World awaits new president's action to end ongoing wars

Ukraine Faces Uncertainty as Trump Promises to "Stop Wars" 

Ukrainians are feeling a mix of worry and determination after learning that Donald Trump might be reelected as U.S. president. Trump made headlines on Wednesday morning by promising to “stop wars” if he wins.

After nearly three years of war with Russia, Ukraine has relied heavily on support from the United States. 

But Trump has often said he would end the war in Ukraine quickly and even stop sending aid to Kyiv. The U.S. is Ukraine’s biggest supporter, providing money and weapons to help in the fight against Russia.

In a post on social media, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared his thoughts. 

He recalled his meeting with Trump in September, where the U.S. president expressed his belief in “peace through strength.” But Zelenskyy also stressed that Ukraine depends on the continued support of the U.S. government, no matter who is president.

This is a major concern for Ukrainians. In the past, Trump’s Republican Party stopped sending aid to Ukraine for months. This forced Ukraine to use up its resources and even lose some of its best fighters.

Tymofiy Mylovanov, the president of the Kyiv School of Economics, expressed doubt about Trump’s promises. He said he didn’t believe Trump could end the war in a day, as promised. But Mylovanov added that Ukrainians are prepared for whatever comes next.

Trump’s unpredictability has left many Ukrainians unsure of what his second term would mean for their country. While he has spoken positively about Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump has also said he would take strong action if Putin attacked Ukraine.

Some Ukrainians, like Oleksandr Merezhko, are hopeful that Trump’s leadership could still benefit Ukraine. Merezhko, who heads the foreign relations committee in the Ukrainian parliament, believes that Ukraine will need to work hard to make sure Trump keeps supporting Kyiv. 

He described Trump as a “pragmatic businessman” who looks at costs and benefits.

Gaza Residents Hope Trump Will End the War

After Donald Trump’s surprising victory in the U.S. election, people in Gaza are holding on to hope that he might bring peace to their war-torn region. Since Israel’s major military operation started after Hamas’ October 7 attack, thousands of civilians in Gaza have died.

Mamdouh al-Jadba, a 60-year-old displaced man from Gaza City, shared his pain. Having been forced to move three times, he says there’s nothing left for the people of Gaza. “We want peace,” he said. “Gaza is finished.” Al-Jadba hopes Trump, known for his firm decisions, will be able to stop the war.

Other residents share similar hopes. Umm Ahmed Harb, a mother from the Al-Shaaf area, wishes for Trump’s support. She fears for her children, who are suffering from hunger and the dangers of war. “We cannot buy anything,” she said. “We live in fear and death.”

However, not everyone in the region shares the same optimism. Samir Abu Jundi, a 60-year-old man in Ramallah, worries that Trump’s return could favor Israel more than Palestine. The U.S. has always supported Israel’s right to defend itself, and Trump has backed Israel’s actions during the conflict.

Hamas Urges Trump to End the War in Gaza

After Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election, the Palestinian group Hamas called on him to “seriously work” to stop the war in Gaza. The group’s statement came after reports suggested Trump had asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the conflict by the time he is inaugurated on January 20.

Hamas said that Trump, with his election win, must listen to the voices of U.S. citizens who have been calling for an end to the violence in Gaza. 

The group criticized the ongoing violence against Palestinians and urged Trump to stop Israel's military actions in Gaza and the West Bank. Hamas also called for the U.S. to stop supporting Israel with weapons and political cover.

In their message, Hamas stressed that they will continue resisting what they describe as the Israeli occupation. 

They said they would not accept any solution that denies Palestinians their rights to freedom, independence, and the creation of their own state with Jerusalem as its capital.

Sources from the Times of Israel reported that Trump had discussed ending the war with Netanyahu during a meeting in July at his Mar-a-Lago estate. 

The Biden administration has supported Israel but called for a ceasefire during some of the recent military actions in Lebanon and Gaza.