Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky mentions Trump in New Year’s wish as Russian helicopter shot down
Volodymyr Zelensky said he had no doubt incoming US president Donald Trump was capable of achieving peace as he issued his New Year’s message.
“I have no doubt that the new American president is willing and capable of achieving peace and ending Putin’s aggression. He understands that the first is impossible without the second. Because this is not a street fight where you have to calm down both sides,” he said in his video greeting.
Mr Zelensky thanked the current US administration for providing a wide array of critical military equipment, including 39 multiple-launch rocket systems, 301 Howitzer artillery weapons and over 300 million units of ammunition, as he recalled conversations with outgoing president Joe Biden and “everyone who supports us in the United States”.
His remarks came as a Russian helicopter was shot down by an uncrewed Ukrainian naval drone, in what Kyiv’s spy agency said was the first such strike in history.
In a battle near Cape Tarkhankut, on Crimea’s western coast, a missile-armed Magura V5 maritime drone struck a Russian Mi-8 helicopter. Dramatic video footage appeared to show the moment the chopper was downed into the sea.
