Ukraine-Russia war – live: Musk ‘joins Trump’s Zelensky call’ as Putin hails ‘courageous’ US election win
Elon Musk promised to support Volodymyr Zelensky with his Starlink satellites
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Your support makes all the difference.Elon Musk reportedly jumped on Donald Trump’s first call with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.
The move potentially reveals how high Trump values the Tesla billionaire and foreshadows a possible role in his administration.
Axios reported that the president-elect told Zelensky he will support Ukraine, but didn’t go into details on a 25 minute phonecall.
Musk also weighed in to say he will continue supporting Ukraine through his Starlink satellites - that have become pivotal to Ukraine forces communications on the frontline.
Musk had previously mocked Zelensky on social media for his attempts to fundraise for his nation’s war effort.
It came as Russian president Vladimir Putin congratulated Trump on winning the US election and said Moscow was ready for dialogue with him.
In his first remarks since Mr Trump’s win, Mr Putin said the president-elect had acted “like a real man” during an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania in July.
Mr Trump’s win has caused concern in Ukraine, where the Russian forces have made swift advances of late, over fears that he would curtail US support for Kyiv.
Meanwhile, Russian drone strikes killed at least one person and injured 34 injured in Odesa and Kharkiv early this morning.
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MoD issues update on Russian recruitment of African soldiers
European countries are spending more on defense, a think tank says
European countries are spending more on defense, a think tank says
European nations have boosted their defenses in response to the annexation of the Crimea Peninsula in 2014 and Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 but much remains to be done for them to be ready to face threats from Russia
EU top diplomat shown around Kyiv by Ukrainian counterpart
Odesa drone attack kills one and wounds dozens as EU foreign policy chief arrives in Kyiv
1 person killed in Odesa drone attack as EU foreign policy chief arrives in Kyiv
Ukrainian officials say one person died and 13 people were wounded by a Russian drone in a residential area in the port city of Odesa
Ukraine war led my son to join the Army, says defence secretary
Ukraine war led my son to join the Army, says defence secretary
It comes as the veterans minister revealed he has re-enlisted in the Royal Marines reserves in case a war breaks out in Europe
Polish PM to meet French, UK, Nato leaders to discuss Ukraine
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk will meet France’s president, Britain’s prime minister, the head of Nato, and leaders of Nordic and Baltic states soon to discuss transatlantic cooperation and the war in Ukraine, he said on Saturday.
The future of aid to Ukraine is among the major questions facing the European Union after Donald Trump’s US election victory. Trump has criticised the level of US support for Ukraine‘s fight against Russia’s invasion, and before the election promised to end the conflict before even taking office, without explaining how.
“There is no doubt that this new political landscape is a serious challenge for everyone, especially in the context of a possible end to the Russian-Ukrainian war as a result of an agreement between, for example, the president of Russia and the new president of the United States,” Mr Tusk said.
“...in the coming days, we will very intensively coordinate cooperation with countries that have a very similar view on the geopolitical and transatlantic situation and situation in Ukraine,” he added.
Tusk said French President Emmanuel Macron and Nato head Mark Rutte would visit Warsaw soon and he would meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer either in Warsaw or in London. Tusk will also meet Nordic and Baltic leaders in Stockholm.
“Everything will, of course, be in the context of new challenges facing our homeland, the entire region, the European Union and the Western community,” Tusk said.
He reiterated what he said before the US election: no matter the result, Europe has to take greater responsibility for its own safety and Ukraine‘s future cannot be decided without Ukraine.
In pictures: Ukrainian soldiers fire at Russian positions in Toretsk, eastern Ukraine
Ukrainian drones hit Russian chemical plant in Tula region, says Kyiv source
Ukraine targeted and struck Russia’s Aleksinsky chemical plant, which produces gunpowder, ammunition and weapons in the Tula region, during an overnight drone attack, a source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) told Reuters on Saturday.
The source said the attack was part of a broader strategy to target Russia’s munitions factories that support Moscow’s defence sector and the war effort against Ukraine.
Ben Wallace says momentum has dropped back on Ukraine
Former defence secretary Sir Ben Wallace has claimed that “momentum has dropped back” on Ukraine.
Sir Ben told the BBC that the UK's leadership on Ukraine has “started to drop back into the... pack” and said that in order to drive change while in government "you have to really do it every single day".
The former army officer - who served in the Ministry of Defence under the last three Conservative prime ministers - said that Britain's stance had brought “lots of Europeans with us”.
His comments come amid uncertainty over the future of US backing for Kyiv after Donald Trump's election victory this week
Sir Ben told Radio 4's Today programme: “What has happened is the leadership that Britain showed right from the start has started to drop back into the sort of pack.”
He claimed that officials during his time in government had been reluctant to “get ahead” but cross-party consensus in Parliament meant that the UK “took a position to lead”.
“And the leadership did bring lots and lots of Europeans with us,” he said.
He added: “I definitely have a sense that that momentum has dropped back, and my experience of government is if you want to really drive things, you have to really do it every single day.
“You can't just do a statement and then float around.”
EU foreign policy chief arrives in Kyiv
The European Union’s outgoing top diplomat Josep Borrell has arrived in Kyiv.
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