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Russia and Ukraine both launched record drone attacks on each other overnight, despite a phone call reported by the from US president-elect Donald Trump urging Russian President Vladimir Putin not to escalate the conflict.
Trump’s election to the White House has the potential to upend the almost three-year conflict and has thrown into question Washington’s multi-billion dollar support for Kyiv, crucial to its defense.
The Republican said on the campaign trail that he could end the fighting within hours and has indicated he will talk directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin — a major break from the approach adopted by President Joe Biden.
On Sunday, the reported that Trump had had a phone call on Thursday with the Russian strongman in which he told Putin not to inflame the attritional war.
Just days after his stunning election victory over Democratic rival Kamala Harris, Trump reminded Putin of Washington’s sizeable military foothold in Europe from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, according to the Post.
The Kremlin had earlier said it saw “positive signals” from Trump’s willingness to strike a deal, and several people speaking to the US paper said Trump had expressed the desire for more conversations on “the resolution of Ukraine’s war soon”.
Trump will not be inaugurated until January and for the moment on the battlefield and in the skies, the conflict shows no signs of subsiding.
Russia fired 145 drones at Ukraine overnight, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said — more than in any single night-time attack of the conflict so far.
“Last night, Russia launched a record 145 Shaheds and other strike drones against Ukraine,” Zelensky said on social media, urging Kyiv’s Western allies to do more to help Ukraine’s defense.
