Ukraine-Russia latest: Putin hails ‘courageous’ Trump after election win as Zelensky rejects ceasefire

Sir Keir Starmer said allies must “step up” support for Ukraine, as he met the country’s president amid uncertainty about the future of US backing for Kyiv after Donald Trump’s election victory.

The prime minister told Volodymyr Zelensky the UK had an “unwavering” commitment to help the country defend itself against Russia’s invasion during bilateral talks at a European Political Community summit in Hungary.

Sir Keir also said the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia was “proof of Putin’s increasing desperation” and that the UK would stand with Ukraine “for as long as it takes for Russia to withdraw”.

The gathering of European leaders on Thursday was largely overshadowed by Mr Trump’s historic win at the US polls which puts him on course for a second term in the White House.

But figures including Sir Keir used the summit to insist international partners “see this through” and strengthen their resolve to offer continued support for Ukraine.

European countries need to send a clear message to the United States and the incoming Trump administration that they will support Ukraine as much as needed, Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said on Thursday.

“Our message needs to be clear and strong,” Orpo told reporters ahead of a meeting of European leaders in Budapest.

Orpo added that Ukraine was fighting for a “model” that included membership of the European Union and NATO. Finland, which is an EU member, joined NATO following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky revealed his country has had “good conversations” with Donald Trump, following the latter’s election victory in the US.

Mr Zelensky congratulated Trump on his victory over Kamala Harris in a new video address on Wednesday evening.

The Ukrainian president said: “I congratulate him on this victory. In general, it was extremely important for us in Ukraine and for all of Europe to consistently hear the words of the then-45th President of the United States about “peace through strength.”

“And if this becomes the policy principle of the 47th President of the United States, America and the whole world will undoubtedly benefit from it.”

During his election campaign, Trump has threatened both a withdrawal of NATO commitments and a fundamental shift of support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has denounced calls for a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict without firm security guarantees for Kyiv, arguing that such proposals ultimately serve Russian interests. At a recent summit, Mr Zelensky sharply criticised the notion of halting hostilities without measures to prevent a future Russian escalation, calling it a “very scary challenge” for Ukrainians.

“A ceasefire is being proposed, for instance, by a leader who is against having Ukraine in Nato. Imagine... this is nonsense and disharmony,” Mr Zelensky said.

He also noted that similar appeals for a ceasefire have been voiced by other countries, including Brazil and China, and argued that such suggestions align with Moscow’s objectives rather than prioritising Ukraine’s security needs.

Volodymyr Zelensky was among the first leaders to congratulate Donald Trump, who on the campaign trail criticised the scale of US military and financial support for Kyiv and vowed to end the war quickly, without saying how.

The United States has been Kyiv’s most important ally in the war and Mr Zelensky has pointedly praised Mr Trump’s election victory in his statements.

He spoke by telephone with the Republican late on Wednesday and described the conversation as “excellent”.

“I believe President Trump really wants a quick decision. Wants - it does not mean that it will happen. And I’m (talking) here without any reproach, I am just saying that we are where we are,” he told reporters.

In Russia, whose troops control around a fifth of Ukrainian territory, president Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that he was ready to speak to Trump, as any ideas on facilitating an end to the Ukraine crisis merited attention.

Mr Zelensky said: “We must be preparing for any decision. We want a fair end to the war. I am sure that the imminent end of the war means losses.”

The Biden administration has reaffirmed its commitment to ramping up support for Ukraine ahead of the 2024 US presidential election, ensuring continued aid even if Donald Trump assumes office in January.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre clarified that there would be no disruption in the flow of assistance, emphasising the critical importance of providing Ukraine with the resources it requires.

“That’s not going to change. We’re going to surge and get that out there to Ukraine. We understand how important it is to make sure they have what they need,” Ms Jean-Pierre said in a statement.

President Volodymyr Zelensky yesterday said he was not aware of any details of US president-elect Donald Trump’s plan to end the Ukraine war quickly and he was convinced a rapid end would entail major concessions for Kyiv.

The Ukrainian leader told a news conference at the European Political Community summit in Budapest that he believed Mr Trump wanted to end the war with Russia quickly, but that he had not discussed a plan with him.

“If it’s just fast, it means losses for Ukraine. I just don’t yet understand how this could be in any other way. Maybe we do not know something, do not see,” he said.

Mr Trump’s election victory this week has escalated a sense of great uncertainty for Ukraine’s war effort at a perilous moment with Moscow’s troops making their most rapid advances in months and North Korean troops deployed in Russia’s Kursk region.

European countries need to send a clear message to the United States and the incoming Trump administration that they will support Ukraine as much as needed, Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said on Thursday.

“Our message needs to be clear and strong,” Orpo told reporters ahead of a meeting of European leaders in Budapest.

Orpo added that Ukraine was fighting for a “model” that included membership of the European Union and NATO. Finland, which is an EU member, joined NATO following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Vladimir Putin said yesterday Ukraine should remain neutral for there to be a chance for peace, adding that the borders of Ukraine should be in accordance with the wishes of the people living in Russian-claimed territories.

“If there is no neutrality, it is difficult to imagine the existence of any good-neighbourly relations between Russia and Ukraine,” Mr Putin said.

He said Russia had recognised Ukraine’s post-Soviet borders based on the understanding that it would be neutral. The US-led Nato military alliance has repeatedly said that Ukraine would one day join.

If Ukraine was not neutral, it would be “constantly used as a tool in the wrong hands and to the detriment of the interests of the Russian Federation,” Mr Putin said.

Russia controls about a fifth of Ukraine after more than two and a half years of war.