Trump opposes Ukraine launching missiles into Russia

US President-elect Donald Trump confirmed his “strong opposition” to Ukraine’s launching of US-made missiles into Russia.

But Trump made clear in an interview published on Thursday that he would not abandon Ukraine, and his intention to use American support for Kiev as a pressure factor in order to reach an agreement to end the war.

Washington provided Ukraine with long-range Atakum missiles, which have a range of 300 kilometers and can hit targets inside Russia.
This angered Moscow, which responded by launching the Oreshnik hypersonic missile at the Dnipro in eastern Ukraine.

Washington’s support for ending the war

Trump said in an interview with Time magazine, which chose him as “Person of the Year” on Thursday: “I strongly disagree with launching missiles hundreds of miles into Russia. Why would we do that?”

The interview was conducted before Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris.

Trump added: “We are only escalating this war and making it worse.” He indicated that he would use Washington’s support as a means of pressure to end the war.

“I want to reach an agreement and the only way to reach an agreement is to not stop supporting,” he said.

Proposing a truce in Ukraine

The Kremlin announced on Thursday that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban proposed a Christmas truce in Ukraine.

This suggestion came from Orban during a phone call with President Vladimir Putin the previous day.

The Hungarian Prime Minister said yesterday, Wednesday, that Ukraine rejected the proposal, but Kiev confirmed that it had not discussed the initiative.

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, “During a phone conversation, Orban presented a proposal to conduct a major prisoner exchange on Christmas Eve and announce a ceasefire during Christmas in Ukraine.”

European criticism of Hungary

Peskov added that Russia presented its “proposals” on the exchange to the Hungarian embassy in Moscow that day, stressing support for “Orban’s efforts.”
Hungary has come under heavy criticism from other EU countries over its continued contacts with the Kremlin, nearly three years after the Russian attack in Ukraine.