Ukraine-Russia war latest: At least seven dead after Moscow launches ‘largest missile attack’ in months

Wartime Ukraine could reopen its first airport in the western Lviv region next year, as it tries to restore air links suspended nationwide since Russia’s invasion, a senior partner at an insurance broker has said.

While Ukraine’s national flag carrier and several other companies have gone bankrupt due to the suspension of air travel, Kyiv has taken part in discussions with European aviation authorities and airlines on restoring some air travel for almost a year, Crispin Ellison of the firm Marsh McLennan said.

Marsh McLennan has been supporting the Ukrainian government to put together an insurance facility to cover commercial aviation, Mr Ellison said. The broker already runs an insurance programme for ships carrying all cargos via Ukraine’s Black Sea corridor. The aviation sector is involved in the talks, he said.

“National carriers, low-cost and Ukrainian airlines [are] all expressing an interest and looking at whether they do this,” he told Reuters.

“If regulators agree it is safe to open it and a political decision is made, the insurance industry is ready to support the recovery efforts,” said Mr Ellison, referring to 2025.

The State Aviation Service said in written comments it was considering the possibility of a phased and limited opening of airspace for civil aviation “provided the risks are assessed and reduced to an acceptable level, and additional security measures are implemented”. It did not provide any timeframe.

The Ukrainian government is also keen to reopen the country’s main airport just outside Kyiv but Mr Ellison believes the aviation market is waiting “until confidence has been gained that this can happen in a much lower-risk scenario”.

Estonia has approved the delivery of a new military aid package to Ukraine.

The package, proposed by defence minister Hanno Pevkur, will be drawn from the reserves of the Estonian Defence Forces and are specifically tailored to Ukraine’s needs, the Estonian defence ministry said according to Reuters.

It includes surveillance equipment, ballistic protection gear, ammunition, and naval uniforms.

Mr Pevkur said: "This is not the final aid package. We will soon launch an annual competitive support programme for Estonian companies, allowing Ukraine to benefit from goods produced by Estonia’s defence industry.

“This initiative will support not only Ukraine but also Estonia’s economy and security."

As Russian forces intensify attacks against hard-pressed Ukrainian soldiers along much of the 600-mile frontline, a senior Ukrainian military source has told The Independent that Moscow will keep up the assaults until the moment of Donald Trump’s inauguration – despite the huge troop losses Vladimir Putin‘s forces are suffering.

The colonel, who requested not be named, said both Ukraine and Russia have to take seriously Trump’s campaign promises to quickly end the war, although the president in waiting has not explained how he plans to bring about a ceasefire.

“What is clear,” says the colonel, “is that the Russians want to take as much Ukrainian territory as possible and clear Ukrainian forces out of the Kursk [Russian border] region we occupied in August before any negotiations begin.”

Askold Krushelnycky writes:

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said he is certain the war with Russia will “end sooner” once Donald Trump returns to the White House.

Mr Zelensky conceded the battlefield situation in eastern Ukraine was difficult and Russia was making advances, adding that Russian president Vladimir Putin was not interested in agreeing to a peace deal.

In an interview on Saturday, the Ukrainian president said he had a “constructive exchange” with US president-elect Trump during a phone conversation following his victory against Kamala Harris.

He added that he had not heard anything from Trump that went against Ukraine’s stance, but he did not specify whether Trump had made any demands on potential negotiations with Russia.

Mr Zelensky also said US legislation prevented him from meeting Trump before his inauguration next January. The Ukrainian leader said he would only talk with Trump himself rather than any emissary or advisor.

“It is certain that the war will end sooner with the policies of the team that will now lead the White House. This is their approach, their promise to their citizens,” Mr Zelensky told Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne.

Jabed Ahmed reports:

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine hasn’t received even half of the weapons allocated to it by the US.

Speaking on Ukrainian Radio, he said according to Ukrainska Pravda:  "Now, regarding the huge assistance [from the US – ed.]. Look, that money still needs to be delivered. If you asked me how much we have received from this, I wouldn’t go into the details because there are various reports from different institutions, such as the Ministry of Defence, intelligence agencies, and so on.

“I would only say that we haven’t received half.

"When I talk about half, I actually mean less, and I’m talking about weapons. I negotiated for weapons. Of course, there is humanitarian aid, financial aid, targeted financial aid to the budget, as well as specific humanitarian programmes directed to the regions.”

Leaders of the major democracies in the G7 repeated their pledge on Saturday to impose severe consequences on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

The consequences will include sanctions, export controls and other measures, the G7 said. The group will continue supporting Ukraine for as long as necessary, it added.

“Russia remains the sole obstacle to just and lasting peace,” it said in a statement on Saturday. The statement was adopted “in support of Kyiv as the thousandth day of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine approaches.”

“The G7 confirms its commitment to imposing severe costs on Russia through sanctions, export controls and other effective measures. We stand united with Ukraine,” the statement added.

Italy currently holds the 2024 rotating presidency of the G7. Other member states include United States, Canada, Japan, France, Germany and Britain.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine must ensure the war with Russia ends next year through diplomacy.

Mr Zelensky accepted in a radio interview on Saturday that the situation on the eastern Ukrainian front is difficult as Russia continues to advance in key areas.

US legislation prevents the president from meeting with US president-elect Donald Trump before his inauguration in January - but Mr Zelensky has said he will only talk with Trump himself rather than an advisor.

"I, as the president of Ukraine, will only take seriously a conversation with the president of the United States of America, with all due respect to any entourage, to any people."

"From our side, we must do everything so that this war ends next year, ends through diplomatic means," Mr Zelensky said.

Russian forces have captured two villages in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, Russian news agencies cited the defence ministry as saying on Saturday.

The villages of Makarivka, just over 100km west of Donetsk city, and Hryhorivka, which is is situated to the west of the town of Selydove, captured by Russia last month, the ministry claims according to Reuters.

It comes as Russia continues to progress in its offensive on the eastern Ukrainian front.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has criticized German chancellor Olaf Scholz for his call with Russian president Vladimir Putin as opening a “Pandora’s box”.

“This is exactly what Putin has been wanting for a long time: it is extremely important for him to weaken his isolation, Russia’s isolation, and to have normal negotiations that will not end in anything,” Mr Zelensky said.

During the first phone call in nearly two years, Mr Scholz urged Mr Putin to withdraw his troops and end the full-scale invasion launched in February 2022.