near Chasiv Yar are seen with a dog on the frontline
Ukrainian soldiers near Chasiv Yar are seen with a dog on the frontline (EPA)
Tom Watling14 November 2024 12:05

Trump election offers new possibility for US-Russian dialogue, Russian envoy says

The election of Donald Trump opens a possibility for new dialogue between Russia and the United States although Washington’s aim remains to contain Moscow, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva told reporters on Thursday.

“Regardless of domestic political shifts, (Washington) consistently pursues a sense of containing Moscow ... the change of administration does little to alter it,” said Gennady Gatilov, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva.

“The only shift might be possible is dialogue between our countries, something that has been lacking during the last several years,” he added.

Tom Watling14 November 2024 11:56

Ukraine investigating Russian killing of civilian in occupied Donetsk

Ukraine has announced it is investigating the reported killing of a civilian by Russian forces in occupied Donetsk.

The prosecutor general’s office reported on Telegram, a messenger platform, that they were looking into the killing of a woman in the village of Terny, in the Lyman district sitting on the frontline.

“A woman was walking down the street when Russian soldiers opened fire on her,” they wrote. “As a result of a shot from a small weapon, she died on the spot.”

They also attached two pictures, one of the woman walking down a street and the second showing her body after being shot on that road.

We have decided not to include that second photo.

An image published by Ukraine’s prosecutor general allegedly shows a woman walking down a road in her village of Terny, Donetsk, just minutes before she was gunned down by Russian soldiers
An image published by Ukraine’s prosecutor general allegedly shows a woman walking down a road in her village of Terny, Donetsk, just minutes before she was gunned down by Russian soldiers (Telegram / Office of the Prosecutor General )
Tom Watling14 November 2024 11:45

Russian defense official visits China's premier military showcase in a sign of unity

Russian defense official visits China's premier military showcase in a sign of unity

A top Russian defense official has attended China’s premier military showcase in a show of unity between the countries as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine

Tom Watling14 November 2024 11:32

If Trump oversees the collapse of Ukraine, it would be a humiliation for the US, says Hague

Former Conservative Party leader and foreign minister William Hague has said that if Donald Trump oversees the collapse of Ukraine, it will be a “humiliation”.

Speaking to the Telegraph’s Daily T podcast, William Hague said Mr Trump was at risk of hypocrisy over his stance on Ukraine.

“(Donald) Trump highlighted (Joe) Biden’s humiliation over Afghanistan… but if he ends up with the collapse of Ukraine, that’ll be a far bigger humiliation for the US and the power of the US in the world,” he said.

Lord William Hague says Donald Trump would be a hypocrite if he allowed the collapse of Ukraine
Lord William Hague says Donald Trump would be a hypocrite if he allowed the collapse of Ukraine (PA Wire)
Tom Watling14 November 2024 11:21

A Russian man stands treason trial on charges he filmed military equipment for Ukraine

A Russian man faced trial on Thursday on charges of high treason for a video he had allegedly sent to Ukraine's security services, the latest in a growing series of espionage cases amid the fighting in Ukraine.

The Volgograd District Court began hearing a new case against Nikita Zhuravel, who is currently serving a 3.5-year sentence for publicly burning a Quran in front of a mosque.

The new charges against Zhuravel are based on allegations that he filmed a trainload of military equipment and warplanes in 2023 and sent the video to a representative of Ukraine's security agency. He could be sentenced for life if convicted.

Rights activists say Zhuravel is a political prisoner and condemned violence against him in custody.

While in pretrial custody before his first sentence, Zhuravel was beaten by the 15-year-old son of Ramzan Kadyrov, the Kremlin-appointed strongman leader of the mostly Muslim region of Chechnya.

The elder Kadyrov posted the video on social media and praised his son, causing public outrage. He later awarded his son with the medal of “Hero of the Republic of Chechnya.”

Federal authorities have refrained from any criticism of the Chechen strongman.

Nikita Zhuravel is escorted by the police to a court prior to a hearing of a treason case in Volgograd, Russia, on Thursday
Nikita Zhuravel is escorted by the police to a court prior to a hearing of a treason case in Volgograd, Russia, on Thursday (AP)
Tom Watling14 November 2024 11:09

US and Polish officials open missile defense site that Russia has long protested

US and Polish officials open missile defense site that Russia has long protested

U.S. and Polish officials have opened a new NATO missile defense base in northen Poland

Tom Watling14 November 2024 11:00

Video resurfaces of Trump’s nominee for national intelligence director calling for Ukrainian neutrality

Footage has surfaced of Donald Trump’s appointee for director of national intelligence calling for Ukraine to accept neutrality as Russian forces marched through the country.

Tulsi Gabbard, a former Hawaii congresswoman, was nominated for the role yesterday. If approved by Congress, she would be in charge of an office created in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks and tasked with leading and synthesizing intelligence collected from around the world.

But Ms Gabbard has come under criticism before for peddling Russian conspiracy theories, including falsely claiming that the US has funded “biolabs” in Ukraine.

And in the footage below, posted just three days after the Russian invasion, she can be seen calling for Ukraine to be declared a neutral state away from both the West and Russia, as well as urging everyone to say “aloha” to one another.

Ukrainian neutrality has been a key aim of Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Tom Watling14 November 2024 10:44

Ukraine says its forces fully control Kupiansk, deny Russian foothold

Ukraine‘s military said on Thursday its troops were in full control of the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kupiansk and that their forces had stopped a Russian advance towards the rail hub.

A Russian-installed official said earlier that Russian forces had gained a foothold on the outskirts of the city.

The Independent cannot verify either claim.

Tom Watling14 November 2024 10:31

Senior Russian naval officer killed in Crimea car bombing

Senior Russian naval officer killed in Crimea car bombing

A Ukrainian source accuses Valery Trankovsky of committing war crimes by ordering missile attacks on civilians

Tom Watling14 November 2024 10:23

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in