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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Monday address that it is “not the right time for elections” in Ukraine as the end of his five-year term approaches. 

Zelensky argued in his Monday video address that Ukraine should not have to deal with elections as it continues to attempt to fend off Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022. He previously had not ruled out Ukraine holding a presidential contest next year, though elections are currently suspended in the country under martial law.

“And finally, the waves of any politically divisive things must stop,” he said Monday. “We must realize that now is the time of defense, the time of the battle that determines the fate of the state and people, not the time of manipulations, which only Russia expects from Ukraine. I believe that now is not the right time for elections.”

“And if we need to put an end to a political dispute and continue to work in unity, there are structures in the state that are capable of putting an end to it and giving society all the necessary answers. So that there is no room left for conflicts and someone else’s game against Ukraine,” he said. 

Presidential elections in Ukraine are scheduled to take place every five years, with the next one slated for next March. Zelensky was sworn into office in May 2019, meaning that his five-year term is set to expire in a few months.

Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska said in September that she did not know whether her husband would run for reelection in 2024. She also said at the time that the country’s ability to organize a free and fair election could factor into whether he would run for a second term.

“It will also depend whether our society would need him as a president, if he will feel that Ukrainian society will no longer wish him to be the president, he will probably not run,” Zelenksa said at the time. “But I will support him whatever decision he takes.”

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Zelensky says its not the right time for elections in Ukraine - The Hill

Shkoda FPV-drones forced a Russian unit to leave an occupied village, returning the settlement to the grey zone.

Source: 108th Separate Brigade of the Territorial Defence Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook

Quote: "Usually we would need active actions of assault units to drive the enemy out of the village, but this time the result was achieved by the coordinated actions of drones and artillery.

Several well-aimed strikes of FPV drones targeted the personnel of the enemy, which was located in one of the villages of the grey zone, after which the inhabitants of the swamps [Russians ed.] showed a gesture of goodwill (panicked retreat) and once again received several hits; and the highlight was the wrecked transport that came to pick up those orcs-losers [Russians ed.]."

Details: The servicemen report that the village is once again in the grey zone, the Russian unit is defeated, and there are no losses in the ranks of Ukrainian defenders

Quote: "This once again confirms the idea that drones save the lives of our soldiers. And the conclusion is: donate to the fundraisers for drones and believe in the Armed Forces of Ukraine."

Earlier: Ukroboronprom, a Ukrainian state-owned arms manufacturer, launched licensed production of three models of FPV drones from private companies.

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Ukraine's Armed Forces drive Russian unit out of occupied village with FPV drones - Yahoo News

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The European Unions aim to use billions of dollars in frozen Russian assets to rebuild Ukraine is running into trouble.

Last month EU leaders backed unprecedented moves to use profits generated from Moscows state assets for reconstruction and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promised over the weekend to deliver firm plans by the end of this year.

But some European governments are privately worried about the risks to financial markets from such a move. Those fears now threaten to complicate von der Leyens initiative.

Belgium sits on the majority of Russian state assets frozen in the EU at the onset of Vladimir Putins full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year. The Belgian government is reluctant to agree to raiding the funds for Ukrainian reconstruction without the rest of the G7 moving with the EU at the same time.

We are looking with the G7 countries and the European Commission to have a structural solution for the frozen assets which doesn't destabilize the international financial system," Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said in a speech to diplomats on Monday.You need a legal basis and it's clear that Belgium can not provide this legal basis on its own.

The majorityofRussian foreign reserves frozen by countries participating in sanctions at the onset of Moscow's war on Ukraine sit in the EU.Of those, 180 billion are with Belgiums Euroclear, a clearing house acting as a custodian for Russian reserves.

As Russian securities reach maturity and are reinvested by financial intermediaries, they generate a profit. Euroclear generated3 billion in profitsfrom the frozen assets in the first nine months of this year.

Euroclear has voluntarily kept profits arising from Russian assets separate, butclaimsto have incurred 34 million in management costs and legal expenses, as well as an estimated 18 million in missed income opportunities.Asked about the EUsintention tomake use of those profits, Euroclear declined to comment.

The EU has long floated the idea of taxing those profits for Ukraines benefit but the European Central Bank and some EU capitals, including Paris, Berlin and Brussels, have expressed doubts. They are afraid the move would roil financial markets and weaken the euros standing as a reserve currency.

