'A gift to the Kremlin': result leaves Ukraine facing uncertain future
The Guardian|November 07, 2024
Ukraine was plunged into gloom and uncertainty in the wake of Donald Trump's victory amid expectations that he is likely to end US military assistance - while the Kremlin said its aim of subjugating its neighbour remained unchanged.
Luke Harding and Dan Sabbagh
'A gift to the Kremlin': result leaves Ukraine facing uncertain future

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's president, congratulated Trump on his "impressive election victory", adding: "I appreciate President Trump's commitment to the 'peace-through-strength' approach in global affairs."

He recalled their "great meeting" in New York in September and said they had discussed "ways to put an end to Russian aggression in Ukraine". He praised Trump's "decisive leadership" and cited the "strong bipartisan support for Ukraine" in the US.

The consequences for Ukraine of Trump's second presidency are likely to be difficult, however, at a time when Russia is already advancing on the battlefield at the quickest rate since 2022.

Without US military assistance, Ukraine stands to lose further ground in Donetsk oblast, the scene of fierce fighting since Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion nearly three years ago, as well as in many other front-line areas.

Russia's foreign ministry said Moscow would seek to work with a future Trump administration, but added that it was "focusing on achieving all the set objectives of the special military operation" - the Kremlin's term for the war. "Our conditions are unchanged and are well known in Washington," it added.

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, said he was not aware of any plans by Putin to call and congratulate Trump on his victory. Any reset of policy between Russia and the US would take time, he added.

"We have repeatedly said that the US is able to contribute to the end of this conflict. This cannot be done overnight, but...the US is capable of changing the trajectory of its foreign policy," Peskov told a daily briefing of reporters.

This story is from the November 07, 2024 edition of The Guardian.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the November 07, 2024 edition of The Guardian.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE GUARDIANView All
Money hacks How to use your Christmas gift vouchers wisely
The Guardian

Money hacks How to use your Christmas gift vouchers wisely

The first thing to do is read the small print (it could be very small if it is squeezed on the back).

time-read
4 mins  |
January 04, 2025
'It's not job done' More change to come as M&S gets its spark back
The Guardian

'It's not job done' More change to come as M&S gets its spark back

M&S menswear, above, is starting to compete for style with specialist rivals while the company's menswear has successfully caught the attention of younger buyers

time-read
4 mins  |
January 04, 2025
Taken to court ... as a victim of identity theft
The Guardian

Taken to court ... as a victim of identity theft

A fraudulent phone contract has been taken out in my husband's name and he is now threatened with court action.

time-read
1 min  |
January 04, 2025
New start Is 2025 the right time to become your own boss?
The Guardian

New start Is 2025 the right time to become your own boss?

Going freelance is not without risk but if you want to shed the shackles of your 9-5, then Suzanne Bearne can help you plan it properly

time-read
7 mins  |
January 04, 2025
Feeling the heat British Gas hit by 400,000 complaints
The Guardian

Feeling the heat British Gas hit by 400,000 complaints

It has been both astonishing and appalling in equal measure,\" says Jonathan Hattersley, 66, from Cambridgeshire.

time-read
3 mins  |
January 04, 2025
The Guardian

Biden Blocks Japanese Firm's $15bn Bid for US Steel Over Security Fears

Joe Biden blocked a $14.9bn (£12bn) bid by Japan's Nippon Steel for US Steel yesterday, citing concerns the deal could hurt national security and following through on a pledge to keep the company domestically owned as he prepares to depart the White House.

time-read
1 min  |
January 04, 2025
We're like snipers' Lethal and cheap, drones dominate the frontline now
The Guardian

We're like snipers' Lethal and cheap, drones dominate the frontline now

Denys, a soldier with Ukraine's Khyzhak brigade, describes a new kind of war. Standing in a barracks workshop with piles of basic Ukrainian first-person view (FPV) drones behind him, he says: \"There are fewer gunfights because there are more drone fights.\" Frontlines that were once a gunshot apart are now a killing zone several miles deep as Russian and Ukrainian drone squads hidden behind the frontlines target each other's forces with aerial attacks. \"Back in 2022, we were still running around with machine guns from the tree lines,\" Denys says, almost with nostalgia.

time-read
4 mins  |
January 04, 2025
The Guardian

Profits at GB News owner's hedge fund plunge 64%

Profits at the hedge fund co-founded by the GB News and Spectator owner Sir Paul Marshall plunged by almost two-thirds last year, resulting in significantly reduced payouts for its partners.

time-read
1 min  |
January 04, 2025
Call to stick to tougher green targets amid record EV sales
The Guardian

Call to stick to tougher green targets amid record EV sales

Carmakers sold a record number of electric cars in the UK last year, prompting environmental groups to urge the government to stick to tougher green targets even as the industry argues they are unsustainable.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 04, 2025
Handbags and watches help take Thailand PM's declared worth to £322m
The Guardian

Handbags and watches help take Thailand PM's declared worth to £322m

Thailand's prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has declared £322m in assets, including a collection of 217 designer handbags and 75 luxury watches in submissions on her wealth to a government body.

time-read
1 min  |
January 04, 2025