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Ukraine-Russia battle newest: Putin rejects talks with ‘illegitimate’ Zelensky as North Korean cannon deployed

Trump describes Ukraine war as ‘bullets whacking and hitting men’

Vladimir Putin has refused to directly engage with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him “illegitimate”.

The Russian president said Ukraine will have to find a legal way to hold the peace talks as Kyiv has not held any elections since Russia started the war on its smaller neighbour.

In response, Mr Zelensky said the Russian leader’s statements showed he was afraid of talks and sought to keep the conflict going indefinitely.

“Today, Putin once again confirmed that he is afraid of negotiations, afraid of strong leaders and is doing everything to prolong the war,” Mr Zelensky wrote on Telegram. Mr Putin’s actions, he said, were “aimed at making the war endless”.

This comes as North Korea is set to send more than 100 artillery systems to be used against Ukraine’s forces in the war, officials in Kyiv said.

A close ally of Russia, North Korea is about to double the number of artillery systems it has deployed to Russia’s Kursk region, said Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief.

Why Ukraine-Russia peace talks are not as simple as Trump makes out

Tom Watling29 January 2025 05:00

North Korea sends cannons and artillery – designed to attack Seoul – to Ukraine war

North Korea is set to send more than 100 artillery systems to be used against Ukraine’s forces in the war, officials in Kyiv said.

A close ally of Russia, North Korea is about to double the number of artillery systems it has deployed to Russia’s Kursk region, said Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief.

North Korea has already given at least 120 North Korean-made M1989 Koksans, as well as another 120 of its M1991 multiple-launch rocket systems, the Ukrainian military intelligence official said.

Pyongyang was preparing to send another tranche of at least the same amount, Lt Gen Budanov said, adding that open source analysts have spotted some already on their way to the war.

The 170mm M1989 Koksan howitzers were manufactured by North Korea to attack the South Korean capital in the event of a war. It is among the longest-range artillery systems in the world.

Arpan Rai29 January 2025 04:39

The extremes North Korean soldiers will go to avoid capture in Ukraine

Tom Watling29 January 2025 04:00

How US shutdown on foreign aid is hitting Ukraine

The US-funded aid programs around the world have begun firing staff and shutting down or preparing to stop their operations, as the Trump administration’s unprecedented freeze on almost all foreign assistance brings their work to a sudden halt.

Most US funding for Ukraine’s military isn’t affected. Volodymyr Zelensky says the US freeze doesn’t affect vital American support to his military as it fights invading Russian forces. That’s mostly true.

The only military aid the State Department is responsible for and thus is covered by the pause is foreign military financing and international military education and training. There are other baskets for UN peacekeeping operations and demining programs.

Most of Ukraine’s military aid, however, has come from the Pentagon. That includes a program drawing from existing arms stocks and another called the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which is used to pay for weapons contracts that would not be delivered for a year or more.

But civilian programs vital to Ukraine’s war effort do come from the State Department. There’s no word of exemptions for them. That includes salary support that the US provides to keep Ukraine’s government running despite the war’s damage to the economy.

Money for Ukraine’s veterans and other programs wasn’t spared The US has sent stop-work orders to wartime civilian programs it supports in Ukraine. That includes Veteran Hub, a nonprofit that runs a crisis hotline getting up to 1,300 calls a month from Ukrainian veterans who need social and psychological support.

Arpan Rai29 January 2025 03:36

Ukraine-Russia war map: Where Putin’s forces are making gains in eastern Ukraine

After months of heavy fighting, Russian forces claimed control of the town of Velyka Novosilka in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk on Monday. The town is small, with a prewar population of only 5,000, but it has served as a key assembly area for offensive and defensive Ukrainian operations in the wider area, says Frontelligence Insight, a Ukrainian war tracker. It is also a key route linking towns further east to the rest of unoccupied Ukraine.

Tom Watling maps the war frontline in Ukraine’s Donetsk:

Arpan Rai29 January 2025 03:22

Putin fears talks and acting to make the war endless, says Zelensky

Volodymyr Zelensky said Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin’s statements on holding peace talks to end the war in Ukraine showed he was afraid of talks and sought to make the conflict endless.

“Today, Putin once again confirmed that he is afraid of negotiations, afraid of strong leaders and is doing everything to prolong the war,” Mr Zelensky wrote on Telegram. Mr Putin’s actions, he said, were “aimed at making the war endless.”

Mr Putin earlier said Ukraine could find the legal means to hold talks with Russia despite what he described as Mr Zelensky’s “illegitimacy,” meaning he had remained in power beyond his legal mandate.

Arpan Rai29 January 2025 03:14

Putin refuses direct talks with Zelensky

Vladimir Putin has refused to directly engage with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him “illegitimate”.

The Russian president said Ukraine will have to find a legal way to hold the peace talks as Kyiv has not held any elections since Russia started the war on its smaller neighbour.

Mr Putin told Russian state television that negotiations with Ukraine were complicated by president Volodymyr Zelensky’s “illegitimacy” in remaining in power beyond his mandate with no authority to sign documents. “But essentially, if they want to proceed, there is a legal way to do it. Let the chairman of the Rada (Ukraine‘s parliament) handle it in accordance with the constitution,” Mr Putin told top Kremlin reporter Pavel Zarubin.

Russia has long alleged that Mr Zelensky no longer has legal authority as his term in office ran out in May 2024 and no presidential election has since been held.

“If there is a desire, we can resolve any legal issues. However, so far, we simply do not see such a desire,” he said.

If Ukraine showed a desire to negotiate and seek compromises, Mr Putin said, “let anyone suitable lead those talks. We will naturally secure what meets our interests.

Arpan Rai29 January 2025 03:08

The Russian glide bombs changing the face of the war in Ukraine

The Russian glide bombs changing the face of the war in Ukraine

Winged explosives weighing up to 1,500 kilograms – and nicknamed the ‘building destroyer’ – have had a devastating impact wherever they have been used, writes Tom Watling. Kyiv is battling them as best it can but needs Western allies to step up and provide more weapons, air defences and ammunition

Tom Watling29 January 2025 03:00

Trump claims he secured peace in Gaza – can he do the same in Ukraine?

Tom Watling29 January 2025 02:00

Trump urges Putin to make deal to end Ukraine war — or face sanctions

Tom Watling29 January 2025 01:00

Source: independent.co.uk