Russian Strikes Target Central City as US-Ukraine Negotiations Conclude

Ukraine’s central city of Kremenchuk was struck in a “massive” attack overnight, according to the city’s mayor, as peace talks between Ukraine and the United States concluded in Florida. The assault occurred hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported a “very constructive” phone call with representatives from Donald Trump’s team, following three days of negotiations in Miami aimed at drafting a peace agreement acceptable to both sides.

The mayor of Kremenchuk, Vitaliy Maletsk, stated that the city had been repeatedly targeted in what he described as a “massive combined strike” on its infrastructure. While no deaths have been confirmed, essential services such as water, electricity, and heat were reportedly disrupted. Kremenchuk, a major industrial hub located halfway between Kyiv and the eastern frontline, has been a frequent target since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Despite the ongoing talks, Russia has continued its aerial assaults, claiming to have shot down 77 Ukrainian drones in several locations. The White House has encouraged both Kyiv and Moscow to agree to a multi-point plan to end the war, but progress remains limited. Zelensky emphasized Ukraine’s commitment to working with the US to achieve peace, stating that discussions had covered key points to ensure an end to the conflict and prevent a new Russian invasion.

The attacks follow a broader strike 24 hours earlier, which drew criticism from Ukraine’s European allies. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed solidarity with Ukraine and pledged to work with partners to secure de-escalation measures and a ceasefire. Macron, Zelensky, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are set to hold in-person talks in London on Monday.

European leaders have pushed back against early versions of the US-led peace plan, advocating for their own proposals, including comprehensive security guarantees for post-war Ukraine. Sir Keir has championed the idea of a “coalition of the willing,” a group of Ukrainian allies committed to supporting Kyiv’s defense in the event of a ceasefire. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected the notion of a peacekeeping force, stating that any troops deployed to Ukraine would be “legitimate targets.”

US and Ukrainian negotiators have called on Russia to demonstrate a “serious commitment to long-term peace,” following failed talks between Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Putin. Witkoff and Rustem Umerov, newly appointed as Zelensky’s top negotiator, stated that they had agreed on the framework of security arrangements and discussed necessary deterrence capabilities to sustain lasting peace.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin has signaled that “radical changes” are needed to the US-Ukraine peace plan despite a US envoy saying that the end to the war is “really really close.” President Vladimir Putin’s top foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov was quoted by Russian media as saying that the United States would have to “make serious, I would say, radical changes to their papers” on Ukraine. However, US special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg told a defense forum that a deal to end the Ukraine war was “really close” and depending on resolving two issues: the future of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and the future of the Donbas region.

Zelensky said last night that the “next steps” for talks with the United States about post-war Ukraine have been agreed. In a post to social media platform X, Mr. Zelensky said that he had had a call with president Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Mr. Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner to catch-up about the third day of talks.

The Kremlin welcomed a move by US President Donald Trump’s administration to revise its national security strategy and stop calling Russia a “direct threat,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday. The strategy, signed by Trump, also warned that Europe faces “civilizational erasure,” that it was a “core” US interest to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, and that Washington wanted to reestablish strategic stability with Russia.

After months on the sidelines of US-led peace talks, Europe is trying to rise to the challenge of guaranteeing Ukraine’s post-war future in the event of a ceasefire. Britain and France are leading the push for a so-called reassurance force in Ukraine to retrain the army and uphold a peace deal if it emerges.

Ukraine faces a “pivotal” moment as Volodymyr Zelensky prepares to visit London for talks on peace proposals, a senior UK minister has said. The Ukrainian president will meet Sir Keir Starmer in Downing Street on Monday along with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Their meeting comes amid continued talks between Ukrainian and US officials on a Washington-backed plan to end the war.