Zelenskyy names a condition for negotiations with Russia, and DPRK hands over howitzers and MLRS to Russia: highlights for November 16

Zelenskyy on negotiations: We must not be alone

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that a condition for negotiations with Russia should be that Ukraine is not “alone” and not in a weak position. Otherwise, the result of such negotiations will not be fair, he explained.

Zelenskyy assured that he was not being forced to negotiate, and that US President-elect Donald Trump had told him that he was on Ukraine's side and wanted to help.

President: Ukraine has not mobilized enough people

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine had mobilized an insufficient number of people after the adoption of the law on mobilization. He is also surprised that National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksandr Lytvynenko released data on the number of people who are to be drafted.

The head of state also believes that if the norms of the law on mobilization are not supported by society, including the military, they should be adjusted.

Poland convenes a meeting on the war in Ukraine

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski announced a meeting of foreign ministry representatives in Warsaw. According to him, these will be the “most important” talks on the war in Ukraine.

In addition to diplomats from France and Germany, representatives of “other important European countries” are expected there.

Zelenskyy explains why Russians keep advancing

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the current situation at the front difficult and noted that the continued steady advance of Russian troops on the battlefield is due to various reasons.

In particular, according to him, the brigades that are currently performing combat missions on the battlefield should have been replaced by others, but they are not manned.

The Head of State expects the Russian offensive to end when the Defense Forces are reinforced with reserves and newly manned brigades.

FT: DPRK sends self-propelled howitzers and MLRS to Russia

North Korea has sent at least 50 of its self-propelled artillery systems and 20 modernized multiple launch rocket systems to Russia, the Financial Times reports, citing Ukrainian intelligence.

NYT: A Russian wants to be the envoy for the war in Ukraine

According to the New York Times, one of Donald Trump's advisors, Boris Epstein, who comes from a family of Russian Jews, has nominated himself for the post of special envoy to resolve the Russian-Ukrainian war. He claims to have relatives in both Ukraine and Russia.

"Doctor Pi" Sliusarchuk acquitted

A court in Lviv has acquitted Andrii Sliusarchuk, known as “Doctor P”. In the 2010s, he was accused of impersonating a neurosurgeon using fake documents and performing surgeries on people that resulted in their deaths.

For example, in one case, investigators claimed that Sliusarchuk performed surgery to remove a tumor in a man's skull. The man died later without regaining consciousness.

Program to distribute one thousand hryvnias proposed to be revised

A petition calls on President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy to reconsider the winter support program for Ukrainian citizens, which proposes to give everyone a thousand hryvnias.

The author of the petition argues that the program lacks targeting, as winter support is needed primarily for pensioners, low-income and large families, and IDPs.

Lecturer gives a lecture in Russian in Frankivsk, causing outrage

A lecturer at Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University gave a lecture in Russian. After the students' outrage and publicity, the higher education institution set up a commission for an internal review.

The mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk, Ruslan Martsinkiv, also reacted to the incident, noting that this is unacceptable.

Other important news of the day

• The military destroyed the Russian flag in the Chernihiv region border area. The Russian subversive group fled before that.
• Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the internal victory plan will contain a clause on the policy of heroes.
• The Defense Ministry will introduce improved nutrition for the military during their treatment and rehabilitation
• Tyshchenko's bodyguard is released from punishment because he agreed to testify against the MP.
• Volunteers of the Ukrainian Legion in Poland have taken the oath and started training.