Trump calls for Ukraine elections as Zelenskyy meets Pope Leo XIV - Wednesday brief
RBC-Ukraine collage
US President Donald Trump believes that Ukraine should hold elections, while President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Pope Leo XIV in Castel Gandolfo.
For more details on what happened on Wednesday, December 9, see the report.
Lithuania declares nationwide state of emergency over Belarus threat
Yesterday, Tuesday, December 9, the Lithuanian government declared a state of emergency throughout the country due to smuggled weather balloons from Belarus, according to the country's Ministry of Internal Affairs.
According to the statement, the smuggled balloons pose a threat to Lithuania's national security interests.
Zelenskyy meets Pope Leo XIV in Castel Gandolfo
Yesterday, on December 9, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Pope Leo XIV in Castel Gandolfo.
According to some media reports, Zelenskyy has already left the Villa Barberini in Castel Gandolfo after meeting with the Pope. The meeting reportedly lasted about 30 minutes.
After that, Zelenskyy and the Pope took several photos.
'Maybe Zelenskyy would win': Trump says Ukraine should hold elections despite war
US President Donald Trump believes Ukraine should hold elections, implying a supposed lack of democracy due to their postponement during the full-scale war, according to his interview with Politico.
"They haven't had an election in a long time. You know, they talk about a democracy, but it gets to a point where it's not a democracy anymore," he said.
"And maybe Zelenskyy would win. I don't know who would win, but they (Ukrainians - ed.) haven't had an election in a long time," Trump said.
Russia attempts to push into northern areas of frontline Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk – Military
The Russian forces are trying to advance into the northern part of Pokrovsk in the fog. These attempts are being blocked by Ukrainian troops, who are destroying the enemy, the Operational Command East reported.
According to the military, Russian forces are trying to infiltrate the northern part of the city using thick fog. All such attempts are being blocked, and the enemy is being destroyed.
