**Trump Vows to End Ukraine War**
President-elect Donald Trump has promised to make “a little progress” in ending the war in Ukraine. At a news conference on December 16, Trump described the conflict as “horrible” and emphasized the need for urgent action.
“We’re trying to get the war stopped, that horrible, horrible war that’s going on in Ukraine,” Trump said. He added that he planned to use US support as leverage to pressure Kyiv and Moscow into reaching a peace agreement.
**Casualties and Ceasefire**
Trump criticized the high human cost of the conflict, saying that the death toll “on both sides” was likely much higher than reported. He attributed the heavy casualties to Ukraine’s flat terrain, suggesting that “the only thing that stops a bullet is a body, a human body.”
Trump also called for an immediate ceasefire, but it’s unclear how this would be achieved.
**Biden Administration Aid**
Meanwhile, the Biden administration has announced a $988 million military aid package for Ukraine. However, Trump has signaled plans to reduce US support once in office, with a view to pushing Ukraine into negotiations that could include territorial concessions.
**Zelensky and Inauguration**
President-elect Trump confirmed that he had not invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to his January inauguration. However, Trump noted that Zelensky would be “welcome” if he chose to attend.
**EUMAM and Parliamentary Elections**
The European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM) has already trained approximately 60,000 Ukrainian troops. Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a confidence vote on December 16, paving the way for early parliamentary elections scheduled for February 23.
**Russian Aims and SBU Investigation**
Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov said that Moscow aims to seize the entirety of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts in 2025. The SBU’s investigation found that chemical weapons have been used in more than 4,800 cases since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
**Assad Statement**
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has released a statement denying misinformation about his regime. He claimed to be addressing “narratives far removed from the truth” in the wake of his overthrow.
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