Russian soldiers are advancing in Ukraine at their fastest rate since 2022. In the southern part of the country, Russia has seized as much as 18% of Ukraine's territory.

But a far more important strategic victory may be in the works for Russia. Donald Trump's shock victory in the US elections earlier this week could spell the end of the war in Ukraine, which Trump boasted he would bring to a close "in 24 hours".

The USA is Ukraine's largest benefactor in military and financial terms. Trump has consistently said that his foreign policy priority is to conclude the war in order to end its drain on American resources.

But his pledge to build peace in a day on the back of a decade-long conflict - starting with Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 - has not been received well by Ukrainians, who worry that a "peace" settlement would force them to accept Russian occupation.

Trump has refused to say how he would end the war, but the "peace deal" suggested by his aides had Ukraine giving up huge parts of its eastern regions.

Future Vice-President JD Vance has spoken derisivelyShowing ridicule or a lack of respect. of Ukraine a number of times, saying he "does not really care what happens to Ukraine, one way or another".

Did Ukraine just lose the war?

Yes! Trump has made it a policy priority to end the war, and has boasted about it endlessly.

No! We must have faith in the Ukrainian people to continue persisting in impossible circumstances, as they have done so far.