Snow has reached Kyiv ❄️

Zelensky asked Scholz not to call Putin, according to Reuters citing sources in the President’s Office. Reportedly, after the call with Putin, the German Chancellor plans to speak with Zelensky.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraines-zelenskiy-warned-scholz-against-putin-call-kyiv-source-says-2024-11-15/

🇺🇦 Zelenskyy: "With the Trump administration, the war will end faster." In an interview, President Zelenskyy shared that he had constructive talks with Trump about Ukraine's vision for peace.

"He heard our position and didn’t oppose it," Zelenskyy noted. The president emphasized Ukraine’s independence in negotiations, rejecting any notion of being told to "just listen."

https://suspilne.media/881015-zelenskij-z-administracieu-trampa-vijna-zaversitsa-svidse/

According to Ukrainian military sources, Russians -once again- attacked Ukrainian positions in the Kursk region near Novoivanovka, and got burned by the 95th Air Assault Brigade. Moving in two URAL trucks and a BTR, they got 'wiped out'.

Ukrainian SSO captured more Russian soldiers in the Kursk region.

An airstrike by the 114th Tactical Aviation Brigade using GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs on a Russian command post on the left bank of the Kherson region.

Russians filmed the remains of two BM-21 Grad MLRS systems, destroyed by Ukrainian GMLRS projectiles.

The PRIMUS team from the 3rd Assault Brigade, during recent operations, destroyed a Russian machine gunners nest, an MT-LB with ammo inside. Also, Russian infantry was tracked down and attacked with FPV drones.

According to Politico opinion editor Jamie Dettmer, Trump might be the one to bring the war in Ukraine to an end, with some European leaders and even Kyiv secretly relieved by the prospect. While the deal could mean ugly concessions, it could offer the West an alibi and relieve them from what Dettmer sees as an unwinnable war.

https://www.politico.eu/article/west-us-nato-promises-to-ukraine-were-never-going-to-be-kept-donald-trump-russia-war/

🇱🇹🇺🇦 Lithuania affirms growing cooperation with Ukraine. Newly elected Speaker of the Seimas, Saulius Skvernelis, stated, "Our cooperation with Ukraine will only grow, and Lithuania will remain an unwavering supporter of Ukraine." #Lithuania #Ukraine

https://www.delfi.lt/ru/news/politics/spiker-seyma-litvy-nashe-sotrudnichestvo-s-ukrainoy-budet-tolko-rasti-120064863

🇩🇪📞 German Chancellor Scholz had a phone call with Putin today, condemning Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

According to the spokesman of the German federal government, Steffen Gebestreit, Scholz "condemned the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and called on Putin to stop it and withdraw the troops."

Zelensky's evening speech

--

About one of today's news stories. Chancellor Scholz told me that he is going to call Putin. Olaf's call, in my opinion, is a Pandora's box. Now there may be other conversations, other calls. Just a lot of words.

And this is exactly what Putin has been wanting for a long time: it is extremely important for him to weaken his isolation, Russia's isolation, and to conduct ordinary negotiations that will not end in anything. The way he has been doing for decades. This allowed Russia to change nothing in its policy, to do nothing in essence, and this is exactly what led to this war.

We understand all these challenges now. We know how to act. And we want to warn you: There will be no “Minsk-3” - we need real peace.
Glory to Ukraine!

In the Kurakhove direction, the 46th Air Mobile Brigade took out a Russian tank and an MT-LB armored carrier.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha showed an image of Toretsk, which has been completely destroyed by Russian forces, mainly due to 24/7 bombardments with guided bombs and the use of heavy artillery.

"This is Toretsk. A quiet Ukrainian town of about 35.000 people before the war. Right now, Russia's merciless bombardment is razing it to the ground," he noted.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign affairs responded on the Scholz-Putin call: "Conversations alone won't bring peace, only give Putin hope of easing isolation." Spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi emphasized that strong actions, not appeasement, are needed to pressure Russia into ending its aggression.

🇨🇳 China reportedly supplied weapons to Russia for its war against Ukraine for the first time. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has called for consequences. The EU is now considering sanctions against China, including bans on business, assets, and travel. Borrell emphasized: "China claims to be neutral, but this proves otherwise."

https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/wegen-waffen-fuer-russland-eu-erwaegt-sanktionen-gegen-china-110113352.html

🇺🇸🗣 In a conversation with VOA correspondent Kateryna Lis, Rep. Don Bacon shared his thoughts on the new administration's stance on Ukraine:

"The downside is their messaging is vague. But I see potential—they might actually help end the war by being more aggressive against Russia, enforcing hard sanctions, and lifting current engagement restrictions. There are positive signals, but it’s too early to tell if they’ll be firmer on Russia.”

Russian Air Force affiliated channel Fighterbomber predicts -and hopes for- new missile attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

"The stock of our cruise and ballistic missiles, accumulated over a more than two-month break in attacks on critical infrastructure facilities in Ukraine, should be enough to maintain a festive atmosphere in Ukraine for about the entire winter."