Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he wants to work “directly” with US President-elect Donald Trump and is open to his ideas, highlighting Kyiv’s eagerness to keep its most important ally onside as Russia intensifies its attacks.

In further remarks to Sky News, the UK’s former representative to Nato, Sir Adam Thomson, said that Mr Zelensky appeared to be preparing domestic audiences for compromises, while “making opening moves” in a likely extended negotiation with Mr Trump over which line to take with the Kremlin.

Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky said he might be willing to cede Russian-occupied portions of Ukraine to Russia in exchange for NATO membership for the rest of Ukraine.

President-elect Donald Trump and some of his appointees have expressed skepticism about sending Ukraine additional military aid.

Brian Hughes, a spokesman for Mr. Trump’s presidential transition team, said in a statement on Wednesday that the second Trump administration would “have a place for people serving in government who are committed to defending the rights of the American people, putting America first, and ensuring the best use of working men and women’s tax dollars.”

CNN political and national security analyst David Sanger calls President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for Special Envoy for Russia and Ukraine “interesting” and explains why Kellogg’s peace plan could allow Russia to keep Ukrainian territory.

Putin said that he was ready to resume contacts with the incoming Trump administration and that the president-elect's remarks about Russia and Ukraine deserved attention.

In a single post, the president-elect told the world what the end of the Ukraine war might look like. And it is going to be a big diplomatic ask, to say the least.

Mr. Putin was speaking to reporters in Kazakhstan, according to Reuters. He expressed shock over how the U.S. presidential election unfolded earlier this month. and said Mr. Trump and his family were treated in a “revolting” way by political opponents.