“Europe cannot bear the burden of war alone” – update “Ukraine at War” November 4

With millions of early votes already cast, US presidential candidates Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump spent the weekend reminding voters that they need to get out and vote – for them.

Harris, who is seeking to become the nation’s first female president, will use rallies in Georgia, North Carolina and Michigan to highlight Trump’s threat to American democracy.

Trump – seeking a sensational return to the White House after losing in 2020 and then becoming the first presidential candidate to be convicted of crimes – has promised a radical right-wing change of government and aggressive trade wars to advance his “America First” policies. “

The 78-year-old woman, who held a rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, late Friday night, just a few miles from Harris’ event, will nearly cross paths with her again as Trump makes stops in North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Georgia.

Election Day is Tuesday, but Americans have been voting early for weeks. More than 70 million ballots have already been cast, including a record four million in Georgia, where Democrats are racing to do everything they can to keep the state in their convoy.

The latest New York Times/Siena poll on Sunday noted gradual changes in swing states, but results for all seven remained within the margin of error.

The candidates’ busy schedule will continue through Monday, culminating with overnight rallies in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for Trump and in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for Harris.

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With the clock ticking, Harris, 60, spent Sunday in must-win Michigan, where she risks losing the support of the 200,000-strong Arab-American community that has denounced US actions in the war between Israel and Hamas.

“As president, I will do everything in my power to end the war in Gaza,” Harris said at the start of her speech, noting that her rally was attended by community leaders.

“I want to say that this year has been difficult, given the scale of death and destruction in the Gaza Strip, given the civilian casualties and displacement in Lebanon. It’s devastating.”

But the rest of the speech was upbeat, with the US vice president spending more time urging people to get out and vote than attacking her rival Trump.

“We have two days to do this,” she said. “Let’s spend the next two days so that we have no regrets.”

Trump’s Sunday schedule focused on Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia, the three states with the largest swings in electoral votes by population.

Democrats are “demonic,” the oldest major party candidate in U.S. history told a crowd in Lititz, Pennsylvania, and told his supporters they would be “stupid” if they didn’t vote.

Despite the lack of any evidence of any significant voter fraud, Trump said Democrats in Pennsylvania are “fighting so hard to steal the damn thing.”

Orban said Europe cannot remain “war-like”

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Sunday, as reported by Reuters, that Trump’s victory would force the EU to reconsider its support for Ukraine.

Orban warned that Europe cannot support Ukraine unilaterally, citing the Republican candidate’s threats to cut aid to Ukraine if elected. Both Trump and Orban have previously opposed continued military assistance to Kyiv.

“We (in Europe) have to realize that if America has a president who is pro-peace, which I not only believe in, but I read the numbers that way… if what we expect happens and America becomes pro-peace, then Europe will not be able to remain pro-war,” Orbán said.

European leaders will discuss Ukraine as a top priority at the European Political Community meeting in Budapest later this week.

Many EU leaders have expressed concern about what could happen to US-Ukraine relations if Trump returns to power.

“Europe cannot bear the burden (of war) alone, and if the Americans move to peace, then we will have to adapt too, and that is what we will discuss in Budapest,” Orban said.

“Trump’s victory will create serious risks. The situation will be alarming,” former Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Oleg Shamshur told AFP.

Trump’s repeated criticism of U.S. support for Ukraine and statements that he would cease hostilities within 24 hours have only heightened Ukrainian concerns.

“Neither he nor his team believes in Ukraine’s victory,” Shamshur said.

Hungary will hold the presidency of the EU Council until next year and has angered allies in Brussels with its close ties to Russia.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces are holding back “one of the most powerful offensives” of a full-scale invasion

The Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) are holding back one of the most powerful offensives by Russian troops since the start of the full-scale invasion.

This was stated by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Alexander Syrsky, at a meeting with a delegation of the Czech Armed Forces led by the Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Karel Rehka, Ukrinform reports with reference to Syrsky’s message on Telegram.

“I informed my Czech colleagues about the situation on the battlefield, which continues to be difficult. Active hostilities that continue in certain directions require constant replenishment of the resources of Ukrainian units. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are now holding back one of the most powerful Russian offensives since the beginning of the full-scale invasion,” Syrsky wrote.

He emphasized that the Czech Republic is a loyal ally of Ukraine and has initiated several critical initiatives, including the artillery and armored vehicles coalition, the fighter coalition and the integrated air defense/missile defense coalition.

Syrsky thanked Reka, the government and the people of the Czech Republic for their support of Ukraine and expressed hope that “the practical implementation of current initiatives will continue.”

Ukraine said on Saturday that Kyiv came under a heavy drone attack overnight as more explosions were heard in the capital and other regions were struck.

“Unfortunately, the attack by Russian drones led to destruction and casualties in various areas of Kyiv,” President Vladimir Zelensky said.

He said that “the constant terrorist attacks on Ukrainian cities prove that pressure on Russia and its accomplices is not enough.”

In the morning, the Ukrainian Air Force announced that it had shot down 39 of 71 drones launched from Russian territory overnight.

In a village near the southern city of Kherson, a 40-year-old woman was pulled from the rubble after artillery shelling by Russian troops, leaving four injured, including three children, Governor Alexander Prokudin said.

Incumbent pro-European President of Moldova Maia Sandu wins re-election

Moldova‘Pro-European incumbent Maia Sandu won a tight second round of presidential elections on Sunday, defeating her pro-Russian party-backed rival in what she called a “lesson in democracy.”

The election in the former Soviet republic, which lies between war-torn Ukraine and the EU, has been marred by accusations of Moscow interference.

The key vote came just two weeks after the referendum narrowly supported joining the EU.

According to nearly complete results published by the election commission, Sandu won 54.94% of the vote to 45.06% for Alexander Stoianoglo, who is backed by pro-Russian socialists and whom Sandu fired as prosecutor general last year.

“Today, dear Moldovans, you taught a lesson in democracy worthy of being written down in history books… Freedom, truth and justice have triumphed,” Sandu said.

Earlier, the 52-year-old former World Bank economist thanked cheering supporters for their “honest voice.”

Her rival Stoianoglo, 57, urged people to “remain calm, regardless of the numbers.”

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Sanda on her re-election and the country’s “European future”, saying it takes “rare strength” to overcome the challenges you face in this election.

French President Emmanuel Macron said democracy “has triumphed over all interference and all maneuvers.”

As in Georgia, another former Soviet country where the ruling party won disputed parliamentary elections over the weekend, Russia has been accused of seeking to influence voters. Moscow has rejected these accusations.

Moldovan authorities reported on Sunday “attacks, provocations and attempts at destabilization,” accusing Russia of involvement in these matters.