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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has claimed that Russia is redeploying a large portion of its air defense systems to protect key locations, including Moscow, as Ukrainian long-range drone attacks continue to strike targets deep inside Russian territory. In a video address late Wednesday, Zelenskyy said Russia has strengthened defenses around Moscow, the town of Valdai, where Russian President Vladimir Putin has a residence, and the Kerch Bridge, a crucial supply route linking mainland Russia with Crimea. According to Zelenskyy, hundreds of air defense missile launchers have been concentrated around Moscow, while nearly 90 launchers have reportedly been moved to Valdai from other regions. Ukraine has significantly increased drone strikes on Russian military and energy facilities in recent months. Kyiv says the attacks have disrupted fuel supplies and military logistics, creating additional challenges for Russian forces more than four years into the war. Ukrainian drones have recently targeted Moscow and St. Petersburg, while Kyiv is also seeking to weaken Russian control over Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014. Zelenskyy suggested that the redeployment of air defense systems could leave other parts of Russia more exposed to Ukrainian drone attacks. He said Ukraine's latest generation of drones can travel more than 1,500 kilometers. "There are growing difficulties for Russia because Putin continues to reject proposals for meaningful talks and a peaceful settlement," Zelenskyy said. Trump praises Zelenskyy US President Donald Trump, who has previously criticized Zelenskyy, offered rare praise for the Ukrainian leader on Wednesday. Speaking at the White House, Trump described Zelenskyy as "courageous" and said he was "doing pretty well" in the conflict. Zelenskyy said he secured commitments for continued international support during the recent G7 summit and expressed hope that additional military assistance would strengthen Ukraine's campaign against Russia. He added that Ukraine's operations, including those targeting Crimea, had been carefully planned and could increase pressure on Moscow to pursue peace negotiations. Ukraine watching Belarus closely Zelenskyy also said Ukrainian intelligence believes Belarus has switched off signal relay equipment that Kyiv claims was used to help guide Russian drones toward targets in Ukraine. Last week, Ukraine demanded that Belarus remove the equipment and warned it could take action if the systems remained operational. Despite the reported shutdown, Zelenskyy said concerns remain about Belarus, which allowed Russian forces to use its territory during the initial invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Ukrainian authorities on Wednesday ordered mandatory evacuations from communities in the northern Chernihiv region near the Belarus border starting July 1. Meanwhile, the Washington-based think tank Institute for the Study of War said Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko continues to balance relations between Moscow and Kyiv, while avoiding direct involvement in the war. Ukraine's military chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, recently said the country is strengthening defenses along its northern border and establishing new drone units in the area. Russian strikes hit gas stations in Ukraine Russia launched one ballistic missile and 90 attack drones overnight, according to Ukraine's air force. A Russian drone strike hit a gas station in the northeastern Sumy region on Thursday morning, injuring four people, including two employees, regional governor Oleh Hryhorov said. He added that Russian forces have targeted gas stations in the region 13 times this month. In the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, another overnight Russian attack injured a woman and damaged a gas station, according to regional governor Ivan Fedorov. Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defense systems shot down 269 Ukrainian drones between late Wednesday and early Thursday. Several Russian airports also temporarily restricted flights during the attacks.

Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations began their first full day of summit talks on Tuesday with major global crises at the top of the agenda, including Russia’s war in Ukraine and efforts to stabilize the Middle East. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined the discussions at the invitation of host nation France, as world leaders looked for ways to advance peace efforts in Ukraine and maintain momentum following a recent US-Iran agreement. The talks come after US President Donald Trump announced a deal aimed at ending the 3½-month conflict between the United States and Iran. The crisis in the Middle East has dominated international attention in recent weeks, pushing the Ukraine war lower on the global agenda. Trump said he held productive phone conversations on Sunday with both Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin and indicated that Washington would now focus more closely on efforts to end the Ukraine conflict. French President Emmanuel Macron said he would urge Trump to maintain support for Ukraine and increase pressure on Russia to move toward a peace agreement. Just hours before the summit opened, Russia launched hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles at major Ukrainian cities. The attacks killed at least 11 people and damaged several sites, including a religious landmark. A key session on Tuesday focused on ending regional conflicts and promoting stability in the Middle East. Leaders from Egypt, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates were invited to join those discussions. Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration over the slow progress in efforts to end the war in Ukraine. During his presidential campaign, he said he could resolve the conflict quickly, but later acknowledged that reaching a settlement has proven more difficult than expected. Macron stressed that any lasting peace process must involve both Ukraine and Russia, with European and American participation. Meanwhile, Ukraine officially launched negotiations on Monday to join the European Union, beginning what is expected to be a lengthy process requiring major political and institutional reforms. Kyiv views EU membership as an important safeguard for its future after the war. Ukraine also seeks membership in NATO, but the Trump administration has ruled out that possibility while the conflict continues.   The summit is also taking place against the backdrop of recent tensions between Trump and several European leaders over US military action against Iran. Differences emerged after Washington moved ahead without consulting key allies, including France, Britain, Germany and Italy. Despite those disagreements, leaders in Evian appeared eager to work together, particularly as they seek to reduce the economic impact of higher energy prices caused by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said recent developments in the Middle East were encouraging, noting that oil prices had fallen and stock markets had responded positively. Ahead of the summit, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, joined by Canada, issued a joint statement welcoming the US-Iran agreement and calling it a diplomatic breakthrough. The countries urged rapid implementation of the deal to allow the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil shipments. Macron said France and its partners stand ready to help restore safe navigation through the strait, while France and Britain continue to support plans for a maritime security mission in the region. Trump, however, suggested that a large international military deployment may not be necessary, although he welcomed limited support from allied countries. In addition to the Ukraine and Middle East discussions, Trump’s schedule on Tuesday includes meetings with Qatar’s emir and the president of the UAE, followed by a cultural event and a dinner with fellow G7 leaders. The G7 comprises France, the United States, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom. Several non-member countries, including Brazil, India, Kenya and South Korea, were also invited to participate in selected discussions as partner nations.

Ukraine’s two main anti-corruption agencies have named President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s former chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, as an official suspect in a major money laundering investigation. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office said late Monday that Yermak is suspected of involvement in laundering 460 million hryvnias, or about $10.5 million. The agencies said the investigation is still underway. Yermak, who stepped down in November, was a close ally of Zelenskyy and served as Ukraine’s chief negotiator in talks with the United States. His resignation came during a scandal that posed one of the biggest political challenges to Zelenskyy since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. The investigation is a major embarrassment for Zelenskyy as Ukraine seeks membership in the European Union. Widespread corruption remains one of the key obstacles to the country’s accession. Zelenskyy did not comment publicly on the announcement. However, his press secretary, Dmytro Lytvyn, said it was too early to draw conclusions as the investigation was ongoing. Investigators suspect Yermak was involved in laundering money through a housing development project near Kyiv. His home was searched in November, but no other suspects have been identified. Yermak’s lawyer, Ihor Fomin, rejected the allegations, calling the notice of suspicion baseless and denying his client had any role in the alleged scheme. “In my view, this situation has been driven by public pressure,” Fomin told Ukrainian state broadcaster Suspilne. A decision on whether to file formal charges against Yermak could take several months. Meanwhile, fighting between Ukraine and Russia continued despite the end of a three-day ceasefire brokered by the United States. