Thune became Senate GOP leader; earlier, he advocated for continued support for Ukraine. On November 13, Republicans chose South Dakota Senator John Thune as their Senate leader. Thune won 29 votes in the second round, beating Texas Senator John Cornyn. Florida Senator Rick Scott, backed by Trump supporters, was eliminated in the first round. Thune will take over as majority leader on January 3, calling it a “new day” for the U.S. and the Senate. Radio Svoboda pointed out that since Russia launched its full-scale war against Ukraine, John Thune has been vocal in his support for Kyiv. In May 2022, he gave a Senate speech saying the U.S. must “continue to support Ukraine in its fight for freedom” and praised Ukraine’s “tremendous achievements in resisting Russian aggression.” That same month, as Russia blocked Ukrainian grain exports to Africa and Asia, Thune helped introduce a bipartisan Senate resolution condemning the use of hunger as a weapon of war. In the spring of 2024, he also pushed the House of Representatives to pass a bill to supply aid to Ukraine.
Zelensky to Suspilne: “The war may end faster under Trump.” In an interview with Suspilne media platform, which will be aired in Ukraine on November 16, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky suggested that Trump administration policies could potentially help end the war more quickly. He emphasised his constructive dialogue with Trump, noting their shared goal of achieving a just peace, and added that Trump understood Ukraine’s position, saying, “I didn’t hear anything against our stance.” According to Suspilne, when asked if Trump had pushed for Ukraine to negotiate with Russia, Zelensky responded, “We are an independent country. Throughout the war, both our people and I, in talks with the U.S., Trump, Biden, and European leaders, have shown that the approach of “just sit down and listen” doesn’t work with us.” He also stated that under a Trump administration, “the war would end more quickly.” Zelensky went on to say, “For us, a just peace is crucial, so there’s no feeling that we lost our best people for an injustice imposed on us. The war will end, but there’s no exact date. Undoubtedly, with the policies of this team that will now lead the White House, the war will end sooner. This is their approach, their promise to their society, and it is very important to them as well.”
Reuters says Ukraine could consider reopening Lviv airport in 2025. According to Reuters, Ukraine is exploring the possibility of reopening Lviv airport in 2025, a move that would restore civil aviation after its suspension due to Russia’s invasion. Lviv Airport, situated just 70 km from the Polish border and relatively less frequently targeted than other parts of Ukraine, is considered a strategic option for resuming flights. Marsh McLennan, an insurance broker, has been instrumental in setting up coverage frameworks for Ukraine’s aviation and maritime industries. Reuters also noted that Kyiv has been in talks with European aviation authorities and airlines for nearly a year about resuming limited air travel, Crispin Ellison of Marsh McLennan told Reuters. Ellison mentioned that the insurance industry is prepared to support recovery efforts, provided regulators determine it is safe and a political decision is made, with 2025 in mind.
