Reuters
Ukraine has proposed a new round of peace talks with Russia, President Volodymia Zelensky said in a move aimed at resuming negotiations that had been suspended last month.
Zelensky added that everything must be done to get a ceasefire, Zelensky said in an evening speech, that Zelensky offered to meet the Russian side next week.
Zelenksy also reiterated that he was ready to face Russia’s Vladimir Putin. “To truly ensure peace, we need meetings at the leadership level,” he said.
The proposal comes hours after Ukraine was hit by another extensive Russian air artillery bombardment, killing three people.
Zelensky said on Saturday that 10 regions of Ukraine, including several cities, were attacked on the night between Friday and Saturday.
The Ukrainian forces said more than 340 explosive dummy drones and 35 cruises and ballistic missiles were used, but many fell.
Earlier this week, President Donald Trump said that while the US sends “the best weapons” to Ukraine through NATO countries, he will threaten Russia with severe tariffs if the contract to end the war does not reach within 50 days.
Trump also warned that if the peace agreement with Ukraine does not reach his deadline, the US would impose a 100% secondary tariff targeting the remaining Russian trading partners.
Ukraine Regional Emergency Services
At least six people were injured as a result of Russian attacks on Odesa
Two rounds of talks in Istanbul between Moscow and Kiev have so far failed to bring about progress towards a ceasefire, but a large prisoner exchange and deal was agreed to return the bodies of the murdered soldiers.
After the final round, which ended in early June, Ukrainian negotiators said Russia once again refused to make a “unconditional ceasefire.”
Russia also outlined a list of requests, including the demands that Ukraine hand over more territory and reject any form of Western military assistance.
At the time, Zelensky accused Moscow of “doing everything that can be done to ensure that the next possible meeting will not bear fruit.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Russia now controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory, including Moscow, the Southern Crimean Peninsula, which was annexed in 2014.
