Russia and Ukraine’s prime diplomats on Saturday used a high-level convention in Turkey to as soon as once more commerce accusations of violating a tentative U.S.-brokered deal to pause strikes on vitality infrastructure, underscoring the challenges of negotiating an finish to the 3-year-old conflict.
The 2 overseas ministers spoke at separate occasions on the annual Antalya Diplomacy Discussion board, a day after U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to debate peace prospects. Ukraine’s European allies on Friday promised billions of {dollars} to assist Kyiv preserve combating Russia’s invasion.
Whereas Moscow and Kyiv each agreed in precept final month to implement a restricted, 30-day ceasefire, they issued conflicting statements quickly after their separate talks with U.S. officers in Saudi Arabia. They differed on the beginning time of halting strikes, and alleged near-immediate breaches by the opposite aspect.
“The Ukrainians have been attacking us from the very beginning, every passing day, maybe with two or three exceptions,” Russian Overseas Minister Sergei Lavrov stated, including that Moscow would offer the U.S., Turkey and worldwide our bodies with an inventory of Kyiv’s assaults through the previous three weeks.
A consultant of the Russian Overseas Ministry individually advised state media Saturday that Moscow has been sharing intelligence with the U.S. relating to greater than 60 supposed breaches of the deal by Kyiv.
Trump says ‘Russia has to get moving’
Lavrov on Saturday insisted Russia had caught to the phrases of the deal.
His Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, fiercely contested that declare, saying Russia had launched “almost 70 missiles, over 2,200 (exploding) drones, and over 6,000 guided aerial bombs at Ukraine, mostly at civilians,” since agreeing to the restricted pause on strikes.
“This clearly shows to the world who wants peace and who wants war,” he stated.
Russian forces maintain the benefit in Ukraine, and Kyiv has warned Moscow is planning a contemporary spring offensive to ramp up strain on its foe and enhance its negotiating place.
Ukraine has endorsed a broader U.S. ceasefire proposal, however Russia has successfully blocked it by imposing far-reaching situations. European governments have accused Putin of dragging his toes.
“Russia has to get moving” on the street to ending the conflict, U.S. President Donald Trump posted on social media Friday. He stated the conflict is “terrible and senseless.”
Lavrov on Saturday reiterated {that a} potential U.S.-backed settlement, additionally mentioned in Saudi Arabia, to make sure protected navigation for business vessels within the Black Sea couldn’t be applied till restrictions are lifted on Russian entry to delivery insurance coverage, docking ports and worldwide cost techniques.
Particulars of the possible deal weren’t launched, but it surely appeared to mark one other try to make sure protected Black Sea delivery after a 2022 settlement that was brokered by the U.N. and Turkey however halted by Russia the next yr.
Ukraine stories demise of F-16 pilot
Ukraine’s air pressure stated a second F-16 fighter jet equipped by Western allies has been misplaced and its pilot, 26-year-old Pavlo Ivanov, killed.
Ukraine’s Basic Employees stated the F-16 crashed whereas repelling a Russian missile strike. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday supplied condolences to Ivanov’s household, saying, “We are proud of our soldiers. We will give a strong and apt response.”
Ukraine stated the primary F-16 was shot down final August, after it intercepted three Russian missiles and a drone.
We Do not Work For Billionaires. We Work For You.
Already contributed? Log in to cover these messages.
Since final July, Ukraine has acquired a number of batches of the fighter jets from Denmark and the Netherlands, with U.S. approval. Their complete quantity has not been disclosed.
In the meantime, Russian drones killed not less than two civilians in Ukraine’s southern Kherson area on Saturday, in accordance with native Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin.
