Putin aims to secure Ukraine's NATO non-membership ahead of Trump talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin is prioritizing agreements to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO ahead of his meeting with President-elect Donald Trump. Reports indicate that Putin seeks to reduce NATO's presence in the region. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized Trump's proposals regarding Ukraine, calling them unacceptable. He reaffirmed Russia's opposition to Ukraine's NATO membership and warned of bipartisan resistance in the U.S. to easing tensions with Russia. Both Trump and Putin are interested in discussing ways to end the war in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has emphasized that NATO membership is crucial for Ukraine's survival and expressed hope that Trump's leadership could help resolve the conflict.