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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans to make another appeal for enhanced air defense capabilities during this week’s meeting in Germany, as the United States prepares for the transition to President-elect Donald Trump, who has pledged to swiftly end the conflict that has lasted nearly three years.

In his Saturday evening address, Zelenskyy highlighted that numerous partner nations would attend the Ramstein group gathering at Ramstein Air Base, emphasizing their potential role in strengthening Ukraine’s defensive capabilities against various Russian threats. The Ukrainian leader stressed his commitment to persuading allies, maintaining that bolstering air defense remains their primary objective.

The meeting will see U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin in attendance. The summit, initially scheduled for October with Biden’s participation, was delayed due to the response efforts for Hurricane Milton’s impact on American soil.

The Biden administration is working to maximize military assistance to Ukraine during its final weeks, ahead of Trump’s January 20 inauguration. Trump’s campaign promise to resolve the conflict within 24 hours has created uncertainty about America’s future role as Ukraine’s primary military supporter.

During recent discussions, Zelenskyy characterized Trump as “strong and unpredictable,” suggesting these traits could significantly influence his approach to the Russian invasion.

Currently, Russia maintains control over approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory. Last year, they exploited vulnerabilities in Ukraine’s defenses to make gradual advances in eastern regions, despite suffering significant military losses. Ukraine faces challenges with troop shortages and requires ongoing Western support to maintain its defense efforts.

Zelenskyy reported significant casualties among Russian and North Korean forces in recent battles near Makhnovka in Russia’s Kursk region. He previously reported that North Korean forces had suffered 3,000 casualties in Kursk, where Ukrainian forces launched a strategic operation in August that disrupted Russian military operations but resulted in Ukraine losing about 40% of initially captured territory.

Recent developments include a Russian guided bomb attack on Semenivka in Ukraine’s Chernihiv region, resulting in nine injuries. Ukrainian officials reported that Russia launched 103 drones overnight, with 61 successfully intercepted and 42 lost to electronic interference.

Russian authorities claimed to have shot down 61 Ukrainian drones across five western regions. While no casualties were reported, Rostov’s regional governor Yuri Slyusar confirmed damage to residential buildings and vehicles from falling debris.