There are efforts underway to prepare Zelensky-Trump meeting - minister

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump are preparing for a meeting, according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. The two leaders, who Elon Musk joined, spoke by phone on November 6, following Trump’s election win. Trump has previously expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin and questioned continued U.S. military aid to Ukraine, promising to negotiate a peace deal that may include compromises on Ukrainian territory.

Bryan Lanza, a senior advisor to Trump, indicated that Trump may focus on securing peace rather than reclaiming Crimea for Ukraine, stating, “Crimea is gone.” Reports also suggest Trump may propose freezing the current front line as part of a peace plan, creating a buffer zone patrolled by British and European troops. The U.S. would supply Ukraine with defensive weapons but refrain from deploying American troops or financially supporting the mission.

France’s President Emmanuel Macron urged Trump in a phone call to ensure that any negotiations with Russia lead to concrete concessions. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s leadership has consistently asserted its aim to restore Ukraine’s 1991 borders, including Crimea and parts of the Donbas.

Senior Trump advisor says that Zelenskyy must present a "realistic vision for peace", claiming that "Crimea is gone"

Bryan Lanza, a senior adviser to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, has outlined the new administration's focus on achieving peace in Ukraine, rather than supporting Ukraine’s efforts to regain Russian-occupied territories, particularly Crimea. Speaking on the BBC, Lanza suggested that President-elect Trump’s team would encourage Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to present a "realistic vision for peace," rather than a goal focused on territorial restoration.

Lanza emphasized that Crimea, in his view, is “gone,” suggesting it is unrealistic for Ukraine to aim for its liberation as a condition for peace. He stated that if Zelenskyy’s primary demand is the return of Crimea, it could signal a lack of seriousness about peace from Ukraine's side, underscoring that U.S. support would not extend to reclaiming the peninsula. However, Lanza did not specifically mention other occupied territories in eastern Ukraine.

Lanza also criticized the level of military support provided to Ukraine by the Biden administration and European allies since the war’s onset, arguing that the lack of early, unrestricted military aid prevented Ukraine from being able to "win" against Russia. He acknowledged the courage of the Ukrainian people, whom he described as having "the hearts of lions," but maintained that the incoming U.S. administration's focus would be on peace and ending the conflict, rather than ensuring victory for Ukraine.

Two people were killed in Kupiansk, Kharkiv Oblast due to a Russian attack

A Russian airstrike on Kupiansk in Ukraine’s Kharkiv Oblast on November 9 tragically resulted in the deaths of a man and a woman after downed power lines caused a fire. According to reports from the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration and Prosecutor's Office, the electricity wires fell on the civilians during the bombardment, leading to severe burns that claimed their lives instantly. Identification efforts for the victims are ongoing, and another 61-year-old man was injured in the attack.

The strike, which occurred around 11:00, caused extensive damage to residential and public structures, including houses, apartment buildings, outbuildings, and the destruction of 15 garages. Preliminary findings suggest that the Russian forces used KAB-1500 guided aerial bombs to target the city.

Russia caused a nighttime attack on Odesa: one killed, 13 injured

Russian forces carried out a large-scale UAV attack on Odesa and its surrounding areas during the night of November 8-9, resulting in one fatality and injuring 13 people, according to the Odesa Oblast Prosecutor’s Office. Among the injured were two children, aged 4 and 16.

The attack caused significant damage, including to high-rise buildings in two residential complexes, private homes, and warehouses owned by a private company. In addition, at least 10 cars were completely destroyed, highlighting the extensive impact on civilian infrastructure.