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Russia launched more than 200 drones overnight, damaging civilian infrastructure and killing at least one person. “It is time to strengthen our positions and force Moscow to end the war,” Sybiha said on social media. The Russian Defense Ministry said its air defenses shot down 30 Ukrainian drones over regions bordering Ukraine. Separately, Zelenskyy said he met in Kyiv with Alex Karp, chief executive of Palantir Technologies, to discuss expanding cooperation in defense technology and artificial intelligence. Palantir develops AI software used by defense agencies to process and analyze large amounts of data, helping improve battlefield decision-making and military operations.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday sharply criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accusing him of prolonging the violence by refusing to consider territorial concessions, particularly Crimea, in ongoing peace discussions with Russia. Zelenskyy, speaking a day earlier, firmly rejected the idea of giving up any Ukrainian land as part of a deal. “There is nothing to negotiate — this is our land, the land of the Ukrainian people,” he stated ahead of planned talks in London involving U.S., European, and Ukrainian representatives. In previous negotiations held in Paris last week, U.S. officials reportedly floated a peace proposal that would allow Russia to retain control of some occupied Ukrainian territories, according to a European source with knowledge of the discussions. The source, who spoke anonymously due to not being authorized to speak publicly, shared the controversial detail.   Trump called Zelenkyy’s pushback “very harmful” to talks. “Nobody is asking Zelenskyy to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory but, if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?” he wrote on social media. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 after sending troops to overrun it. Weeks later, Moscow-backed separatists launched an uprising in eastern Ukraine, battling Kyiv’s forces. Trump also asserted they were close to a deal and that Ukraine’s leader can have peace or “he can fight for another three years before losing the whole Country,” adding that Zelenskyy’s statement “will do nothing but prolong the ‘killing field,’ and nobody wants that!” ‘A very fair proposal’ Wednesday’s meeting was pared back at the last minute, while Vice President JD Vance said negotiations are reaching a moment of truth. “We’ve issued a very explicit proposal to both the Russians and the Ukrainians, and it’s time for them to either say ‘yes’ or for the United States to walk away from this process,” Vance told reporters during a visit to India. He said it was “a very fair proposal” that would “freeze the territorial lines at some level close to where they are today,” with both sides having to give up some territory they currently hold. He did not provide details. Trump, who is set to travel to Rome for Pope Francis’s funeral on Saturday, told reporters later on Wednesday that he did not know if he would meet with Zelenskyy or other European leaders to discuss the war while in Italy. He also said that has found dealing with Zelenskyy harder than dealing with the Russians. Trump who is set to travel to the Middle East next month said it was “possible” that he could meet with Putin while in Saudi Arabia, but that it is more likely he will meet with the Russian leader soon after that trip. A senior European official familiar with the ongoing talks involving the American team said a proposal the United States calls “final” was initially presented last week in Paris, where it was described as “just ideas” — and that they could be changed. When those “ideas” surfaced in media reports, Ukrainian officials were surprised to find that Washington portrayed them as final, according to the official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Zelenskyy said Wednesday that Ukraine is ready for any format of negotiations that might bring a ceasefire and open the door to full peace negotiations, as he mourned nine civilians killed when a Russian drone struck a bus earlier in the day. “We insist on an immediate, complete and unconditional ceasefire,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media, in accordance with a proposal he said the U.S. tabled six weeks ago. Ukraine and some Western European governments have accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of dragging his feet on that proposal as his army tries to capture more Ukrainian land. Western analysts say Moscow is in no rush to conclude peace talks because it has battlefield momentum. Doubts over negotiations U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the talks in London to find an end to the more than three-year war would involve only lower-ranking officials, after the U.S. State Department said Tuesday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was unable to attend because of a scheduling issue. Rubio’s abrupt cancellation raised doubts about the direction of negotiations. He had indicated that Wednesday’s meeting could be decisive in determining whether the Trump administration remains engaged.        

