Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has announced a very constructive phone conversation with Donald Trump's peace envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, the U.S. president's son-in-law.
Zelensky stated that they discussed methods to ensure Russian compliance with a potential peace deal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. He declared his determination to maintain a cooperative relationship with U.S. officials.
Ukrainian representatives participated in the call from Miami, where they are engaged in a third consecutive day of discussions about a U.S.-led peace initiative.
Despite these talks, Moscow continues its aggressive bombardment of Ukraine without showing signs of concession.
Ukraine is determined to keep working in good faith with the American side to genuinely achieve peace, Zelensky tweeted, noting they covered numerous aspects crucial for ceasing hostilities and mitigating the risk of a renewed Russian invasion.
Amidst continued attacks, Ukrainian allies in the EU condemned the situation. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed solidarity with Zelensky, committing to collaborative efforts for a ceasefire and de-escalation. Macron is scheduled to meet with Zelensky, UK's Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in London to discuss security strategies post-conflict.
Two weeks prior, these leaders met virtually to contemplate deploying a European peacekeeping force to Ukraine upon a ceasefire agreement.
Starmer highlighted the need for Ukraine to dictate its own path, underscoring the importance of a peacekeeping mission to secure the nation's future. In defiance of proposals for such forces, Russian President Vladimir Putin has framed any foreign troops as valid military targets.
As conflict escalates, reports indicate that Russia launched multiple drone attacks, including strikes across energy facilities in several Ukrainian regions, exacerbating ongoing challenges with electrical outages.
In tandem with negotiations in Moscow that lacked progress, U.S. and Ukrainian officials are emphasizing the necessity for Russia to demonstrate a genuine commitment to peace, with ongoing dialogues in Florida appearing to focus on securing a viable U.S.-backed peace framework.
Challenges persist, as negotiations led by Witkoff with Ukraine's national security council secretary, Rustem Umerov, suggest a framework for security arrangements, but the successful conclusion hinges on Russia's willingness to engage in de-escalation efforts.
