Russia-Ukraine war live: Trump calls for immediate ceasefire as Zelenskyy reveals frontline casualties
www.theguardian.com
Mon, 09 Dec 2024 10:47:57 +0200
US presidentelect says I know Vladimir Putin well.
This is his time to act as Ukrainian leader says 43,000 of his troops have been killedHello and welcome to the Guardians live coverage of Russias war on Ukraine.Donald Trump has called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, a day after meeting the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in Paris, claiming Kyiv would like to make a deal to end its war with Russia.Zelenskyy described his discussions with Trump, brought together by French President Emmanuel Macron, as constructive but gave no further details.
Zelenskyy cautioned that Ukraine needs a just and robust peace, that Russians will not destroy within a few years.
When we talk about an effective peace with Russia, we must talk first of all about effective peace guarantees.
Ukrainians want peace more than anyone else.
Russia brought war to our land, he said Sunday in a post on the Telegram messaging app.
Among Zelenskyys inner circle, there is an increasing awareness that, as the army struggles to hold back Russia on the frontline, some kind of negotiations will be necessary soon.
But they fear that without solid security guarantees from the west, a ceasefire would be meaningless.Zelenskyy said on Sunday that 43,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed and 370,000 injured, of whom about half had been able to return to service after treatment.
He also claimed that 198,000 Russian soldiers had been killed and a further 550,000 injured.In an interview with on NBC on Sunday, Trump said that Ukraine will possibly receive less military aid once he takes office.
Were in for 350 billion, and Europe is in for 100 billion.
Why isnt Europe in for the same as us the USPresident elect said.Germanys Conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz, who polls suggest will become the countrys next chancellor, arrived in Kyiv this morning.
The purpose of my visit is to learn about the current state of defence in the country, Merz said upon arrival.
Merz the leader of the Christian Democrats said he wanted to assure the Ukrainian leadership of his conservative blocs support.
Merz has struck a more hawkish tone on Russia than chancellor Olaf Scholz, saying Berlin should give Kyiv the Taurus longrange cruise missiles it has long wanted if the Kremlin continues to target civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.
Only if Ukraine is strong will Putin be prepared to enter into negotiations at all, said Merz.
If our support for Ukraine weakens, then this war will last longer.
If our support for Ukraine is consistent, then this war will end more quickly.The Ukrainian air force said on Monday that Russia launched two Kh59/69 cruise missiles and 37 drones to attack Ukraine overnight.
Of 37 drones, the air force shot down 18 and lost 18, likely due to electronic warfare.
The air force also downed both missiles launched in the attack, the air force said.
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