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of staging a false impression of an Easter ceasefire, despite continued military aggression across the front line. Speaking on Sunday, Zelenskyy said Russian forces were still launching attacks even after President Vladimir Putin had publicly announced a unilateral truce for the holiday. "On Easter morning, it's clear the Russian army is trying to project an image of a ceasefire," Zelenskyy posted on X. "But in reality, they continue attempts to advance and inflict losses." Ukrainian forces recorded at least 59 shelling incidents and five assaults by Russian units, along with dozens of drone strikes, all taking place after Putin’s ceasefire declaration. Zelenskyy added that, although Ukraine reciprocated the ceasefire gesture, Russia has ramped up the use of heavy weaponry. He did, however, note that Easter morning passed without air raid sirens—an unusual and welcome pause. In one particularly deadly incident, several Ukrainian troops were killed in an ambush in the Donetsk region. Zelenskyy vowed that the Russian soldiers responsible would be “eliminated.” Russia's Defense Ministry, meanwhile, claimed Ukrainian forces launched overnight attacks in the Donetsk area and flew 48 drones into Russian territory, causing civilian casualties. The ministry insisted Russian troops were fully observing the ceasefire. In Kherson, a Russian-occupied region in southern Ukraine, Moscow-installed officials also accused Ukraine of continuing attacks. Zelenskyy says Putin's vow on Ukraine's energy infrastructure unrealistic Zelenskyy called for Russia to honor the ceasefire in full and reiterated Ukraine’s offer to extend the truce for an additional 30 days beyond its scheduled end at midnight Sunday. According to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, there has been no response from Moscow. “Either Putin lacks control over his army, or Russia simply doesn’t intend to end the war,” Zelenskyy said. “This is just a PR stunt.” Just hours after announcing the ceasefire, President Putin attended an Easter service in Moscow at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, led by Patriarch Kirill—a vocal supporter of the war. Putin gave no specifics on how the ceasefire would be enforced, nor whether it included airstrikes or ground operations. His announcement came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump commented that peace talks between Ukraine and Russia are “coming to a head,” and said both sides were taking negotiations seriously. The U.S. State Department on Sunday reaffirmed its support for “a full and comprehensive ceasefire.” Officials highlighted recent peace discussions in Paris and confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio shared encouraging developments in a call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.  

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin's promise not to attack Ukraine's energy infrastructure was "very much at odds with reality" following a series of drone strikes across the country overnight. Just before Zelenskyy spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump, the Ukrainian leader expressed his anticipation to hear more about Trump's recent phone call with Putin regarding a potential limited ceasefire and discuss subsequent steps. Tens of thousands rally in Rome in support of Europe amid defense spending debate "Even last night, after Putin's conversation with Trump, when Putin claimed to have ordered a halt to strikes on Ukrainian energy, 150 drones were launched, including on energy facilities," Zelenskyy said during a press conference in Helsinki with Finnish President Alexander Stubb. Russia responded by claiming it had stopped targeting Ukraine’s energy facilities and accused Kyiv of attacking equipment near one of its pipelines. “We unfortunately see that there is no reciprocity from the Kyiv regime,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Despite Putin’s refusal to agree to a full 30-day ceasefire in discussions with Trump, he pledged to immediately halt attacks on Ukraine’s power grid. The White House described the call between Trump and Putin as the first step toward a "movement to peace," with hopes for a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea and a full end to the conflict. However, there was no sign that Putin had softened his stance on the conditions for peace, which are strongly opposed by Kyiv. The Institute for the Study of War, a U.S.-based think tank, stated that Putin's demands during the call amounted to “Ukrainian capitulation.” “Putin is attempting to hold the temporary ceasefire proposal hostage to extract preemptive concessions before formal peace talks,” the Institute said in an analysis of the call. Stubb called the talks between Trump and Putin a positive development but emphasized that Russia needed to end its aggression. "There are only two ways to respond to the U.S. president's proposal: yes or no—no buts, no conditions," Stubb said. “Ukraine accepted a ceasefire without any conditions. If Russia refuses, we must increase our support for Ukraine and intensify pressure on Russia to return to the negotiating table.” White House national security adviser Mike Waltz stated on social media that he and his Russian counterpart, Yuri Ushakov, agreed on a meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to focus on implementing and expanding the partial ceasefire secured by Trump. It was unclear who would attend the talks in Riyadh or if Ukrainian officials would be involved. Following the lengthy phone conversation between Trump and Putin on Tuesday, air raid sirens sounded in Kyiv, followed by explosions as residents sought shelter. Despite efforts to defend against the attack, several strikes hit civilian infrastructure, including two hospitals, a railway, and over 20 houses, according to Zelenskyy. Russian drones were reported over Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Sumy, Chernihiv, Poltava, Kharkiv, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, and Cherkasy regions. Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed its military launched seven drones at power facilities in Ukraine’s Mykolaiv region, but these were shot down after receiving Putin’s order to avoid targeting energy infrastructure. Moscow accused Ukraine of targeting its energy facility in the Krasnodar region, bordering the Crimean Peninsula, hours after the Putin-Trump talks. The ministry said three drones targeted oil transfer equipment, causing a fire and loss of pressure in one oil tank. "It is clear that this is another provocation fabricated by Kyiv to sabotage President Trump’s peace initiatives," the ministry stated. Russia and Ukraine trade overnight aerial attacks after Putin sets out conditions for ceasefire Russia also claimed its air defences intercepted 57 Ukrainian drones over the Azov Sea and various Russian regions, including Kursk, Bryansk, Oryol, and Tula. Zelenskyy stated that "words of a ceasefire" were not enough. "If the Russians don’t hit our facilities, we certainly won’t hit theirs," he said. Zelenskyy rejected Putin’s key condition that Western nations halt military aid and intelligence support to Ukraine. He argued that such an action would endanger lives by leaving citizens unaware of incoming airstrikes and prolong the war. “I don’t think anyone should make concessions in helping Ukraine; instead, aid to Ukraine should be increased,” Zelenskyy said. “This would signal that Ukraine is ready for any surprises from Russia.” Nigel Gould-Davies, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, called Putin’s rejection of the ceasefire unsurprising, noting that it was unwise for Putin to express it directly to President Trump, who has made ending the war a top priority. “What we now have is a rivalry between Kyiv and Moscow to persuade Trump that the other side is preventing him from achieving his goal of ending the war,” Gould-Davies said. Zelenskyy noted that one of the most challenging issues in future negotiations would be territorial concessions. "For us, the red line is recognizing the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories as Russian," he said. “We will not agree to that.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy left the White House on Friday without signing a key minerals agreement after a tense confrontation with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. The unexpected fallout from the meeting has raised concerns about its impact on global affairs. Zelenskyy had been expected to finalize a deal granting the U.S. increased access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals and participate in a joint press conference with Trump. However, plans unraveled after a heated exchange between the leaders, which played out in front of the media. The implications of the disagreement on the minerals deal remain uncertain. Trump had stressed that the agreement was crucial to repaying the U.S. for over $180 billion in aid sent to Kyiv since the onset of the war. It is also unclear what steps Trump expects Zelenskyy to take to get the deal back on track. Zelenskyy: Ukraine-US economic deal ready, security unclear Following the dispute, Trump’s top advisers asked Zelenskyy to leave the White House. The confrontation escalated when Trump accused Zelenskyy of being “disrespectful” and warned, “You’re gambling with World War III.” He criticized the Ukrainian leader for failing to show sufficient gratitude for America’s support. Trump warns Zelenskyy to quickly negotiate war's end with Russia or risk not having a nation to lead During the nearly 45-minute meeting, tensions escalated in the final 10 minutes, particularly after Vice President JD Vance confronted Zelenskyy about his skepticism regarding Russia’s commitment to diplomacy. Zelenskyy had highlighted Russia’s repeated violations of ceasefire agreements, arguing that President Vladimir Putin could not be trusted. Trump countered by asserting that Putin had never broken agreements with him. Vance further criticized Zelenskyy for raising concerns about Putin in front of American media. As Zelenskyy attempted to respond, Trump raised his voice, declaring, “You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people.” He also positioned himself as neutral in the war, claiming that Zelenskyy’s deep distrust of Putin was an obstacle to achieving peace. Shortly after the meeting, Trump told reporters he sought an “immediate ceasefire” but questioned whether Zelenskyy was truly committed to peace. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy appeared on Fox News, acknowledging that the confrontation was “not good for both sides.” He emphasized that Ukraine could not abruptly change its stance on Russia and insisted that any peace negotiations must come with security guarantees against future Russian aggression. In a social media post following the meeting, Trump declared that Zelenskyy was “not ready for peace” and had “disrespected the United States” in the Oval Office. He suggested that Zelenskyy could return only when he was prepared to negotiate peace. Democratic leaders swiftly criticized the administration for the diplomatic breakdown. