Doubts arise over leaders meeting as Ukraine's Zelenskyy seeks temporary truce
Days after a second round of peace talks in Istanbul concluded, Russian President Vladimir Putin has wrapped up his fourth official phone conversation with U-S President Donald Trump. Mr Trump has posted about the conversation on the Truth Social platform. "We discussed the attack on Russia's docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides. It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace." That's because in the phone call with Mr Trump - as well as on a video phone call with top Russian officials - Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of not really wanting an end to the war. Russia has unleashed several massive aerial attacks on Ukraine over recent weeks. The Kremlin says Ukraine has been provocative in staging explosions on railways in Russia's Kursk and Bryansk regions, as well an airfields attack. The comment, a signal that the repeated requests from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for face-to-face talks - and a ceasefire with Russia until that meeting can be arranged - are unlikely to be fulfilled. "The Kyiv leadership has moved on to organising terrorist acts. And at the same time, they are asking to suspend military actions for 30 or even 60 days, asking for a meeting at the highest level. But how can any such meetings be conducted in such circumstances? What shall we talk about? Who would hold talks with those who rely on terror, with terrorists?" The response from the US has been muted. Mr Trump has been unusually silent on the Ukrainian attacks on Russian bombers, though Moscow has demanded the United States and Britain restrain Ukraine. The Interfax news agency has quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Ryabkov, saying he wants both London and Washington DC to act and stop further escalation of hostilities. Meanwhile, the White House' Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, has told Fox News the escalation risk has risen, after Ukrainian forces used drones to strike nuclear-capable bombers at several airbases deep inside Russia. "People have to understand in the national security space - when you attack an opponent's - part of their national survival system, which is their triad, the nuclear triad, that means your risk level goes up because you don't know what the other side's going to do." But Putin's accusations have been met with almost universal disdain in Europe. British Defence Secretry, John Healey, says it's Russia who continues to be the aggressor. "It's quite clear that this war must end in the end at the negotiating table and not on the battlefield... Putin has talked about peace, but shown he's unwilling to negotiate. And so more pressure must be brought on Moscow to come to the negotiating table, to negotiate seriously. Because Ukraine has demonstrated it stands willing for peace." NATO defence ministers of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, have met in Brussels to discuss continued military and strategic support for Kyiv, as both Ukraine and Russia prepare their responses to the peace proposals exchanged at the Istanbul ceasefire meeting. Alongside the meeting conveners Germany and the UK, Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, has announced a new agreement for Ukraine's allies to pay for defence manufacturing by Ukrainian companies in allied countries. "Under this initiative, Ukrainian companies could invest in our UDCG (Ukraine Defence Contact Group) partner countries, and companies from UDCG countries can build their mega factories in Ukraine. We'll build drones, missiles, ammunition, and other weapons together. Ukrainian drones have changed the battlefield, and now they will change how Ramstein countries prepare for future threats." Mr Zelenskyy believes the deal could be a useful bargaining tool. "We have no doubt that we can push Russia toward peace. But for that, we must continue to pressure Moscow with all available tools and step-by-step make its aggression meaningless." The Contact Group met without the US for the first time since it was established in 2022. US Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, is expected to arrive in Brussels after the meeting. But NATO Secretary-General, Mark Rutte, says his absence from this meeting should not be interpreted in a negative way. "The U.S. is completely committed to NATO, completely committed to our joint endeavours when it comes to Ukraine. There's no reason to doubt that, and whether someone is participating, yes or no, in each meeting, let's not forget, these meetings take place most of the times in Europe, so it will not always be possible for U.S. officials to participate in every meeting." European ministers at the Group meeting say they remain committed to Ukraine. Among them is German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius.
"We are supporting Ukraine in its defense, with weapons, ammunition, training, with everything it needs and for as long as it needs. We will continue to expand the support and we will maintain it for the long term. This is what the Coalition stands for. Moscow would be mistaken to believe otherwise."
