Russia and Ukraine flashpoint

[shavenferret]

As Trump pushes ceasefire talks, Ukrainians push back with conditions

https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2024/12/trump-pushes-ceasefire-talks-ukrainians-push-back-conditions/401713/

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A few quotes from the article:
1. On continuing aid in the Trump administration

"Ustinova said that she was encouraged by her recent meetings with Republican lawmakers, some members of Trump's incoming security team, and others.

“I do think that there might be cuts in financial or humanitarian aid [from the United States], but in terms of military support, I can tell you that my main contacts on [Capitol Hill] and everybody who will be stepping in [to leadership positions on key congressional committees] are going to tell [Trump] it's not going to stop,” she said. "

2. On Ukraine's demand to be included within NATO as part of what it needs for an agreed cease-fire:

" Ukrainian officials have said their country has received less than half of the total military aid that the United States has promised. Getting that aid, especially long-range missiles, would allow cross-border strikes that could ward off Russian attacks.

Ustinova said that Ukraine’s accession to NATO had to remain on the table.

“The unoccupied part has to be a part of NATO,” she said, citing the various times Putin had agreed to halt aggression toward Ukraine just to re-arm for another expanded assault, while violating the agreements. “We have already been through all of these agreements in 2015 with Crimea, with the Minsk Agreement when we had basically to give up Crimea.” "