NBC News on December 14 quoted sources as saying that US President-elect Donald Trump’s national security team has had discussions with officials at the White House and the Ukrainian leadership, in a coordinated effort to seek to end the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Although Mr. Trump’s advisors and cabinet candidates have not presented specific ideas or plans to Kyiv, observers believe that the above move represents an effort to promote peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, after Mr. Trump repeatedly declared that he would soon end the war after he took office.
Mr. Trump said he would not ‘abandon’ Ukraine and opposed firing ATACMS missiles deep into Russian soil
“Resolved in a few months”
In an interview with Fox News on December 13, Mr. Keith Kellogg, special envoy chosen by Mr. Trump in charge of Ukraine, said there will be an immediate solution to the war between Russia and Ukraine after Mr. Trump takes office in September. next.
“I truly believe this will be resolved in the next few months. The only person who can do this is President Trump and he will. They’re tired of killing each other out there. It’s time,” according to Mr. Kellogg.
Mr. Trump (right) with Mr. Macron (center) and Mr. Zelensky at the Elysee Palace in France on December 7
A former national security adviser to former Vice President Mike Pence, Mr. Kellogg participated in drafting a peace plan that included freezing the frontline in Ukraine, halting discussions on Ukraine joining NATO and removing partial lifting of sanctions against Russia. Mr. Kellogg’s proposal also includes the US continuing to provide military aid and security guarantees to Ukraine, but will stop aid if Kyiv does not agree to peace talks with Moscow.
As for Ukraine, President Andriy Yermak, Chief of Staff, said the country is not ready to participate in negotiations with Russia because it lacks Western support to have a strong negotiating position, according to The Kyiv Independent. The Kremlin did not immediately make a related comment. Former US Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst said that there is no sign of Russian President Vladimir Putin making concessions or changing the general goal of effective control over Ukraine. Analysts say that Russia has an advantage on the battlefield, so it will be difficult for the Kremlin to stop the conflict. Besides, it is difficult for Russia to accept a ceasefire when Ukrainian soldiers still control some areas in Russia’s Kursk region.
Russia supports a Christmas ceasefire in Ukraine
Speaking in the Financial Times recently, Russian businessman Konstantin Malofeyev, a figure close to the Kremlin, said that for effective dialogue, it is necessary to talk about the future of Europe and the world, not just the future. Ukrainian hybrid.
Expect a ceasefire
Although the views of both sides still have many differences, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said that the government hopes that Ukraine will gradually agree on a ceasefire and prisoner exchange with Russia by next Christmas. He recalled that Hungarian President Viktor Orban outlined this initiative on December 11 when he had a phone call with President Putin and then transferred it to Kyiv.
“We told President Putin about it and informed a number of Russian government officials, who responded positively and openly, showing a willingness to consider the proposal and negotiate,” TASS news agency said. December 14 quoted Mr. Szijjarto as saying. The diplomat called on the conflicting parties to reach “a Christmas ceasefire and conduct a large-scale prisoner exchange”.
In a related development, The Kyiv Independent on December 14 quoted European diplomats as saying that French President Emmanuel Macron attended the summit meeting of European Union (EU) leaders from December 18-19. will raise the possibility of mobilizing European soldiers to Ukraine, if this country gradually reaches a ceasefire agreement with Russia.
Russia and Ukraine sent UAVs to attack each other
Reuters on December 14 quoted a statement from the Ukrainian Air Force saying that the country’s air defense force shot down 58 out of 132 Russian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that attacked during the night. There were 72 UAVs lost track due to being disabled by electronic warfare equipment. Damage information is unknown.
On the same day, Governor Andrey Klychkov in Russia’s Oryol province said that his country’s forces shot down 11 Ukrainian UAVs that attacked an oil depot. Several Russian Telegram channels said the attack caused a large fire and multiple explosions around midnight, while Mr. Klychkov said there were no casualties.
