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Trump wants soonest end to Ukrainian conflict, regardless of terms — Politico

The US leader will accept "whatever agreement that both sides can agree on as quickly as possible"

US President Donald Trump AP Photo/Evan Vucci

US President Donald Trump

© AP Photo/Evan Vucci

WASHINGTON, November 26. /TASS/. US President Donald Trump is seeking to end the conflict in Ukraine as quickly as possible, on any terms that the sides find acceptable, the Politico newspaper wrote citing a White House official.

"The ultimate goal is peace. That’s the most important thing that can be achieved here," the source said, adding that Trump will accept "whatever agreement that both sides can agree on as quickly as possible."

The article says that Trump wants the conflict to be over "no matter what the peace deal looks like."

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump said he was certain that the sides are "getting very close to a deal." "I thought that one would have been quicker. But I think we're making progress," he added.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on her X account on Tuesday that negotiations with the participation of Moscow, Washington and Kiev are required to resolve the remaining issues regarding the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict.

Last week Washington had proposed a 28-point plan for the Ukrainian settlement, which caused discontent among Kiev's partners in Europe. On November 23, the United States and Ukraine held consultations in Geneva on the plan. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the meeting the most productive to date.

According to Western media reports, the initial version of the American plan envisioned Ukraine pledging not to join NATO and the alliance committing not to integrate Kiev, recognition by the United States and other countries of Russia’s sovereignty over Crimea and Donbass, the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the Donetsk People’s Republic, the granting of official status to the Russian language in Ukraine, limitations on the size of the Ukrainian army, and the lifting of anti-Russian sanctions. EU leaders expressed disagreement with several of the points and announced the development of counterproposals.

BS News said earlier, citing sources, that US Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll held meetings with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi. Later, these reports were confirmed by the Pentagon, adding that these consultations took place on Monday evening and on Tuesday.

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Ukraine crisis United States Donald Trump

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Venezuela is Russia’s ally, Moscow, Caracas are in constant contact — Kremlin

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UK introduced sanctions against Russian oil producers

In total, restrictions affected 24 legal entities and individuals, including companies from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and the UAE

FSB reports thwarting terror plot near administration building in Russia’s Volgodonsk

A female college student with 10 kilograms of an improvised explosive device was arrested

European guarantees for Ukraine aimed at arming it and provoking Moscow — expert

Alexander Dudchak explained that such plans effectively transform the entire territory of former Ukraine into a strategic military base under external control

Western military presence in Ukraine in any format unacceptable for Russia — MFA

Maria Zakharova stated that such pseudo-peacekeepers would become legitimate targets for the Russian army

Whole world, save for Europe, condemns US actions in Caribbean — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister underscored that "all other countries have clearly expressed their positions"

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Viktor Orban noted that the European Commission’s proposal ran counter not only to EU laws but also to Hungary’s Constitution

Ukraine, Germany sign arms supply deals worth €1.2 bln

On December 15, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that since February 2022 Germany has provided €40 billion in military assistance to Ukraine and another €36 billion in civilian aid

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The system is being developed with the capability to be operational for the next 25 years

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According to the source, they were mostly Colombian nationals

Tu-142MZ anti-submarine aircraft conduct exercises over Sea of Okhotsk

The aircraft crews practiced flights on the specified course over terrain without landmarks

IN BRIEF: What is known about situation around frozen Russian assets

Four EU officials said that a key point in the discussion was the idea of excluding Hungary and Slovakia from the general debt repayment scheme, as both countries oppose further aid to Ukraine

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Viktor Medvedchuk noted that Western media outlets consistently report significant pressure from Washington on Kiev and Europe regarding this issue

Special op, nuclear forces, Oreshnik and Burevestnik: what Putin told defense officials

The Russian president noted that Russia’s strategic nuclear forces will continue to play a key role in deterring aggression and maintaining the global balance of power

Beijing vows decisive response to $11 bln US arms sale to Taiwan

"The US side has announced a large-scale plan to sell advanced weapons to Taiwan, which seriously violates the One China principle and provisions of three joint communiques," Guo Jiakun said

