Kyiv: Russia is open to considering President-elect Donald Trump ‘s proposals for ending the war, Russian official said, as a Russian drone strike in the Ukrainian port city of Odesa killed one person and injured 13. Meanwhile, the EU foreign policy chief held talks in Kyiv following the change in U.S. leadership.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated that Moscow and Washington were “exchanging signals” on Ukraine through “closed channels.” He did not clarify whether the communication was with the current administration or with Trump and members of his incoming administration.
Russia is willing to consider Trump’s proposals on Ukraine, provided they offer “ideas on how to move forward in the area of settlement, and not in the area of further pumping the Kyiv regime with all kinds of aid,” Ryabkov said Saturday in an interview with Russian state news agency Interfax.
In Kyiv, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha told reporters that Ukraine is open to working with the Trump administration.
“Remember that President (Volodymyr) Zelenskyy was one of the first world leaders to greet President Trump,” Sybiha said. “It was a sincere conversation and an exchange of thoughts on further cooperation.” He added, “During the call, we also discussed steps to establish communication between teams, and this work has already begun. We are open to further cooperation, and I am confident that our shared goal of achieving just peace unites us all.”
Sybiha appeared alongside EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who said his visit is meant to stress the European Union’s support to Ukraine.
“This support remains unwavering. This support is absolutely needed, for you to continue defending yourself against Russian aggression,” he said.
Borrell urged “faster deliveries and fewer self imposed red lines” in getting Western weapons to Ukraine. He had appealed to allies in August to lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied long-range weapons to strike Russian military targets.
In Odesa, regional Gov. Oleh Kiper said high-rise residential buildings, private houses and warehouses in the Black Sea port city were damaged overnight by the “fall” of a drone. He did not specify whether the drone had been shot down by air defenses.
A further 32 Russian drones were shot down over 10 Ukrainian regions, while 18 were “lost,” according to Ukraine’s air force, likely having been electronically jammed.
A Russian aerial bomb struck a busy highway overnight in the northeastern Kharkiv province, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekohov said. No casualties were reported.
Russia is mounting an intensified aerial campaign that Ukrainian officials say they need more Western help to counter. However, doubts are deepening over what Kyiv can expect from a new U.S. administration. Trump has repeatedly taken issue with U.S. aid to Ukraine, made vague vows to end the war and has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin .
In Russia, the Defense Ministry said 50 Ukrainian drones were destroyed over seven Russian regions — more than half over the Bryansk region, bordering Ukraine.
(with PTI inputs)
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