Russian Strike Devastates a Ukrainian City as US Peace Negotiations Come to an End
Just hours after Ukraine wraps up intense US-led peace negotiations in Florida, Kremenchuk is hit by a devastating nighttime attack.
Russia struck the central industrial city of Kremenchuk early Sunday, continuing its nocturnal assault on Ukraine just hours after President Volodymyr Zelensky characterized his talks with Donald Trump’s negotiating team as “very constructive.”
Kremenchuk Mayor Vitaliy Maletsky claimed in an online interview that the city was experiencing a “massive combined strike,” which was continually affecting vital infrastructure and depriving some areas of the populace of electricity, heat, and water. As of Sunday morning, there were no verified casualties.
Despite increased diplomatic attempts between Kyiv and Washington, the escalation continued. After three days of peace talks in Miami to establish a framework that would satisfy both Russia and Ukraine, Zelensky said he had a fruitful phone conversation with Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the US president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
Zelensky stated on X that “Ukraine is determined to keep working in good faith with the American side to genuinely achieve peace,” adding that talks centered on how to make sure Russia abided by any final agreement.
Meanwhile, after another massive strike 24 hours earlier that was denounced by Kyiv’s European partners, Russia said it had intercepted 77 Ukrainian drones over many locations overnight.
After speaking with Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron declared his “full solidarity” and promised to keep promoting de-escalation and a ceasefire. On Monday, Macron, Zelensky, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer are scheduled to meet in London for face-to-face discussions.
In order to provide Ukraine with more robust security assurances following the conflict, including the potential for a multinational peacekeeping force, European governments have pressed for changes to the US-led peace proposal. In order to prevent a future Russian invasion, Starmer has pushed for what he refers to as a “coalition of the willing,” a group of devoted allies who would support Ukraine’s defense.
The notion has been categorically rejected by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has warned that any foreign troops sent to Ukraine would be viewed as “legitimate targets.”
Negotiators from the US and Ukraine urged Moscow to show a “serious commitment to long-term peace” on Saturday. The united statement came after Witkoff returned from a round of unsuccessful negotiations in Moscow. According to Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s recently appointed top negotiator, the parties have “agreed on the framework of security arrangements” and discussed what deterrence measures would be required to ensure a long-term settlement.