Belgian PM announces plans to push forward work to finance Ukraine

Bart De Wever reiterated his opposition to the seizure of Russia's assets, adding, however, that he supported a permanent asset freeze in Belgium’s jurisdiction, allowing reinvestment profits to be used to fund Kiev

Venezuela’s army rejects US’ accusations and threats

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Euroclear rating’s downgrade could trigger capital outflows from EU — expert

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Former French officer slams EU sanctions on its own citizens as 'Brussels dictatorship'

According to Xavier Moreau, imposing sanctions on a French citizen without a trial is unacceptable

Investors will start withdrawing funds if Euroclear rating downgraded — Dmitriev

According to the Chief Executive Officer of Russian Direct Investment Fund, "collapse begins"

Ukrainian drone attack on tanker in Rostov-on-Don port cause casualties — authorities

No oil has been split

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According to the intelligence service, the corruption scandal in Ukraine has resulted in "a sharp decline in the morale of Ukrainian troops on the frontlines"

Russian troops liberate Gerasimovka in Dnepropetrovsk Region over past day

Russia’s Defense Ministry reported that the Ukrainian army lost roughly 235 troops, two tanks and three armored combat vehicles in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup East

Russian defense technologies unmatched by Western military-industrial complex — expert

Alexander Stepanov noted that established industrial production would make it possible to make tens and even hundreds of items per year to provide strategic coverage for all critical areas and facilities in the Russian border regions

Putin awards Gold Stars to Russian heroes who excelled in liberating Seversk

The ceremony took place at the Defense Ministry

Trump names countries that will truly play important role — Kneissl

"Europe no longer plays any role in the world at all," the former Austrian Foreign Minister noted

US national attributes personal EU sanctions to efforts to expose corruption in Ukraine

According to John Mark Dougan, "this is not just some minor corruption; this is billions of US dollars in stolen taxpayer money from citizens of the United States and Europe"

Russian army gains steam as Ukraine's falls apart — Putin

The Russian president thanked the Defense Ministry for keeping Russia strong on the battlefield

US escalates conflict with Venezuela to verge of military strike — expert

Alexander Stepanov emphasized that strikes on Venezuela are most likely to be carried out remotely, with a ground operation being highly unlikely

West supplies arms to terrorists in North Caucasus — Putin

The President noted that the West liked to speak the language of force with Russia

US Congress approves defense budget proposal amounting to $901 billion

Ultimately, the lawmakers arrived at a compromise

Russia advances in Donbass while West plays shell games — Ukrainian opposition politician

Viktor Medvedchuk also noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin has made it abundantly clear that the desire for war in this situation does not come from Russia

Tucker Carlson believes Trump may declare war on Venezuela

The journalist added that he does not know whether the announcement "will actually happen"

Russia to conclude military-technical cooperation agreements with six countries

Russia started the transition to a long-term and comprehensive nature of planning interaction with partners, Defense Minister Andrey Belousov said

S-500's capabilities unachievable for Russia's military-industrial rivals — expert

Head of the Bureau of Military-Political Analysis Alexander Mikhailov emphasized that the S-500 functions as a sophisticated space defense system

Austrian chancellor doesn’t rule out country’s participation in int’l mission in Ukraine

At the same time, Christian Stocker stated that Austria is set to remain committed to the principle of neutrality

EU stuck in the mud on Russian asset seizure — media

According to the media outlet, the ambassadors only moved further away from reaching an agreement

US informed Europe of its desire to use Russian assets as part of Ukraine settlement — WP

According to the publication, after Washington proposed its 28-point plan for settling the Ukrainian crisis in November, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever and other European leaders "have faced pressure from US officials"

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UK 'co-running war' in Ukraine — former French military officer

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Viktor Orban said that if this issue is put to a vote, it will not be able to gain the support of a sufficient majority

