Thu Jan 16 08:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Incoming US Leader’s Stance on Ukraine War Remains Unclear Amidst Fierce Fighting and Russian Assertions
**Kyiv/Moscow** – As fighting intensifies in both eastern Ukraine and western Russia, the incoming US administration’s approach to ending the conflict remains shrouded in uncertainty. While Russia has indicated openness to talks with President-elect Trump, its stated parameters suggest a potential deal that would exclude Ukraine and the European Union.
Russian officials have drawn parallels between their annexation of Ukrainian territories and President-elect Trump’s past statements regarding territorial expansion, suggesting a shared worldview conducive to a deal that sidelines Europe. This view is reinforced by statements from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who echoed the Kremlin’s justification for its actions in Ukraine, likening them to addressing the “wishes of the people” in Crimea and Donbas.
The Kremlin maintains that the conflict is primarily about Russian security, dismissing Ukraine’s territorial integrity and self-determination. A recent global survey revealed that a Putin-Trump deal might find support in several influential countries, including India, China, and Saudi Arabia, while Ukraine, the UK, and the EU hold opposing views.
Meanwhile, the war rages on. Ukrainian forces have reported intensified fighting in the Kursk region of Russia, even capturing North Korean prisoners of war, indicating the use of North Korean soldiers by the Russian military. Ukraine claims these soldiers are being used as human shields and are ordered to commit suicide to avoid capture – allegations Al Jazeera could not independently verify. Ukraine also reported killing or wounding approximately a third of the estimated 4,000 North Korean soldiers deployed in Kursk.
On the other hand, Ukraine continues its deep attacks on Russian infrastructure, targeting oil storage facilities, chemical plants, and even the TurkStream pipeline, the only remaining active Russian gas pipeline to Europe. Ukraine has urged Western nations to halt all Russian energy imports, citing the revenue as fueling the conflict. Simultaneously, Ukraine is increasing its own arms production, aiming for a record $17.5 billion in weapons spending by 2025, while reporting the downing of hundreds of Russian drones. The intensity of the conflict underscores the high stakes and the uncertain future of peace negotiations under the incoming US administration.
First Piper 