Russia backs Trump’s claim Ukraine will lose land and never join NATO
The Kremlin has endorsed Donald Trump’s prediction that Russia will win the Ukraine war and Kyiv must cede territory, calling his controversial statements “very important”.
The Kremlin said US President Donald Trump’s latest statements on Ukraine - in which he said Moscow will win the war and that Kyiv will have to cede land - align with Russia’s view.
In an interview to Politico, Mr Trump also said European leaders were “weak” and called on Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky to hold elections in statements that spooked Kyiv and Europe.
“In many ways, on the subject of NATO membership, on the subject of territories, on the subjects of how Ukraine is losing land, it is in tune with our understanding,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, including AFP.
He called Mr Trump’s comments “very important”.
Mr Trump said Russia has a stronger negotiating position in talks to end the war because of the size of the country, and said that Ukraine would never join NATO.
Following the interview, Mr Zelensky said he was ready to hold new elections in Ukraine provided security would be assured.
Moscow’s offensive - which prompted Kyiv to introduce martial law - has made holding elections in the country impossible under Ukrainian law.
Russia has long called for Mr Zelensky’s demise, calling him an illegitimate leader.
The United States has intensified its talks with both Russia and Ukraine to end Europe’s worst conflict since World War II.
In his interview to Politico, Mr Trump said reaching a deal is “tough” and that “one of the reasons is the level of hatred between Putin and Zelensky is tremendous”.
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MARLES MAKES STATEMENT ON UK SOLDIER MEMBER KILLED IN UKRAINE
Australian defence minister Richard Marles joined US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in extending their condolences to the UK’s defence chief, John Healey, after the tragic death of a British soldier in Ukraine.
Speaking at the Pentagon ahead of AUKUS ministerial meetings, Mr Marles and Mr Hegseth addressed the tragedy.
“I would be remiss, John, if I didn’t mention the passing of your paratrooper in Ukraine and certainly our thoughts and prayers go out to you, and to him and his family, and it’s a reflection of the sacrifice and commitment that so many make around the world,” Mr Hegseth said.
Mr Marles added: “... I pass on my condolences too to George and his family and we’re all very much thinking of you at this point.”
Mr Healey said he would pass the message along to the soldier’s family.
“It’s a reminder for us all of the risks that our servicemen and women put themselves at in order to keep the rest of us safe,” he said.
Lance Corporal George Hooley of the Parachute Regiment was killed in an accident while observing a weapons test this week.
It was the first death of a UK soldier in Ukraine since Russia invaded its neighbour in 2022.
“My deepest sympathy and condolences to the family of the member of our Armed Forces who sadly lost their life today,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in an earlier statement.
“Their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
The UK has previously said there are a “small number” of UK troops supporting Ukrainian forces.
ZELENSKY’S SURPRISE ELECTION VOW
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was “ready” for elections after Donald Trump questioned whether Ukraine was democratic for not holding elections during the war.
“I am ready for the elections,” Mr Zelensky told journalists, adding that he is asking deputies to prepare “proposals regarding the possibility of amending the legislative foundations and the law on elections during martial law”.
His comments came after President Trump said Ukraine should hold new elections despite its ongoing war with Russia, warning that Kyiv would soon reach a point “where it’s not a democracy anymore.”
“I think it’s time. I think it’s an important time to hold an election,” Mr Trump told Politico.
“They’re using war not to hold an election, but, uh, I would think the Ukrainian people would, should have that choice.”
Mr Zelensky said he intends to send an updated plan to end the war with Russia to Washington on Thursday AEDT after it was amended following talks with European allies.
“We are working today and will continue tomorrow. I think we will hand it over tomorrow,” Mr Zelensky said in answer to a journalist’s question on whether Ukraine had already sent the plan to the US.
Under Ukraine’s constitution, elections cannot be held during period of martial law – which President Zelensky imposed in response to Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
Under normal circumstances, the terms of Mr Zelensky and Ukraine’s parliament would have ended in May and August of 2024, respectively.
“Maybe Zelensky would win,” Mr Trump said of the prospect of a wartime election.
“I don’t know who would win. But they haven’t had an election in a long time. You know, they talk about a democracy, but it gets to a point where it’s not a democracy anymore.”
The US President also responded to a weekend claim by first son Donald Trump Jr that the commander in chief may be willing to walk away from Ukraine, saying: “It’s not correct. But it’s not exactly wrong.”
“We have to, you know, they have to play ball,” the US President went on.
“If they, if they don’t read agreements, potential agreements, you know, it’s not easy with Russia because Russia has the upper, upper hand. And they always did. They’re much bigger. They’re much stronger in that sense.
“I give the people of Ukraine and the military of Ukraine tremendous credit for the, you know, bravery and for the fighting and all of that,” Mr Trump said.
“But you know, at some point, size will win, generally.”
