Zelenskyy hails US diplomacy push as Russian strikes kill five
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reports positive engagement with US envoys and European counterparts, even as Russian forces inflict casualties in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions.
Russian missile and drone strikes have killed five people and injured dozens more across Ukraine’s Kharkiv and Donetsk regions, underscoring the continued intensity of the four-year conflict. The overnight attacks targeted the town of Chuhuiv in the Kharkiv region, where a pregnant woman and two others were killed, with six additional injuries reported. Residential buildings and shops sustained damage in the incident.
In the Donetsk region, two people were killed in Bilozerske and Druzhkivka, while 11 others were injured in Sloviansk and Shabelkivka. Separately, a drone attack on the city of Kharkiv wounded 16 people, including children, with officials sharing images of burning buildings and damaged vehicles. The escalation follows Ukraine’s intensification of long-range drone strikes against Russian oil facilities, which have contributed to fuel shortages in Russia and prompted large-scale Russian air attacks.
Amidst the violence, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported a “very positive” telephone conversation with US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Speaking on X, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the envoys’ readiness to work actively in the coming weeks to reinvigorate diplomacy aimed at ending the war. He noted that while global attention has shifted towards the Middle East, the shared goal of peace in Europe remains on the agenda.
Zelenskyy’s diplomatic efforts continued in London, where he met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and French President Emmanuel Macron. The three leaders issued a joint statement reiterating their “unwavering support” for Ukraine. They discussed utilising the upcoming G7, NATO, and Coalition of the Willing summits to coordinate further pressure on Russia’s war economy and increase pledges of military and defence support. Zelenskyy also confirmed he is preparing for the G7 summit in France.
Despite these diplomatic advances, Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected Zelenskyy’s request for an in-person meeting. Speaking at the International Economic Forum in St Petersburg, Putin stated there was “no point” in direct talks at this stage, insisting that experts must resolve issues first before any potential deal could be signed. Zelenskyy, however, suggested internal divisions within the Russian leadership, telling The Guardian that half of those around Putin want to continue the war while the other half wish to stop.
