Fri Dec 13 13:07:12 UTC 2024: ## Russia Intensifies Ukraine Assault After Trump Victory, Raising Concerns About US Aid

**Kyiv/Washington DC** – Russia dramatically escalated its offensive in Ukraine following the US election, coinciding with a surge in casualties and a renewed information campaign aimed at influencing American public opinion, analysts say. The intensified attacks, which began before and continued after Donald Trump’s presidential victory, appear designed to pressure the incoming administration to curtail aid to Ukraine.

Evidence suggests a calculated strategy by Moscow. The UK Ministry of Defence reported a fifth consecutive month of increased Russian losses, with Ukraine estimating 45,680 Russian soldiers killed or wounded in November alone. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) estimates 125,800 Russian casualties from September to November, gaining only 2,356 square kilometers of territory – losses exceeding Russia’s estimated monthly recruitment capacity. Air strikes also increased sharply, with over 6,000 UAVs and missiles used from September to November, a significant escalation.

The timing is significant. The escalation began before the November 5th election, seemingly designed to bolster support for Trump’s isolationist stance. Even the entry of North Korean troops into the Kursk region on election day hints at Russia’s access to additional manpower. While Russia claims a missile strike on Ukraine was pre-planned, it successfully portrayed the US as the aggressor after President Biden authorized strikes inside Russia in response to the election results.

Trump’s victory has already had consequences. His previous efforts to block US military aid resulted in a six-month delay, contributing to Ukraine’s current defensive posture, experts claim. Trump’s recent suggestion of potential aid cuts has sparked widespread concern that Ukraine will be forced to cede more territory. While some European nations are pledging increased support, there are significant gaps, particularly in advanced weaponry.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has proposed a “victory plan” including unconditional NATO membership and continued weapons support. However, a recent poll shows that most Ukrainians favor continued fighting unless substantial Western security guarantees are provided. Russia, meanwhile, maintains its demands for Ukrainian troop withdrawals from occupied territories and abandonment of NATO aspirations as preconditions for negotiations. Experts believe that Trump’s administration might prioritize a swift, potentially unsustainable ceasefire, rather than a lasting peace. The future of the conflict hinges on the incoming US administration’s stance on aid to Ukraine, and whether Europe can adequately fill the potential gap.

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