Putin Hopes ‘Smart’ Trump Will End War | Need More Weapons, Not Mobilisation, Ukraine Tells US

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed hope that US President-elect Donald Trump would de-escalate the conflict in Ukraine. Putin noted that he did not know the details of the meeting between Trump and outgoing President Biden but suggested that Biden’s escalation of the situation could set the stage for Trump to distance himself from the conflict. Putin praised Trump as a "smart person" and expressed confidence that he would find a solution. He also condemned the attacks on Trump during the election campaign, noting that even family members had been targeted.Meanwhile, Russia launched over a hundred drones at Ukraine on November 29, injuring at least eight people. This followed a wave of missile attacks that had cut power to over a million Ukrainians. In response, Ukraine's military targeted Russia's Rostov region, striking an oil depot and causing a fire. The US reaffirmed its support for Ukraine after the latest Russian missile and drone strikes. President Joe Biden stated that the US, alongside more than 50 countries, stood with Ukraine in its fight for freedom.Russia also claimed to have destroyed five Western-made launchers used for firing ATACMS long-range missiles in Ukraine’s Sumy region. Additionally, Russian forces have been using Kalibr missiles equipped with cluster munitions, which Ukrainian officials warned posed a double threat due to their wide coverage and the risk of delayed detonation. As the war progresses, Ukraine faces challenges with desertion weakening its forces, and the country has urged its allies to speed up the delivery of military aid. n18oc_crux