Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commended President-elect Donald Trump’s strength and unpredictability, suggesting they could be pivotal in ending the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. Zelensky made the remarks during a televised interview on Thursday, where he discussed the potential impact of Trump’s second presidency on the conflict.
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev accused Russia of shooting down Azerbaijan Airlines Flight J2-8243, which crash-landed in Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Christmas Day. The incident claimed the lives of 38 passengers and crew out of the 67 onboard. Aliyev alleged that evidence points to Russian surface-to-air missiles as the cause, though he clarified there is no indication the attack was intentional.
Ahmad al-Sharaa, leader of the rebel group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, stated that producing a new constitution and holding elections in Syria could take several years. In an interview with Saudi Arabian outlet Al Arabiya on Sunday, al-Sharaa explained that drafting a new constitution or amending the current one would require significant time and expertise, possibly taking two to three years or longer.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Friday that several North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region died from injuries sustained on the battlefield. Zelensky addressed the issue at a press conference, explaining that while Ukrainian forces successfully captured the soldiers of the Korean People's Army (KPA), they were severely wounded and could not be resuscitated.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday promised to ask former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for help in locating missing American veteran and journalist Austin Tice.
The Kosovo government has accused Serbia of orchestrating the bombing of a vital pipeline that supplies water and electricity to northern Kosovo's ethnic Serb population.
