Ukraine-Russia war – live: Musk ‘joins Trump’s Zelensky call’ as Putin hails ‘courageous’ US election win
Elon Musk promised to support Volodymyr Zelensky with his Starlink satellites
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.Elon Musk reportedly jumped on Donald Trump’s first call with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.
The move potentially reveals how high Trump values the Tesla billionaire and foreshadows a possible role in his administration.
Axios reported that the president-elect told Zelensky he will support Ukraine, but didn’t go into details on a 25 minute phonecall.
Musk also weighed in to say he will continue supporting Ukraine through his Starlink satellites - that have become pivotal to Ukraine forces communications on the frontline.
Musk had previously mocked Zelensky on social media for his attempts to fundraise for his nation’s war effort.
It came as Russian president Vladimir Putin congratulated Trump on winning the US election and said Moscow was ready for dialogue with him.
In his first remarks since Mr Trump’s win, Mr Putin said the president-elect had acted “like a real man” during an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania in July.
Mr Trump’s win has caused concern in Ukraine, where the Russian forces have made swift advances of late, over fears that he would curtail US support for Kyiv.
Meanwhile, Russian drone strikes killed at least one person and injured 34 injured in Odesa and Kharkiv early this morning.
Mapped: Where has Russia made advances on the frontline in Ukraine?
What funds could Biden send to Ukraine before Trump takes office?
Pentagon responds to claims North Korean troops in Russia ‘gorging on pornography’
Europe cannot rely on Trump’s protection – it must take the lead on defence
A Trump presidency won’t necessarily be the gift for Putin that Moscow thinks it is...
Full report: Zelensky urges European leaders to stay strong over Ukraine
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky urged European leaders on Thursday to resist offering any concessions to Vladimir Putin to halt its invasion of Ukraine.
Speaking at a summit in Hungary, Mr Zelensky described yielding to Kremlin demands as “suicidal” for Europe, a move that would embolden Moscow and undermine European security.
His appeal follows Donald Trump’s re-election, raising uncertainty over US policy as Mr Trump has questioned the level of military and financial support for Kyiv in its war with Russia.
Bel Trew and Rachel Hagan have more in this report:
Zelensky urges European leaders to stay strong over Ukraine
European leaders met in Budapest a day after Donald Trump was re-elected president
Russian oil refinery hit in overnight drone attack by Ukraine, source says
An overnight Ukrainian drone attack has struck an oil refinery producing motor fuels, fuel oil and bitumen in the Russian city of Saratov but caused no significant damage, a local source told Reuters.
“An inspection was performed – luckily, there was no fire, casualties or critical damage,” the source said, adding that refining operations would not be affected.
A Ukrainian intelligence source told Reuters the strike had caused damage, but did not elaborate on the nature and extent of it. The source said the operation had been conducted by Ukraine’s military intelligence agency. Video published on social media appeared to show key facilities at the site were intact.
Saratov regional governor Roman Busargin said debris from a destroyed zone had fallen on an industrial zone of the city, and nobody appeared to have been hurt. The Saratov refinery processed 115,400 barrels per day in the first nine months of 2024 versus 101,200 in 2023.
A major airbase housing long-range strategic bombers is also located less than 10 miles outside Saratov and has been targeted by Ukraine in the past.
One-year-old boy among nine victims of Zaporizhzhia attack, governor says
A one-year-old boy is among nine people killed in a Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia, regional governor Ivan Fedorov has said.
The Kyiv Independent reported that 41 others were injured after the attack on Thursday, which used guided aerial bombs.
China urges Britain to withdraw sanctions over alleged military supplies to Russia
China’s embassy in the United Kingdom has urged Britain to withdraw sanctions it imposed on Chinese firms accused of suppling machinery and components for the Russian military.
“What the British side has done violates international law and harms the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises. China is firmly opposed to this,” the embassy said in a statement.
“China will take necessary measures to protect its lawful rights and interests.”
Zelensky says swift end to war would ‘be loss for Ukraine’
At a gathering of European leaders in Budapest on Thursday, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky objected to Donald Trump’s claim that Russia’s war with Ukraine could be ended in a day.
