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Overnight strikes target Ukrainian city despite diplomatic push
Russian forces launched a fresh wave of airstrikes on Kremenchuk, a key industrial city in central Ukraine, hours after President Volodymyr Zelensky described peace negotiations with a U.S. delegation as "very constructive."
Kremenchuk hit by 'massive' attack
Mayor Vitaliy Maletsk reported a "massive combined strike" on the city early Sunday, disrupting water, electricity, and heating supplies. No fatalities have been confirmed, but the extent of infrastructure damage remains unclear. Kremenchuk, located midway between Kyiv and the eastern frontline, has faced repeated attacks since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.
Diplomatic efforts intensify amid continued hostilities
Zelensky's comments followed three days of talks in Florida with Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of the former U.S. president. The Ukrainian leader said discussions focused on ensuring Russia's compliance with any potential peace agreement.
"We covered many aspects and went through key points that could ensure an end to the bloodshed and eliminate the threat of a new Russian full-scale invasion."
Volodymyr Zelensky, via X
Russia claims drone intercepts as Europe rallies support
Moscow announced it had shot down 77 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions. Meanwhile, European leaders condemned the latest strikes. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed "full solidarity" with Ukraine and reiterated France's commitment to securing a ceasefire.
Macron, Zelensky, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are scheduled to meet in London on Monday to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine, including the possibility of a post-war peacekeeping force.
Diverging peace proposals and Russian resistance
Europe has criticized early drafts of the U.S.-led peace plan, advocating instead for robust security guarantees to deter future Russian aggression. Starmer has championed a "coalition of the willing" to sustain Ukraine's defenses post-ceasefire, a proposal Putin dismissed as illegitimate, warning that foreign troops in Ukraine would be "legitimate targets."
A joint U.S.-Ukrainian statement on Saturday urged Russia to demonstrate a "serious commitment to long-term peace," following Witkoff's unproductive Kremlin meeting with Putin.
Next steps
Negotiators confirmed they had agreed on a framework for security arrangements and discussed deterrence measures to ensure lasting stability. Further talks are expected in the coming days, though no breakthrough has been announced.
