'A gift to the Kremlin': result leaves Ukraine facing uncertain future

Ukraine was plunged into gloom and uncertainty in the wake of Donald Trump's victory amid expectations that he is likely to end US military assistance - while the Kremlin said its aim of subjugating its neighbour remained unchanged.

- Luke Harding and Dan Sabbagh

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's president, congratulated Trump on his "impressive election victory", adding: "I appreciate President Trump's commitment to the 'peace-through-strength' approach in global affairs."

He recalled their "great meeting" in New York in September and said they had discussed "ways to put an end to Russian aggression in Ukraine". He praised Trump's "decisive leadership" and cited the "strong bipartisan support for Ukraine" in the US.

The consequences for Ukraine of Trump's second presidency are likely to be difficult, however, at a time when Russia is already advancing on the battlefield at the quickest rate since 2022.

Without US military assistance, Ukraine stands to lose further ground in Donetsk oblast, the scene of fierce fighting since Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion nearly three years ago, as well as in many other front-line areas.

Russia's foreign ministry said Moscow would seek to work with a future Trump administration, but added that it was "focusing on achieving all the set objectives of the special military operation" - the Kremlin's term for the war. "Our conditions are unchanged and are well known in Washington," it added.

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, said he was not aware of any plans by Putin to call and congratulate Trump on his victory. Any reset of policy between Russia and the US would take time, he added.

"We have repeatedly said that the US is able to contribute to the end of this conflict. This cannot be done overnight, but...the US is capable of changing the trajectory of its foreign policy," Peskov told a daily briefing of reporters.