Volodymyr Zelensky has stated Ukrainian officers will meet their US counterparts in Saudi Arabia subsequent Monday, after the Kremlin confirmed US-Russia talks there the identical day.
The most recent talks come because the US makes an attempt to dealer a ceasefire between the 2 nations after greater than three years of conflict.
The Ukrainian chief stated Russia “should cease making pointless calls for that solely lengthen the conflict”. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s calls for embody an entire finish to Ukraine’s allies offering army help.
Zelensky additionally warned that taking Nato membership for Ukraine off the table – one thing Moscow has demanded – could be a “huge present to Russia”.
Each Zelensky and Putin have agreed to a ceasefire in precept throughout conversations with the US – however one has but to materialise resulting from conflicting circumstances.
The Russian chief most lately agreed to a halt to air strikes on vitality and rail infrastructure, in addition to ports – however such strikes from either side have continued.
Zelensky was in Oslo, Norway on Thursday, the place he met Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
Requested about feedback by the White Home touting the possible US ownership of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants at a joint information convention, Zelensky dominated this out solely.
He stated that he had indirectly mentioned possession of the Zaporizhia energy plant – which is presently beneath Russian management – in his cellphone name with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, including that “all nuclear energy crops belong to the individuals of Ukraine”.
Nonetheless, he stated he was open to the US taking the plant from Russia to spend money on or modernise.
Requested if he was able to make territorial concessions to Russia, notably Crimea, which has been in Russian fingers since 2014, Zelensky stated: “That may be a Ukrainian peninsula,” including that Crimea was an “integral half” of his nation.
Crimea is internationally recognised as a part of Ukraine, regardless of Russia’s occupation and claimed annexation.
When requested what a ceasefire may seem like, Zelensky stated the primary stage must be a ceasefire by land and sea, as Ukraine sees this as the one solution to cease Russian aggression.
Trump was in a position to extract an settlement for a ceasefire on vitality infrastructure – which Russia has repeatedly focused – from Putin in a name on Tuesday, however nothing extra.
Within the meantime, the conflict – which started with Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 – continues. Strikes in a single day killed two individuals in Ukraine, whereas Ukrainian drone assaults injured 10 and set an airfield on fireplace in Russia.
Talking to EU leaders by way of video hyperlink, Zelensky reiterated requires army assist to proceed, asking European leaders for not less than €5bn (£4.18bn) for artillery shells “as quickly as potential”, and stated that continued help for Ukraine was “essential”.
Zelensky additionally stated the EU have to be concerned in peace talks, and urged Europe to not “ease stress on Russia over the conflict”.
EU leaders in Brussels have been deciding their defence technique and bolstering safety measures for Ukraine.
Sir Keir Starmer stated the “time for planning is now” on a post-war Ukraine [Reuters]
In the meantime, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated “the time for planning is now” relating to a peace deal for Ukraine, after proposing a “coalition of the keen” to implement peace in Ukraine following a deal.
Talking throughout a go to to a army base in London, he stated he was “effectively conscious {that a} deal could also be in levels” however added that the “extra planning we will do right here now… the higher as a result of we’re getting forward of the problem to be sure that we’re as efficient as potential”.
Earlier, the prime minister held a closed-door assembly with senior army officers from nations of the “coalition of the keen” to attract up plans.
Based on a authorities spokesman, greater than 30 international locations are anticipated to contribute to the coalition, which is led by the UK and France.
Source link