In a recent development, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that he had a very productive phone conversation with Donald Trump's peace envoy, Steve Witkoff, along with the US President's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. During this conversation, Zelensky emphasized the necessity of ensuring that any potential agreement to end the ongoing war with Russia would be adhered to. He expressed his commitment to continuing cooperation with the United States in pursuit of peace.
Ukrainian officials participated in this important call from Miami, where they are engaged in a third consecutive day of discussions aimed at facilitating a peace deal with Russia. Despite these diplomatic efforts, there are indications that Moscow has yet to make any significant concessions and continues its relentless bombardment of Ukrainian territories.
In a post on social media platform X, Zelensky reiterated Ukraine's determination to engage in good faith negotiations with the American side to achieve genuine peace. "We covered many aspects and went through key points that could ensure an end to the bloodshed and eliminate the threat of a new Russian full-scale invasion," he stated, highlighting the urgency and importance of the discussions.
As the situation intensifies, Russia has launched further air and missile strikes overnight, prompting widespread condemnation from Ukraine's allies within the European Union. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his solidarity with Ukraine after a conversation with Zelensky, stating that France is committed to collaborating with all partners to establish de-escalation measures and secure a ceasefire.
Macron also confirmed his participation in upcoming talks in London alongside Zelensky, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The leaders are set to discuss the ongoing negotiations between US and Ukrainian officials, which aim to establish an agreement on guaranteeing Ukraine's security post-war. This follows a previous virtual meeting where they discussed the potential deployment of a European peacekeeping force in the event of a ceasefire.
Sir Keir Starmer has consistently emphasized the importance of Ukraine determining its own future. He asserted that the coalition of the willing's peacekeeping force would be crucial in ensuring the country's security, despite Russian President Vladimir Putin's rejection of such proposals, labeling any foreign troops in Ukraine as legitimate targets.
Ukrainian authorities reported that on Friday night, Russia launched an extensive attack involving 653 drones and 51 missiles. One significant strike targeted a railway hub in the town of Fastiv, southwest of Kyiv, leading to the destruction of the main station building and damaging various rolling stock. The Ukrainian Energy Ministry noted that Russian attacks had impacted energy facilities across eight regions, resulting in widespread blackouts.
In response, Russia claims that its operations focus on military-industrial sites and energy as well as port infrastructure. Meanwhile, US and Ukrainian negotiators are urging Russia to demonstrate a serious commitment to long-term peace after recent talks in Moscow failed to yield any breakthroughs.
The discussions in Florida between Ukrainian and US officials are now entering their third day, with the goal of persuading Ukraine to accept a US-backed peace plan. In a statement released on Friday, Witkoff described two days of talks with Rustem Umerov, Secretary of Ukraine's National Security Council, as constructive. Both parties agreed on a framework for security arrangements and deliberated on the necessary deterrence capabilities required to achieve lasting peace. However, the statement emphasized that the prospect of ending the war hinges on Russia's willingness to take meaningful steps towards de-escalation and cessation of violence.