Ukraine-Russia latest: Putin hails ‘courageous’ Trump after election win as Zelensky rejects ceasefire
Russian president Vladimir Putin congratulated Donald 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 on Thursday 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, that he would curtail US support for Kyiv.
Ukrainian president Vlodomyr Zelensky, though, commended Mr Trump on his victory and described a recent phone conversation with him as “excellent”.
He denounced calls for a ceasefire without security guarantees, calling them “nonsense”.
The Joe Biden administration committed to supporting Ukraine ahead of the presidential election, ensuring Kyiv would continue getting aid even after Mr Trump assumed office in January.
“That’s not going to change,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. “We are going to surge and get that out there to Ukraine.”
Meanwhile, Russian drone strikes killed at least one person and injured 34 injured in Odesa and Kharkiv early this morning.