Last week, EU leaderscalledon the European Commission to make a legal proposal and said that decisive progress is needed, in coordination with partners.

But Belgium and Luxembourg in particular want reassurance that they will not be forced to bear all the legal and financial risks of such an unprecedented move. Luxembourg is home to another clearinghouse currently holding frozen Russian assets, Clearstream.

You need a legal foundation and a way of doing it without destabilizing international financial flows. The macroeconomic impact is quite big, De Croo told reporters just before the European leaders summit at the end of last month. We are ready to help, but we need to be consulted. The money is in Belgium. If you do something, it will have to be in cooperation with us.

For De Croo, its key to work on a solution not just within a European framework but jointly with other G7 countries.

In Kyiv, von der Leyen acknowledged those demands for international cooperation. On the windfall profits, I can confirm that we will have a proposal before the end of the year. It will be well aligned with our partners, the G7 partners, she said at a press conference with Zelenskyy.

U.S. Treasury secretary Janet Yellen has recently shown more support for the European plans to access the frozen assets. The G7 has politicallybackedthe idea.

Still, a G7 initiative also risks leading to even more delays. Theagreed languagein the G7 statement so far does not go beyond exploring how the money could be directed to support Ukraine.

Kyiv, meanwhile, is running out of patience. It's a rightful priority for Ukraine to get these Russian frozen assets for reconstruction of Ukraine," Ukranian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko told POLITICO.

Camille Gijs contributed reporting.

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Seizing Russian cash to rebuild Ukraine won't be so easy - POLITICO Europe

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has invited former President Trump to his country’s war zone, saying the former president cant manage this war.

Zelensky, who joined NBC “Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker, responded to Trump’s claims that he could end the war with Russia in 24 hours.

Former President Trump said that about 24 hours, that he can manage it and finish the war, Zelensky said during the interview that airs Sunday. For me, what can I say? So hes very welcome as well.

President Biden was here, and I think he understood some details which you can understand only being here, Zelensky continued. So I invite President Trump. If he can come here, I will need 24 minutes.

In March, the former president said he could solve the war in Ukraine in one day if he were reelected, noting that the negotiation process would be very easy.

The Ukrainian president said he would need just 24 minutes instead of 24 hours to explain to Trump that he can’t end the war as easily as he thinks he could.

Zelensky added that peace cant be negotiated with Russian President Vladimir Putin, even if Trump were to try.

He cant bring peace because of Putin, he said. If hes not trying and if hes not ready to give our territory to this terrible man, to Putin, if you are not ready to give it, if you are not ready to give our independence, he cant manage it.

Welker asked Zelensky if he thinks Trump would support Ukraine in its war if he were to win the 2024 presidential election, with Zelensky saying he wasnt sure.

Really, I dont know, he said. I hope that it depends not only on the president institutionally. I think it depends on the opinion of Americans, of your society. I think that is most important.

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Zelensky invites Trump to Ukraine: He cant manage this war - The Hill

A top aide to Ukraines army commander was killed in Kyiv by an explosive that went off as he returned home with a birthday present on Monday.

An unknown explosive device went off in one of the birthday gifts. From the beginning of [Russias] full-scale invasion, [Major Hennadiy Chastyakov] was a reliable shoulder for me, completely devoting his life to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the fight against Russian aggression, said ValeriyZaluzhnyy, the commander in chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, in a statement.

Ukraine national police confirmed that a 39-year-old Ukrainian serviceman died in a residential complex on the outskirts of the capital from a grenade detonation. His 13-year-old son was seriously injured, they said, adding they have opened an investigation into the careless handling of ammunition. Police have not identified a suspect.

The reasons and circumstances around Chastyakovs death will be established during the pre-trial investigation, Zaluzhnyy said.

Zaluzhny said his aide had been married with four children. According to his wife, Chastykov brought home a bag containing a bottle of alcohol and glasses in the shape of grenades that had been gifted to him, Ukrainian news website Ukrainska Pravda reported, citing law enforcement sources. An explosion occurred as he opened the package, Ukrainska Pravda said.

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Aide to Ukraine's top general killed by explosive in birthday present - POLITICO Europe