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer accused Trump and Vance of “doing Putin’s dirty work.” The contentious exchange was particularly striking given Trump’s recent remarks describing U.S. support for Ukraine as a “worthy cause.” Initially, the meeting had started on a cordial note, with both leaders speaking positively about each other. However, when Zelenskyy raised concerns about trusting Russia, Vance rebuked him for addressing such disagreements publicly. The tone of the conversation quickly shifted, with Trump and Vance portraying Zelenskyy as ungrateful. Trump warned that such an attitude could affect future American support, while Vance urged Zelenskyy to “just say thank you.” After leaving the White House, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to the American people on social media, thanking them for their continued support. However, White House officials reportedly viewed his body language and remarks as “hostile.” Trump was particularly displeased when Zelenskyy brought up security guarantees, as Trump had intended to focus solely on the minerals deal. Former officials noted that while President Joe Biden had also been frustrated with Zelenskyy at times, he had kept such criticisms private—unlike Trump, who made his displeasure public. At one point during the tense discussion, Trump warned Zelenskyy, “You’re not in a good position. You don’t have the cards right now.” Before the meeting concluded, he remarked, “This is going to be great television.” As Ukraine continues to resist Russian advances, Kyiv remains determined to secure security guarantees in any potential peace deal. Many Ukrainians fear that a rushed agreement with excessive concessions to Moscow could allow Russia to regroup and launch future offensives. Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham expressed doubt about whether relations between Trump and Zelenskyy could be repaired, saying, “I don’t know if you can ever do a deal with Zelenskyy anymore.” The contentious meeting also heightened concerns that Trump could negotiate a peace deal favoring Russia. His administration has already engaged in direct talks with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia without inviting European or Ukrainian representatives—an unprecedented move that breaks from past U.S. policy. Following the Oval Office fallout, European leaders reaffirmed their support for Ukraine. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Zelenskyy’s resilience, stating, “His dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people.” Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni proposed an urgent summit between the U.S. and European allies to discuss the future of Western unity and its approach to the Ukraine crisis. “A divided West weakens all of us and benefits those who seek our downfall,” Meloni warned.       

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he will again call on allies to boost its air defenses at this week's meeting in Germany, as US President-elect Donald Trump takes over later this month with a vow to end the almost three-year war quickly. Zelenskyy said that dozens of partner countries will participate in the meeting of the Ramstein group at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Thursday, “including those who can help boost our capabilities not only to defend against missiles but also against guided bombs and Russian aviation.” “We will discuss this with them and continue to persuade them,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly address on Saturday. “The task remains unchanged: strengthening our air defense.” Trump appears with Italian Prime Minister Meloni at his Florida club US Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin will attend the meeting. Biden was originally scheduled to attend the October summit in Ramstein but it was postponed because of response to Hurricane Milton that battered the US. In its last few weeks in office, the Biden administration was pressing to send as much military aid as possible to Ukraine before Trump is sworn in January 20. Trump claimed during his election campaign that he could end the war in one day and his comments have put a question mark over whether the United States will continue to be Ukraine’s biggest — and most important — military backer. Zelenskyy said last week that Trump is "strong and unpredictable,” and those qualities can be a decisive factor in his policy approach to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia controls about one-fifth of Ukraine, and capitalized last year on weaknesses in Ukraine’s defenses to slowly advance in eastern areas despite high losses of troops and equipment. The war’s trajectory isn’t in Ukraine’s favor. The country is shorthanded on the front line and needs continued support from its Western partners. Zelenskyy said Saturday that Russian and North Korean troops had suffered heavy losses in the fighting in Russia’s Kursk region. “In battles yesterday and today near just one village, Makhnovka, in the Kursk region, the Russian army lost up to a battalion of North Korean infantry soldiers and Russian paratroopers,” Zelenskyy said. “This is significant.” Trump's strength and unpredictability can help end the war with Russia: Zelenskyy Zelenskyy said last month that 3,000 North Korean troops had been killed and wounded in Kursk, where Ukrainian forces launched an incursion in August, dealing a blow to Russia’s prestige and forcing it to deploy some of its troops from a slow-moving offensive in eastern Ukraine. The incursion didn’t significantly change the dynamic of the war, and military analysts say Ukraine has lost around 40% of the land it initially captured. In other developments, nine people were wounded in a Russian guided bomb attack on the border town of Semenivka in Ukraine’s northern Chernihiv region on Saturday evening, local officials said. Moscow sent 103 drones into Ukraine overnight into Sunday, Ukrainian officials said. According to Ukraine’s air force, 61 drones were destroyed and 42 were lost likely due to electronic jamming. Russia’s Defense Ministry said that 61 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight into Sunday in five regions of western Russia. No casualties were reported but Rostov regional Gov. Yuri Slyusar said residential buildings and cars had been damaged by falling drone debris.

