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8 hours ago

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin’s forces launch deadly Kyiv ballistic missile and drone attack

Putin says he is open to talks with Donald Trump, saying ‘we will have things to discuss’

Tom Watling ,Namita Singh
Friday 20 December 2024 10:16 GMT
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Zelensky says Ukraine could temporarily cede territory in exchange for Nato membership

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Russia has launched dozens of missiles and drones against Ukraine as at least one person was killed in the capital of Kyiv in the attack.

Ukraine’s air force said Russia had fired 60 drones overnight, though 20 were downed well before they reached their target, and five ballistic missiles at towns and cities across the country.

At least one person was killed after missiles hit Kyiv at around 7am local time this morning, while a high-rise building was badly damaged. The capital’s St Nicholas Church was also damaged.

Five people were also injured in a separate Russian missile strike that damaged a two-storey residence in Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown, Kryvyi Rih.

Meanwhile, Russian president Vladimir Putin has said he should have invaded Ukraine earlier as he used an end-of-year press conference to double down on his decision to start the war.

Despite the toll his war has taken on Russia’s finances and the lives of its young men, Putin claimed that sending troops into Ukraine in 2022 has boosted his country’s military and economic power.

10 hours ago

In pictures: Kyiv hit by Russian missile attack

(via REUTERS)
(AFP via Getty Images)
(REUTERS)
Tom Watling20 December 2024 08:21
10 hours ago

Russia is ready to compromise with Trump on Ukraine war, says Putin

During boasts about Russia’s military achievements in his annual marathon televised news conference, Vladimir Putin says he is ready to compromise over Ukraine in possible talks on ending his war and has no conditions for starting discussions.

The Russian president told one reporter he was ready to meet Donald Trump, who he said he had not spoken to for years.

My colleague Alastair Jamieson reports:

Vladimir Putin: I am ready to talk to Trump over Ukraine

The Russian president told one reporter he was ready to meet Donald Trump, who he said he had not spoken to for years

Namita Singh20 December 2024 08:00
11 hours ago

Video: Putin repeats fake Boris Johnson quote in bizarre Ukrainian army claim

Putin repeats fake Boris Johnson quote in bizarre Ukrainian army claim
Namita Singh20 December 2024 07:37
11 hours ago

Turkey receives sanctions waiver for gas payments to Russia

Turkey has received an exemption for gas payments to Russia from sanctions imposed on Gazprombank by the United States, Turkish energy minister Alparslan Bayraktar said.

In November, the US imposed new sanctions on Russia’s Gazprombank as president Joe Biden stepped up actions to punish Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine before he leaves office in January.

Namita Singh20 December 2024 07:19
11 hours ago

Gazprom to send 42.4 mcm of gas to Europe via Ukraine on Friday

Russian gas producer Gazprom said it would send 42.4 million cubic metres (mcm) of gas to Europe via Ukraine today, the same volume as yesterday.

Namita Singh20 December 2024 07:06
11 hours ago

Ukraine hits Russia with 10 longer-range Western missiles, says Russia

Ukraine posts picture of British missiles heading towards Russian forces

The Ukrainian defence ministry has posted a photo purporting to show a British-made Storm Shadow missile being fired towards Russian forces.

Restrictions on the use of missiles to strike inside of Russia were lifted recently, prompting the Kremlin to accuse Ukraine’s western backers of trying to escalate the war. Those concerns were dismissed on the basis that the move was still defensive in nature, intended to blunt Russia’s ability to attack Ukraine.

Alex Croft20 December 2024 07:00
11 hours ago

One dead in Russian missile attack on Kyiv

One person has been killed in a Russian missile attack on Kyiv, according to the head of city’s military administration.

The morning attack sparked fires across the city, in addition to damaging an office building, Serhiy Popko said this morning, citing preliminary information.

Namita Singh20 December 2024 06:47
12 hours ago

European leaders line up to support Ukraine ahead of Trump’s presidency

European leaders are voicing their support for Ukraine as Russia continues to gain ground on the battlefield.

“We need to stand with Ukraine, and every step … needs to be taken with Ukraine and in the presence of the European Union,” said Luxembourg prime minister Luc Frieden. “The future of Ukraine is decided in Europe and not elsewhere,” he said.

Prime minister of Luxembourg Luc Frieden arrives at the EU Summit in Brussels, Belgium, 19 December 2024
Prime minister of Luxembourg Luc Frieden arrives at the EU Summit in Brussels, Belgium, 19 December 2024 (EPA)

Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof underlined that only Ukraine can determine the conditions for talks, “and it is not for us to talk about that. At the moment, Ukraine has not yet indicated that they are prepared to do so.”

The message of support for Ukraine has strengthened amid Ukraine’s weakened position in the war as president-elect Donald Trump is set to assume office next month.

Volodymr Zelensky has also doubled down on his diplomatic efforts, calling on the EU and the US to stay united next year, saying that “only together the United States and Europe can stop Putin and save Ukraine.” He said that the only effective security guarantee remains Nato membership.

Namita Singh20 December 2024 06:39
12 hours ago

Important to ensure longterm aid to Ukraine, says Scholz

German chancellor Olaf Scholz said it’s important to “ensure long-term aid to Ukraine – it must be clear that we are prepared to enable support as long as it is needed.”

Air defence, artillery and ammunition are high on the list, he told reporters.

German chancellor Olaf Scholz attends a press conference after the EU Summit in Brussels, Belgium, 19 December 2024
German chancellor Olaf Scholz attends a press conference after the EU Summit in Brussels, Belgium, 19 December 2024 (EPA)

On 20 January, Donald Trump returns to the White House, having promised to end the war in Ukraine quickly and talked up his relationship with Russian president Vladimir Putin. Many Europeans are concerned that it might result in a poor deal for Ukraine.

Asked about Mr Trump, Mr Scholz said that his impression from talking to the president-elect “is that good cooperation between Europe and the US is possible”. He said that “the principle is always: no decisions over Ukrainians’ heads, and that of course means over those of the European states.”

Namita Singh20 December 2024 06:14
12 hours ago

No Istanbul agreements between Ukraine and Russia, says Zelensky

There were no agreements reached in Istanbul between Ukraine and Russia, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

Speaking during a press conference at the European Council meeting in Brussels, Mr Zelensky said: “Ukraine did not agree to the ultimatum from the Russian Federation. Ukraine did not sign anything, no agreements existed. There was a response to the ultimatum from the Russian Federation.”

Putin had earlier claimed a preliminary agreement had been reached between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators during the early weeks of the war at talks in Istanbul, adding that it had not been implemented but could be a basis for future discussions.

Alex Croft20 December 2024 06:01

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