“If it is going to be very fast, it will be a loss for Ukraine,” Mr Zelensky said.
Mr Zelensky and Ukraine’s allies fear the swift end to the war sought by Mr Trump would mean peace on terms favourable to Putin and involving the surrender of territory.
At least one killed and dozens injured in overnight attacks on Ukraine, officials say
Russian missiles, bombs and drones have battered three regions of Ukraine in targeted night-time attacks, officials said.
At least 25 people, including an infant, were injured after a 500kg glide bomb severely damaged a high-rise apartment building in Kharkiv, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said.
In the southern city of Odesa, a Russian drone attack killed one person and injured nine others overnight.
And in the capital Kyiv, falling wreckage from intercepted missiles injured four people.
In total, Russia fired 92 drones and five missiles at Ukraine during the night, Ukraine’s air force said. Four missiles and 62 drones were intercepted, and 26 drones were jammed electronically, it said.
US will end support for Ukraine under Trump, claims Orban
Donald Trump will cease providing support to Ukraine in its fight against Russia, Hungarian premier Viktor Orban has predicted ahead of a European Union summit on Friday.
In comments to state radio ahead of Friday’s summit, Mr Orban – who is close to both Mr Trump and Vladimir Putin – reiterated his long-held position that an immediate cease-fire should be declared, and suggested that Ukraine has already lost its fight.
“If Donald Trump had won in 2020 in the United States, these two nightmarish years wouldn’t have happened. There wouldn’t have been a war,” he said. “The situation on the front is obvious, there’s been a military defeat. The Americans are going to pull out of this war.”
Sir Keir Starmer has appointed Sir Tony Blair’s former chief of staff Jonathan Powell as National Security Adviser.
The veteran diplomat, who served for 17 years in the Foreign Office, will take over from Sir Tim Barrow in the role based in 10 Downing Street.
The Prime Minister said his experience in helping to negotiate the Good Friday Agreement and working on “some of the world’s most complex conflicts” meant he was “uniquely qualified” to advise the government.
Mr Powell was also involved in talks over the Chagos Islands sovereignty dispute, which earlier this year saw Britain hand the territory over to Mauritius.
He will now be expected to play a key role in forging links with Donald Trump’s new US administration, as well as helping to shape the UK’s response to conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Russia behind exploding parcels that threatened US flights, Poland says
Russian intelligence services were likely behind a series of parcels that exploded in courier depots across Europe, Polish prosecutors have said.
Western officials have previously said that Russia has tried to destabilise allies of Ukraine with acts of sabotage. The explosions in courier depots in Britain, Germany and Poland in July had the potential to mark a serious escalation by causing an explosion on an aircraft, officials warn.
Security officials have said that the parcels were part of a plot that ultimately aimed to trigger explosions on cargo flights to the United States and Canada.
“The evidence collected in the case indicates a high probability that the discussed acts of sabotage ... were inspired by Russian special services,” the Polish Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement.
Polish authorities are searching for two Russians and have detained four Ukrainian citizens as part of the investigation. Polish prosecutors said in October they had detained four people and were searching for two others in relation to the packages, but did not reveal the nationalities of those accused of involvement.
“Intensive activities are being carried out to identify the remaining individuals involved in the above international group,” the statement said. “These actions are undertaken in cooperation with law enforcement agencies of other European Union countries.”
Putin ready to discuss Ukraine with Trump but not to alter his demands, says Kremlin
Vladimir Putin is ready to discuss Ukraine with Donald Trump – but that does not mean he is willing to alter Moscow’s demands, the Kremlin has sai.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters: “The president has never said that the goals of the special military operation are changing. On the contrary, he has repeatedly said that they remain the same.
“All this concerns the security interests of our country, the security interests of the Russian people living there. Therefore, there was no talk of any changes here.”
Laying out his terms in June for ending the war, Mr Putin claimed Ukraine would have to drop its Nato ambitions and withdraw all of its troops from all of the territory of four annexed regions claimed by Russia – which Kyiv and many allies say would amount to capitulation to Moscow.
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