US President-elect Donald Trump is “strong and unpredictable,” and those qualities can be a decisive factor in his policy approach to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. However, Zelenskyy said it won’t be possible to end the almost three years of war in one day, as Trump claimed during his election campaign he could do. “The ‘hot’ stage of the war can end quite quickly, if Trump is strong in his position,” Zelensky said in a Ukrainian television interview late Thursday, referring to fighting on the battlefield. “I believe (Trump) is strong and unpredictable. I would very much like President Trump’s unpredictability to be directed primarily toward the Russian Federation,” Zelenskyy said. Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, hasn’t publicly fleshed out his policy on Ukraine but his previous comments have put a question mark over whether the United States will continue to be Ukraine’s biggest — and most important — military backer. Zelenskyy is eager to guarantee that Washington’s support keeps coming, and he met with Trump in New York even before last November’s U.S. presidential election. With the war about to enter its fourth year next month, and with Trump coming to power, the question of how and when Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II might end has come to the fore. 2 dead and 18 injured in Southern California plane crash Russia controls about one-fifth of Ukraine and last year capitalized on weaknesses in Ukraine’s defenses to slowly advance in eastern areas despite high losses of troops and equipment. The war’s trajectory is not in Ukraine’s favor. The country is short-handed on the front line and needs continued support from its Western partners. Trump responded favorably to the possibility raised by French President Emmanuel Macron of Western peacekeepers being deployed in Ukraine to oversee an agreement that stops the fighting, Zelenskyy said. He met with Trump and Macron in Paris last month. “But I raised an issue, saying we didn’t hear what specific countries will join this initiative, and whether the US will be there,” Zelenskyy said. The Ukrainian leader is determined for his country to become a NATO member. The alliance’s 32 member countries say Ukraine will join one day, but not until the war ends. “The deployment of European troops (to keep the peace in Ukraine) should not rule out Ukraine’s future in NATO,” Zelenskyy said in the television interview. Zelenskyy described the incursion by Ukrainian forces into Russia’s Kursk border region as a “very strong trump card” in any future peace negotiations. In a bid to counter glum news from the front line, Ukraine seized part of Kursk last August in what was the first occupation of Russian territory since World War II. US restricts Russian and Iranian groups over disinformation targeting American voters But the incursion didn’t significantly change the dynamic of the war, and military analysts say Ukraine has lost some 40% of the land it initially captured. Nevertheless, Zelenskyy said the achievement impressed countries in Asia, South America and Africa and tarnished Russia’s military reputation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday his government has intelligence information that 10,000 troops from North Korea are being prepared to join Russian forces fighting against his country, warning that a third nation wading into the hostilities would turn the conflict into a “world war.” Zelenskyy did not go into detail about the claim that came a day after U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said that Washington and its allies are alarmed by North Korea's military support for Russia’s war in Ukraine but couldn’t confirm Ukrainian claims that soldiers were sent to fight for Moscow. “From our intelligence we’ve got information that North Korea sent tactical personnel and officers to Ukraine,” Zelenskyy told reporters at NATO headquarters. “They are preparing on their land 10,000 soldiers, but they didn’t move them already to Ukraine or to Russia.” Earlier, he warned that any North Korean involvement would be "the first step to a world war.” NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the allies "have no evidence that North Korean soldiers are involved in the fight. But we do know that