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Ukraine seeks Zelensky's November US visit to finalize peace terms
Ukraine's security chief, Rustem Umerov, announced plans on Tuesday to arrange a visit for President Volodymyr Zelensky to the United States this month, aiming to finalize a peace agreement with President Donald Trump. The move follows a claimed breakthrough in negotiations, though fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces persisted overnight, leaving at least nine dead across both nations.
Diplomatic progress claimed in Geneva talks
Umerov stated in a social media post that Ukrainian and US delegations had reached a "common understanding on the core terms" of a peace plan during Sunday's talks in Geneva. A US official later told the BBC that Ukraine had "agreed to a peace deal," though "minor details" remained unresolved. The White House has yet to comment on the prospect of direct Trump-Zelensky discussions.
Meanwhile, the US confirmed its officials would meet Russian representatives in Abu Dhabi to further discuss the proposal. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, however, dismissed the revised terms-reportedly excluding recognition of Russian-occupied territories-as "completely unconstructive." The Kremlin insisted any deal must align with the "spirit and letter" of August's Trump-Putin talks in Alaska.
Overnight strikes escalate as talks proceed
As diplomatic efforts unfolded, both sides exchanged deadly airstrikes. Ukrainian officials reported six fatalities in Kyiv after Russian missiles struck residential buildings in the Dniprovskyi and Pechersk districts. Emergency crews rescued 18 people, including three children, from a blazing high-rise, while Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed fires had been extinguished in the city center.
Russia's Rostov region saw its death toll rise to three-two in hospitals-after a Ukrainian strike, according to acting governor Yuri Sliusar. Governor Veniamin Kondratyev of Krasnodar described the overnight bombardment as one of Kyiv's "most sustained and massive attacks." Ukraine's Ministry of Energy also reported a "massive, combined" assault on its infrastructure, involving 22 missiles and over 460 drones.
NATO intercepts drones near Romania, Moldova
NATO scrambled fighter jets over Romania for the third time in four days to intercept drones near Ukraine's border, while six Russian drones were detected in Moldovan airspace. Russia's defense ministry claimed to have downed 249 Ukrainian drones overnight, including over the Black Sea and Kursk region.
European allies propose tougher terms on Russia
Zelensky welcomed revisions to the controversial 28-point US peace plan-drafted with input from the UK, France, and Germany-which removed concessions like recognizing Russian-held regions and expanded Ukraine's military limits. The changes also left open the possibility of NATO membership for Kyiv.
"Now the list of necessary steps to end the war can become doable. Many correct elements have been incorporated into this framework," Zelensky said in a statement.
The Kremlin rejected the amendments, reiterating demands for Ukraine's full withdrawal from Donbas and control over Crimea, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told BBC Radio 4 that any final deal must prevent future Russian invasions and exclude Moscow's return to the G8, stating, "We can't go back to business as usual."
'Coalition of the willing' convenes as casualties mount
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a virtual meeting of Ukraine's European allies on Tuesday to assess developments, following what he called a "good and very productive" call with Zelensky. The war, now in its fourth year, has killed or injured tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians, displacing millions since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
"Something good just may be happening," Trump cautioned after the Geneva talks. "Don't believe it until you see it."
