KYIV — Ukraine appealed to Donald Trump's image as a tough leader on Wednesday (Nov 6) in the hope of persuading the returning US president not to abandon its cause in pursuit of peace with Russia.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was among the first world leaders to congratulate Trump, who has criticised the scale of US military and financial support for Kyiv and vowed to end the war with Russia quickly, without saying how.

In a message released shortly after Trump claimed victory, Zelenskiy said he looked forward to an "era of a strong United States of America under President Trump's decisive leadership".

"I appreciate President Trump's commitment to the 'peace through strength' approach in global affairs," Zelenskiy wrote. "This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together."

The Ukrainian president later said, in a post on X, that he had called Trump to congratulate him and pledged to work together with him.

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