North Korea is supporting Russia in many ways, weapons supplies, technological supplies, innovation, to support them in the war effort. And that is highly worrying.” The Ukrainian leader’s comments raised the stakes for his Western allies as he met in Brussels with European Union leaders and then NATO defense ministers to discuss his “ victory plan ” to end the country’s devastating war with Russia. Major points of the plan include an invitation for Ukraine to join NATO and permission to use Western-supplied longer-range missiles to strike military targets deep inside Russia, steps that have been met with reluctance by Kyiv’s allies so far. “Ukraine truly deserves to become the 33rd NATO member one day, and we must do everything to ensure this happens," Zelenskyy said in an appeal at the alliance's headquarters. "Ukrainians have shown that we can defend shared values, and we are standing against Russia, the biggest threat to Europe and global peace.” He told EU leaders that “we can end this war no later than next year” if his plan is followed. Zelenskyy told reporters that the plan aims “to strengthen Ukraine" and pave the way for a diplomatic solution to end the conflict on Europe's eastern flank. “This plan doesn’t depend on Russian will, only on the will of our partners,” he said. In a statement after their talks with Zelenskyy, the EU leaders called for a “rapid stepping up of military support and acceleration in its delivery, in particular air defense systems, ammunition and missiles” to protect Ukraine’s population and energy infrastructure. Read: Kim again threatens to use nuclear weapons against South Korea and US “Russia must not prevail,” the statement said. The EU is a key supporter of Ukraine, a candidate member of the 27-nation bloc, as it fights Russia's invasion that began more than 2 1/2 years ago. Zelenskyy had outlined the five-point plan to Ukraine’s parliament on Wednesday without disclosing confidential elements that have been presented in private to key allies, including the United States. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, widely seen as having the warmest relations of any EU leader with Russian President Vladimir Putin, called Zelenskyy's plan “more than frightening” in a Facebook post. He said he would urge major EU powers France and Germany to “begin negotiations with the Russians as soon as possible, in order to find a way out of this situation.” Rutte said Kyiv can rest “absolutely assured that 32 allies are united in making sure that collectively, we will do whatever is needed to make sure that Ukraine can prevail, that Putin will not get his way.” He reiterated that Ukraine’s place is among NATO’s ranks, but would not say when it might join. Zelenskyy told EU leaders that his troops must keep battling Russian forces in Ukraine "while also bringing the war back into Russia so that Russians can feel what war is like and begin to hate Putin for it.” Zelenskyy said he needs to "move some partners forward” on the issue. “And I think only with the unity in EU we can move and can move not only EU leaders, we can move other leaders.” Thursday's talks in Brussels come as Ukrainian troops are struggling to hold off better-equipped Russian forces, especially in the eastern Donetsk region where they are gradually being pushed back. Kyiv is surviving with Western help, but Ukraine says it is coming too slowly. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda criticized slow Western decision-making over Ukraine and said it “would be a great mistake to think that our hesitance is the best way to de-escalation.” At their summit in Washington in July, the 32 NATO members declared Ukraine on an “irreversible” path to membership. But for now, NATO is in a holding pattern. Its biggest and most powerful member, the United States, is facing a presidential election. European allies expect little movement on Ukraine until a new president takes office in January. Read more: North Korea discloses a uranium enrichment facility as Kim calls for more nuclear weapons Beyond that, the United States and European heavyweight Germany remain deeply concerned about being dragged into a wider war with nuclear-armed Russia, and they lead a group of countries that oppose allowing Ukraine to join NATO until the conflict ends.