Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has identified a critical window for ending the war, stating that all parties involved genuinely want to achieve a result before 2027. Speaking in Dublin ahead of meetings with US presidential envoys, he emphasized the urgency of the current diplomatic efforts.
US Envoys Return from Moscow
Zelenskyy is preparing to meet Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner after their return from Moscow, where they held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Ukrainian leader stressed that the success of these negotiations hinges on the Americans bringing back specific proposals rather than vague intentions.
“What’s important is that the Americans flew to Putin with specifics,” Zelenskyy said. “I would very much like them to return to Dublin with specifics.” His comments follow two days of trilateral discussions in Abu Dhabi, which marked the first US-brokered talks between Kyiv and Moscow since February.
While the Abu Dhabi meetings resulted in an agreement for the largest prisoner exchange of the conflict, progress on a broader peace framework remained limited. A senior Ukrainian delegation member noted that the Russian team arrived with strict directives but acknowledged significant movement on postwar security guarantees. Kushner described the initial discussions as a good first step, though he admitted that trust between the two sides remains absent.
Ongoing Attacks and Casualties
Despite the diplomatic push, violence continues across the region. Explosions were reported in Kyiv early on Thursday, while a daytime Russian attack on a market in the southern Odesa region killed three people and injured 11. Local authorities confirmed that residential buildings were damaged in the strike.
In Russia, Ukraine claimed responsibility for a drone attack on the Ust-Luga port on the Baltic Sea. The strike caused a fire in the port area and damaged five fuel storage tanks, according to Ukraine’s general staff. Russian regional governor Aleksandr Drozdenko reported that three workers were injured and a power station was cut off.
Further complicating the situation, a Ukrainian drone strike killed an employee at the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. This marks the 15th death among plant staff since April, according to Russian management. Additionally, Ukraine reported capturing its first Indonesian prisoner of war, highlighting a rise in recruitment from Southeast Asia for Russian military operations.
NATO and International Response
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that the recent talks demonstrated that the United States, Ukraine, and Europe are completely aligned. He placed the onus on Moscow to demonstrate a willingness to cooperate if a lasting solution is to be found.
Zelenskyy reiterated that Ukraine is doing everything possible to secure a resolution by the end of the year. He noted that the outcome will largely depend on the format and substance of the dialogue between the American and Russian sides during the upcoming meetings in Moscow.
Source: The Guardian
