KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with high U.S. officers and European leaders in Rome on Sunday, a part of stepped-up diplomatic efforts forward of a high-stakes telephone name Monday between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on ending the battle in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy spoke with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the U.S. ambassador’s residence, whereas German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated he had spoken each to Zelenskyy and to Rubio on the sidelines of the brand new pope’s inauguration.
Merz stated that he had additionally agreed with the leaders of France and Britain “that we will speak again with the American president in preparation for this conversation.”
“My firm impression is that both the Europeans and the Americans are determined to work together, but now also in a goal-oriented manner, to ensure that this terrible war ends soon,” Merz advised reporters in Rome.
Trump stated he plans to talk by telephone Monday with Putin, and can then communicate to Zelenskyy and leaders of assorted NATO nations, about ending the battle in Ukraine.
Michael Kappeler/image alliance through Getty Photographs
The intensified diplomacy got here as Russia launched its largest drone barrage in opposition to Ukraine for the reason that begin of the full-scale invasion in 2022, after the primary direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv in years didn’t yield a ceasefire.
Putin spurned Zelenskyy’s supply to satisfy face-to-face in Turkey after he himself proposed direct negotiations — though not on the presidential degree — as an alternative choice to a 30-day ceasefire urged by Ukraine and its Western allies, together with the U.S.
Talks in Istanbul on Friday broke up after lower than two hours and not using a ceasefire, though either side agreed on exchanging 1,000 prisoners of battle every, based on the heads of each delegations. Ukraine’s intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, stated on Ukrainian tv Saturday that the change might occur as early as subsequent week.
Russia fired a complete of 273 exploding drones and decoys, Ukraine’s air pressure stated Sunday. Of these, 88 have been intercepted and an extra 128 misplaced, possible having been electronically jammed. The assaults focused the nation’s Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk areas.
Yuriy Ihnat, Head of the Communications Division of the Ukrainian Air Drive, advised The Related Press that the barrage was the largest drone assault for the reason that begin of the full-scale invasion.
Russia’s earlier largest identified single drone assault was on the eve of the battle’s third anniversary, when Russia pounded Ukraine with 267 drones.
Kyiv regional Gov. Mykola Kalashnyk stated a a 28-year-old lady was killed in a drone assault on the area and three different folks, together with a 4-year-old youngster, have been wounded.
In the meantime, Russia’s Protection Ministry stated its air defenses shot down seven Ukrainian drones in a single day, and an extra 18 on Sunday morning.
