After the spectacular return of Donald Trump to the White House, there is uproar in Europe. Around forty leaders from the Old Continent met in Budapest, Hungary, this Thursday, November 7, 2024. A summit where, of course, the future of Ukraine was discussed, while the Republican billionaire had promised to end the conflict “in 24 hours”. But at what cost?
Meanwhile, in Ukraine, a series of Russian strikes on Zaporizhia in the south of the country killed at least four people and injured 18 others, including at a hospital.
At least four dead in Russian strikes on Zaporizhia
“Massive attack on Zaporizhia. The enemy carried out five strikes » who touched “residential buildings and a hospital”indicated the regional governor, Ivan Fedorov, on Telegram. According to him, a one-year-old child was among the injured. Two people, including a medical worker, are in critical condition. « grave ».
Read also: War in Ukraine: kyiv claims to have captured 717 Russian soldiers during its Kursk offensive
“Russian troops attacked the city with aerial bombs. An ordinary residential building, houses and the building of an oncological hospital were damaged »President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Facebook, specifying that people could be under the rubble.
He once again called on Ukraine's Western allies to provide it with air defense systems to deal with Russian bombing.
A European summit under the sign of Donald Trump
The day after Donald Trump's spectacular return to the White House, which stunned America and the world, around forty heads of state and government gathered in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, for a summit of the European political community, before a smaller conclave with only the 27 members of the EU on Friday.
European leaders tried to display a united front in the face of this new political situation, even if Germany's headquarters remained empty due to the worsening political crisis in Berlin.
Read also: War in Ukraine: in the south of Donbass, worrying Russian advances
“We have demonstrated that Europe can take its destiny into its own hands when it is united”insisted the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
“This is a moment in history, for us Europeans, which is decisive”for his part asserted Emmanuel Macron. Basically, the question posed to us: do we want to read History written by others – the wars launched by Vladimir Putin, the American elections, the choices made by the Chinese – or do we want to write the 'History ? »
On the subject of NATO, a sensitive theme of Donald Trump's new mandate – the Republican wants the Europeans to provide more resources for their own defense, the French president said: “We do not have to delegate our security to the Americans for eternity”adding that “NATO obviously has a pillar, key role, and within NATO, we Europeans want to play our role”.
Giving in to Vladimir Putin would be “unacceptable” for Europe, says Volodymyr Zelensky
Volodymyr Zelensky took advantage of the Budapest summit to warn his allies: any concession to Vladimir Putin would be “unacceptable” for kyiv and for Europe, he warned, shortly after Moscow ordered the West to negotiate under penalty of “destruction of the Ukrainian population”.
He also called on Americans and Europeans to be « forts » and to “value” their relationship, even if the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States casts uncertainty over both the ties between these allies and support for Ukraine.
“I spoke to President Trump […] It was a good, productive conversation, but of course we can't say what specific actions he will take.”noted the Ukrainian leader.
Volodymyr Zelensky also recalled that the Kremlin forces have, according to kyiv and the West, received at least 10,000 North Korean soldiers as reinforcements. North Korea “is now waging war in Europe”. “North Korean soldiers are trying to kill our people on European soil”he lamented.
Read also: War in Ukraine: kyiv announces first fighting between Ukrainian and North Korean soldiers
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs also announced that it had summoned, on October 28, the general delegate in charge of North Korea, in the absence of an embassy, to signal France's disapproval of North Korean support for the Russia.
The Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, wishes to discuss with Donald Trump the « menace » what the strengthening of ties between Russia and North Korea represents. “I look forward to sitting down with President Trump and seeing how we will collectively ensure we address this threat”he declared.
South Korea plans to supply 'defensive weapons' to kyiv
On Seoul's side, we are not ruling out directly delivering weapons to Ukraine, announced South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, referring to a possible adjustment of Seoul's policy in this area.
The government of this country, a major arms exporter, had already indicated that it was studying the possibility of sending weapons directly to kyiv, in response to the deployment of soldiers by North Korea to support Moscow in its war against Ukraine.
It has until now opposed it because of a long-standing national policy, which prevents it from supplying weapons to countries engaged in active conflicts.
“Now, depending on the level of North Korean involvement, we will gradually adjust our support strategy in several stages”Yoon Suk-yeol said at a press conference in Seoul.
“This means that we do not exclude the possibility of supplying weapons”he added, specifying, without saying more, that “if we engage in arms support, we consider defensive weapons as a priority”.
Crimean resident convicted of espionage and treason for Ukraine
Finally, a resident of Crimea, a Ukrainian peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for espionage for Ukraine and treason, the local Supreme Court announced in a press release.
This 36-year-old man was accused of “handed over to the enemy information that could be used against the Russian armed forces”according to the same source.
The Supreme Court of Crimea convicted him “to a sentence of 13 years in a harsh regime camp”following a closed-door trial, the press release said.
Since the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine in February 2022, trials for “treason”, “terrorism” or “espionage”, which always carry heavy sentences, have multiplied. Furthermore, thousands of people have been sanctioned, threatened or imprisoned because of their opposition to the conflict in Ukraine.
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