Falsely claiming that outgoing US President Joe Biden provoked the Russian invasion of Ukraine, US President-elect Donald Trump has said that he sympathises with Russian leader Vladimir Putin over the

A Ukrainian serviceman of the 118th Separate Mechanized Brigade walks at a position with an anti-drone rifle, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in a front line in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine December 3,

Donald Trump has stated that he understands why Vladimir Putin is so strongly opposed to NATO membership for Ukraine. According to Kiev, Putin would be less aggressive if Ukraine were a NATO member, but an official invitation to join has yet to materialise.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to the statement made by newly elected US President Donald Trump regarding Ukraine's NATO membership. He believes it is too early to draw conclusions, according to his statement during a meeting with Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen.

President Volodymyr Zelensky commented on Donald Trump's statement in which Trump expressed he "could understand the feelings" of Russia and Putin regarding the prospect of Ukraine joining NATO. As reported by Interfax-Ukraine,

Zelensky as played down concerns over comments by Trump that he understood why Russia does not want Ukraine to join the NATO defense alliance.