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"The president described the Kyiv regime as a terrorist regime, because it was the regime's leadership that consciously gave the order, the command, the order to blow up a passenger train. This is nothing other than terrorism at the state level. This is an important statement by the president," Peskov said. Russia has not yet provided evidence that Ukrainian leaders ordered the rail attacks, and Kyiv has not acknowledged responsibility. Ukrainian attacks inside Russia and Russian air strikes and advances on the battlefield have escalated the war that began in February 2022, damaging prospects for peace talks that the two sides resumed in Turkey in May. Russia has mounted an intense missile and drone barrage on Kyiv, killing four people and injuring 20 as powerful explosions reverberated across the Ukrainian capital. 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Earlier in the night, Reuters reporters heard the sound of Russian kamikaze drones buzzing in the sky, accompanied by the sounds of outgoing fire from Ukrainian anti-aircraft fire. Reuters witnesses reported a series of booming explosions powerful enough to rattle windows far from the impact sites. Some Kyiv residents sought shelter in metro stations, or in underground car parks. Ukraine's air force said the country had been targeted with drones and missiles overnight. Russian forces struck industrial facilities and infrastructure in the western city of Ternopil, leaving parts of it without power, mayor Serhii Nadal said. The regional administration said the attack injured five people and recommended residents stay inside due to a high concentration of toxic substances in the air after a fire. 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Russia has not yet provided evidence that Ukrainian leaders ordered the rail attacks, and Kyiv has not acknowledged responsibility. Ukrainian attacks inside Russia and Russian air strikes and advances on the battlefield have escalated the war that began in February 2022, damaging prospects for peace talks that the two sides resumed in Turkey in May. Russia has mounted an intense missile and drone barrage on Kyiv, killing four people and injuring 20 as powerful explosions reverberated across the Ukrainian capital. The overnight attack followed a warning from Russian President Vladimir Putin, conveyed via US leader Donald Trump, that the Kremlin would hit back after Ukrainian drones destroyed several strategic bomber aircraft in attacks deep inside Russia. Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said 16 people were taken to hospital. The city's metro transport system was disrupted by a Russian strike that hit and damaged tracks between stations, Kyiv's military administration said. Ukraine's state rail company Ukrzaliznytsia said it was also detouring some trains due to railway damage in the region. In the Solomianskyi district, a Russian drone slammed into the side of apartment building, leaving a gaping hole and burn marks, a Reuters photographer at the scene said. Falling concrete blocks from the building crushed cars parked below. Two police investigators were examining what appeared to be the drone's engine. Earlier in the night, Reuters reporters heard the sound of Russian kamikaze drones buzzing in the sky, accompanied by the sounds of outgoing fire from Ukrainian anti-aircraft fire. Reuters witnesses reported a series of booming explosions powerful enough to rattle windows far from the impact sites. Some Kyiv residents sought shelter in metro stations, or in underground car parks. Ukraine's air force said the country had been targeted with drones and missiles overnight. Russian forces struck industrial facilities and infrastructure in the western city of Ternopil, leaving parts of it without power, mayor Serhii Nadal said. The regional administration said the attack injured five people and recommended residents stay inside due to a high concentration of toxic substances in the air after a fire. In one of the most audacious attacks of the war between Ukraine and Russia, Ukrainian spies last weekend destroyed some of Russia's strategic bomber aircraft on the ground using quadrocopter drones hidden in wooden sheds. Ukraine used drones to strike Russian heavy bomber planes at air bases in Siberia and the far north at the weekend, and Russia also accused it of blowing up rail bridges in the south of the country, killing seven people. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, at his daily briefing with reporters, highlighted comments made by Putin a day earlier about the railway attacks. "The president described the Kyiv regime as a terrorist regime, because it was the regime's leadership that consciously gave the order, the command, the order to blow up a passenger train. This is nothing other than terrorism at the state level. This is an important statement by the president," Peskov said. Russia has not yet provided evidence that Ukrainian leaders ordered the rail attacks, and Kyiv has not acknowledged responsibility. Ukrainian attacks inside Russia and Russian air strikes and advances on the battlefield have escalated the war that began in February 2022, damaging prospects for peace talks that the two sides resumed in Turkey in May.