EU divided into two camps over seizure of Russia’s frozen assets — Politico

Four anonymous EU officials told the newspaper that the key issue raised during the discussions was a plan to remove Hungary and Slovakia from the joint debt scheme

Karin Kneissl: Zelensky Has No Chance Left

First American sanctioned by EU exposes major embezzlement by Ukrainian official

Ukrainian media outlets reported earlier that the exposure of a large-scale corruption scheme in Ukraine’s energy sector might be followed by similar probes into the involvement of top officials in corruption schemes in the defense sector

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Hungary won’t finance continuation of Ukrainian conflict — PM

Viktor Orban also criticized the EU leadership for their arrogance in holding the EU-Western Balkans summit

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According to Yury Slyusar, the attack caused fire to two single-family houses

Italian PM says Rome has no intent of sending troops to Ukraine

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According to the Russian president, the combat testing of the Oreshnik missile system was conducted in response to an attack by US-made and British-made long-range missiles on Russian territory

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Russia going to develop international military cooperation — Putin

The collective security system of the Union States requires improvement, the Russian president stressed

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The Russian president reiterated that it was the destructive forces in Ukraine, with the support of the West

Liberating Gerasimovka, Russian troops expand bridgehead along Gaichur River — source

As a result of active combat operations, assault groups of the 36th Brigade advanced along the western bank, taking under control a 2-kilometer sector along the front and up to a kilometer in depth

Lukashenko says he is ‘outgoing’ president

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Ukraine faces economic collapse if EU refuses to grant 'reparation loan' — newspaper

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Russia is convinced that steps to de-escalate the situation and find solutions to existing problems and differences, with respect for international legal norms, are needed

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West, Ukraine exhaust diplomatic options in resolving conflict — Merz

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NATO plans confrontation with Russia by 2030 — top defense official

"We are not the ones making threats; we are the ones being threatened," Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov stressed

US House rejects resolution to end operations against drug cartels

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Viktor Medvedchuk said that "Washington is unwilling to risk, especially for Vladimir Zelensky, whom many US officials have certainly come to despise"

MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center director shot dead in US

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Interpol puts two Ukrainians suspected of railway bombing on wanted list

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Trump says US wants back oil rights allegedly taken by Venezuela

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Hungarian PM asks Putin about Russia’s response if EU uses frozen assets

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Further funding for Ukraine risks prolonging conflict with Russia, Hungarian PM warns

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Russian troops strike Ukrainian army’s energy infrastructure over past day

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Issue of seizing Russian assets not on EU summit agenda — Hungarian PM

Viktor Orban stated that Hungary "won the battle ahead of the EU summit"

Austrian parliament rejects proposal to support EU seizure of Russian central bank funds

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Europe should consider Putin's words on placing Oreshnik missile on combat duty — expert

Military-Political Analysis Bureau head Alexander Mikhailov emphasized that the tactical and technical characteristics of the Oreshnik missile allow the Russian army to launch a strike targeting any spot in Europe

German party leader slams Merz’s position on expropriating Russian assets

"It is much easier to spend other’s money than one’s own," Tino Chrupalla, co-chair of Alternative for Germany (AfD) party noted

Fatalities from Ukrainian drone attacks reported in Russia’s Rostov-on-Don, Bataisk

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Russia hopes for US pragmatic approach to situation around Venezuela — diplomat

"We hope that common sense will prevail and will proceed from this in our actions," a high-ranking Russian foreign ministry official said

US approves sale of arms to Taiwan worth af 11.1 billion dollars

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Press review: Trump seeks to pressure Moscow as EU desperate to find funds for Ukraine

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, December 18th

West tries to twist international law where Ukraine is concerned — Lavrov

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Russian forces thwart Ukrainian troops attempt to approach liberated Kupyansk

Airborne observation posts and mobile air defense teams ensured combat safety of the self-propelled guns

Europe's 'symbolic politics' undermining Ukraine peace process — Berliner Zeitung

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Religious persecution in Ukraine 'cannot be ignored' — US congresswoman

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Putin blames West for Yugoslavia’s breakup

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