CHERNOBYL REACTOR COVER COMPROMISED AFTER RUSSIAN DRONE STRIKE
The UN nuclear watchdog has said that the protective structure surrounding the exploded reactor at Chernobyl can no longer perform its main function of blocking radiation, after a Russian drone strike earlier this year.
Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) began a rare visit to Ukraine on December 1, to assess the status of key electrical substations supplying the country’s three nuclear sites that are still operational.
As part of the trip, the team also checked the defunct Chernobyl site’s New Safe Confinement (NSC), which was put in place to stop the release of radioactive material after the explosion of one of its reactors in 1986.
The roof of the NSC was severely damaged in a drone strike in February, which also caused a major fire in the outer cladding of the steel structure.
“The mission confirmed that the NSC had lost its primary safety functions, including the confinement capability, but also found that there was no permanent damage to its load-bearing structures or monitoring systems,” the IAEA said in a statement.
IAEA director general Rafael Grossi added: “Limited temporary repairs have been carried out on the roof but timely and comprehensive restoration remains essential to prevent further degradation and ensure long-term nuclear safety.”
The NSC was installed in 2016 and officially inaugurated in 2019, replacing an original “sarcophagus” built by the Soviets.
The IAEA said further temporary repairs to re-establish the confinement function would take place in 2026, “paving the way for full restoration once the conflict ends” between Ukraine and Russia.
AUSTRALIA’S BIG CALL ON UKRAINE
A future peace transition between Russia and Ukraine could involve Australian troops on the ground, Defence Minister Richard Marles says.
On Thursday, Mr Marles was asked about Australia’s pledge to being part of a multinational force, along with New Zealand, in the event of a ceasefire and whether the Australian military would help facilitate the transition.
“Well, we’ve made clear that we will be part of a coalition of the willing, and in whatever form our support is needed, we will come, we will be there,” he told the ABC.
“Now, we need to see peace to maintain before we’re able to exactly determine what that looks like.
“But we are part of the coalition of the willing discussion.”
The Albanese government on Wednesday committed a further $95m in military support for Ukraine and imposed new sanctions on Russia’s “shadow fleet”, as marathon talks in Russia failed to reach a peace deal.
Mr Marles said reaching a truce was a “very complicated process”, but it was important for Australia to “stand with Ukraine” in the meantime.
“That’s why this package of support is so important,” he said.
The package, announced on Wednesday, is the first tranche of military hardware for Ukraine since October 2024.
It includes $43m in tactical air defence radars, munitions, and combat engineering equipment, as well as $50m for NATO’s Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), marking the first time Australia has contributed to the program.
The initiative involves NATO co-ordinating purchase of critical defence equipment from the United States.
So far this year, Canada, Germany, and Baltic and Nordic states have announced about $2.2bn in funding through the program.
New Zealand has also announced a $15m commitment to the project.
$95M FOR UKRAINE AS PEACE TALKS FALTER
On Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said the commitments would “make a tangible difference in Ukraine’s defence against Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion”.
“We are proud to be contributing to PURL, standing in solidarity with our partners – in NATO and the Indo-Pacific – to see a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.”
To date, Australia has provided more than $1.7bn in aid to Ukraine, including more than $1.5bn in military assistance, as well as training of Ukrainian military personnel in the United Kingdom under Operation Kudu, and the recent deployment of the E-7A Wedgetail supporting the flow of humanitarian and military assistance.
The federal government will also provide $2m to the Drone Capability Coalition, a multinational initiative providing drones and drone parts to Ukraine.
The final tranche of 49 M1A1 Abrams tanks will also be delivered to Ukraine in the coming weeks.
It comes amid reports Australia was considering a Ukrainian request for Tiger helicopters, with the Australian Defence Force is in the process of retiring.
The government faced pushback from the Ukrainian community in 2023 when it grounded and dismantled its Taipan fleet following a fatal crash.
45 ‘SHADOW FLEET’ VESSELS SANCTIONED
The Albanese government will also seek to impose sanctions on a further 45 “shadow fleet” vessels.
The so-called shadow fleet are vessels which are allegedly flown under a different flag and sometimes perform ship-to-ship transfers at sea to circumvent sanctions.
Often poorly maintained and past their operational lifespan, the vessels also provide a risk of oil spills and maritime accidents, and to undersea cables.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said the sanctions complemented those of international partners’ “as part of a co-ordinated effort to starve Russia’s oil revenues and limit its ability to finance its invasion”.
“As a result of actions we have taken, direct Australian imports of Russian energy products have fallen from $80m before Russia’s invasion to zero,” she said.
It comes after reports at least 25 sanctioned vessels remained in the supply chains of Australian companies.
Russia and the United States failed to reach a compromise on a possible peace deal in Ukraine on Wednesday, the Kremlin said, after a five-hour Kremlin meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump’s top envoy, Steve Witkoff.
– with AFP and The New York Post
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Originally published as Russia backs Trump’s claim Ukraine will lose land and never join NATO
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