Russia is open to hearing Trump’s proposals to end the war, an official says
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Russia is open to hearing Trump’s proposals to end the war, an official says

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia is open to hearing President-elect Donald Trump’s proposal to end the war, an official said, as a Russian drone strike killed one person and wounded 13 in the Ukrainian port city of Odesa and the European Union’s foreign policy chief led talks in Kiev after the change in US leadership.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Moscow and Washington “exchanged signals” about Ukraine through “closed channels”. He did not specify whether the communication was with the current administration or Trump and members of his incoming administration.

Russia is ready to listen to Trump’s proposals on Ukraine provided these were “ideas on how to move forward in the area of ​​settlement, and not in the area of ​​further pumping the Kiev regime with all kinds of help,” Ryabkov said in an interview on Saturday. with the Russian state news agency Interfax.

In Kiev, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha told reporters that Ukraine is ready to cooperate with the Trump administration.

“Remember that President (Volodymyr) Zelenskyy was one of the first world leaders … to greet President Trump,” he said. “It was a frank conversation (and) an exchange of thoughts about continued cooperation.”

“Also during the phone call, further steps to establish communication between teams were discussed and this work has also begun. Therefore, we are open to further cooperation and I am sure that a unified goal of reaching a just peace unites us all, says Sybiha.

Sybiha appeared alongside EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell, who said his visit is meant to emphasize EU support for Ukraine.

“This support remains unwavering. This support is absolutely necessary for you to continue to defend against Russian aggression,” he said.

Borrell called for “faster deliveries and fewer self-imposed red lines” to get Western weapons to Ukraine. He had appealed to allies in August to lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of Western long-range weapons to attack Russian military targets.

In Odesa, regional governor Oleh Kiper said high-rises, private houses and warehouses in the Black Sea port city were damaged overnight by a drone’s “fall”. He did not specify whether the drone had been shot down by anti-aircraft fire.

Another 32 Russian drones were shot down over 10 Ukrainian regions, while 18 “disappeared,” according to Ukraine’s air force, likely after being electronically jammed.

A Russian aerial bomb hit a busy highway overnight in northeastern Kharkiv province, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekohov said. No injuries were reported.

Russia is launching an intensified air campaign that Ukrainian officials say they need more Western help to counter. But the doubts deepen what Kyiv can expect from a new American administration. Trump has repeatedly questioned US aid to Ukraine, made vague promises to end the war and has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In Russia, the Defense Ministry said 50 Ukrainian drones were destroyed over seven Russian regions – more than half over the Bryansk region, which borders Ukraine.

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Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

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Morton reported from London.