Ukraine-Russia war latest: Kremlin welcomes meeting with Trump as ‘supermarket hit with US missile’ in Donetsk
Russia accused Kyiv of using a US-supplied HIMARS to strike a supermarket in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine
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.The Kremlin has welcomed a meeting with US president-elect Donald Trump just days after he claimed Vladimir Putin wanted to sit down with him.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said there could be progress on setting up the meeting after Trump is sworn in as US president on 20 January.
Trump claimed Putin wanted to meet with him as he spoke with Republican governors at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, earlier this week.
“President Putin wants to meet. He has said that even publicly and we have to get that war over with. That’s a bloody mess,” he said.
On Thursday, Trump pushed back his campaign pledge to end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours and said six months was a more realistic target.
“The whole [Trump] team is obsessed with strength and looking strong, so they’re recalibrating the Ukraine approach,” a European official told the Financial Times.
Meanwhile, Russia accused Ukraine of carrying out a missile strike on a supermarket in the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk with US-supplied weapons.
Dashcam footage posted by a driver nearby appeared to show the moment the supermarket was struck, with an ensuing large explosion and flames soaring into the sky.
Ukrainian family learns son is alive after nearly 3 years of captivity
Ukrainian family learns son is alive after nearly three years of captivity in Russia
The 25-year-old soldier was captured by Russian forces in May 2022 ‘while defending civilians in Mariupol’ said family
North Korea benefiting from troops fighting in Russia, US says
North Korea benefiting from troops fighting alongside Russia, US warns
Pyongyang’s military ties with Russia ‘rendering it more capable of waging war against its neighbours’
Ukraine fighting for eastern town despite Russian claims of capture
Ukraine still fighting for eastern town despite Russian claims of a takeover
Ukraine says the eastern town of Kurakhove remains partially in their control despite heavy Russian bombing
Zelensky urges Trump not to abandon Ukraine to Putin
Zelensky urges Trump not to abandon Ukraine as US pledges $500m in military aid
‘We’ve come such a long way that it would honestly be crazy to drop the ball now,’ says Ukrainian leader
In their final meeting, Zelenskyy and Austin say military aid to Ukraine must continue under Trump
In their final meeting, Zelenskyy and Austin say military aid to Ukraine must continue under Trump
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U_S_ Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin used their final meeting in Germany to press the incoming Trump administration to not give up on Kyiv’s fight, warning that to cease military support now “will only invite more aggression, chaos and war.”
Russia dropped more than 50,000 glide bomb on Ukraine since Feb 22, says Kyiv
Russia has launched over 51,000 of guided aerial bombs on Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine‘s air force said on Thursday.
About 40,000 of the total number was used in 2024, it said on Telegram.
In pictures: Zelensky attends 25th Ramstein meeting in Germany
German defence minister: will consider changing Ramstein format if US withdraws
German defence minister Boris Pistorius has said that a regular gathering of allies aimed at speeding up and synchronising arms deliveries to Ukraine was best kept under US leadership, with an eye to the new Trump administration.
“And if those in the United States now decide not to maintain this format any longer, then we will have to make our own decisions,” said Pistorius at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG).
He added that it was too early to speculate on what could happen to the format after US President-elect Donald Trump takes office on 20 January.
The group, comprised of about 50 allies who usually meet every few months at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, was started in 2022 by outgoing US defense secretary Lloyd Austin.
Pistorius said Germany would be providing further guided missiles to Ukraine for the IRIS-T systems, initially intended for the German army, at short notice, and would stick to its schedule for delivering the systems it promised.
Slovakia will adopt measures against Ukraine if gas transit problem not solved, PM Fico says
Slovakia will adopt harsh reciprocal measures against Ukraine if the problem with halted gas transit through the country is not solved, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Thursday after talks with EU energy commissioner Dan Jorgensen.
Fico has accused Kyiv of damaging Slovakia by not extending a gas transit deal with Russia to carry gas through Ukraine, and has threatened to retaliate by cutting emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine or reducing aid for refugees.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments