Ukrainian City Faces Major Strike Amid Ongoing Peace Talks

Russia has intensified its air campaign against Ukraine, launching significant strikes that have targeted the central city of Kremenchuk. This escalation occurred shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported a productive conversation with representatives from former US President Donald Trump’s negotiating team.

On Sunday morning, Kremenchuk's mayor, Vitaliy Maletsk, described the assault as a 'massive combined strike', although no fatalities have been confirmed at this time. The attack reportedly disrupted essential services, including water, electricity, and heating for some residents.

Kremenchuk, which is located approximately midway between the capital, Kyiv, and the eastern front lines in Ukraine, has been a frequent target since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. The city's strategic significance as an industrial hub has made it a focal point for Russian military operations.

Despite ongoing military actions, diplomatic efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict have continued. The recent talks in Miami aimed to create a peace settlement that would be acceptable to both Ukraine and Russia. President Zelensky expressed his commitment to maintain collaboration with the United States following discussions with Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law.

In his remarks, Zelensky stated, 'Ukraine is determined to keep working in good faith with the American side to genuinely achieve peace.' He emphasised the necessity of ensuring that any agreement reached would be adhered to by Russia.

The Russian government reported that it had intercepted 77 Ukrainian drones during the recent hostilities. This claim highlights the ongoing aerial conflict, further complicating the peace negotiation landscape.

The strikes on Kremenchuk followed a broader assault on Ukraine that occurred the previous day, which drew swift condemnation from European leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron conveyed his solidarity with Ukraine in a social media post, reiterating France's commitment to collaborate with international partners to encourage de-escalation and establish a ceasefire.

President Macron, along with Zelensky, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, is scheduled to meet in London on Monday to discuss the situation further. European leaders are seeking to influence the terms of the US-led peace initiative, advocating for comprehensive security guarantees for a post-war Ukraine and exploring the possibility of deploying a peacekeeping force.

Sir Keir Starmer has been a prominent advocate for forming a 'coalition of the willing', a group of countries dedicated to supporting Ukraine's defence in the event of a ceasefire. He characterised this approach as 'vital' for the long-term security of Ukraine.

Conversely, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed the idea of foreign troops in Ukraine, asserting that any such deployment would be 'legitimate targets' for Russian forces.

In the lead-up to the London talks, US and Ukrainian negotiators pressed for a tangible commitment from Russia towards achieving lasting peace. The joint statement from the negotiators came shortly after Witkoff's discussions with Putin, which did not yield significant progress.

Witkoff and Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's chief negotiator, indicated that they had outlined a framework for security arrangements and discussed necessary measures to ensure a sustainable peace. The focus remains on addressing the ongoing violence while striving for a diplomatic resolution to the protracted conflict in Ukraine.