British Prime Minister Keir Starmer joined forces with leaders from the United States, Italy, France, and Germany to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s anticipated call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, according to a statement from Downing Street.
This surge in diplomatic activity follows recent, inconclusive Russia-Ukraine peace talks held in Istanbul, Türkiye.
The discussions emphasized the urgent need for an unconditional ceasefire and urged Russia to take the peace negotiations seriously. Leaders also warned of potential new sanctions if Moscow failed to engage in good faith.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed he had discussed the upcoming Trump-Putin call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural mass at the Vatican. Merz also held separate talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Trump indicated his intention to speak with both Putin and Zelenskyy to explore solutions to end what he called the “bloodbath” of war.
In Moscow, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that preparations were underway for the Trump-Putin conversation.
Friday’s meeting in Istanbul marked the first direct engagement between the two sides since March 2022. The talks resulted in an agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war—potentially the largest swap since the conflict began.
However, a senior Ukrainian official revealed that Russian delegates demanded Ukraine withdraw from territories that Russia has claimed but not fully occupied, making a ceasefire currently unattainable for Kyiv.
During the papal inauguration, Zelenskyy also held meetings with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Rubio—the first face-to-face encounter between Zelenskyy and Vance since their clash at the White House in February over the war’s trajectory.
Missile Threat and Drone Assaults Intensify
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military intelligence service, GUR, warned that Russia was preparing to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile on Sunday as a show of force aimed at Ukraine and its allies. The missile, with an estimated range of over 10,000 km, was reportedly set to launch from Russia’s Sverdlovsk region.
Ukraine also reported a record overnight drone attack by Russia, involving 273 Shahed drones and various decoy drones. While 88 drones were intercepted and 128 failed to hit targets, one woman was killed in Kyiv.
Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko called it the largest drone assault to date, accusing Russia of systematically targeting civilians. “This is a clear strategy—to keep killing civilians,” she stated.
Al Jazeera’s Zein Basravi reported from Kyiv that air raid sirens sounded for nearly nine hours overnight as people sheltered in subway stations across the city.
Civilians in the Crossfire
The Russian military claimed to have intercepted 25 Ukrainian drones and announced the capture of a village in the Donetsk region, escalating the conflict despite ongoing peace efforts.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy condemned Russia’s drone strike on a civilian bus in the Sumy region that killed nine passengers, calling it “a deliberate attack on civilians.” He urged for stronger international sanctions and more pressure on Moscow to halt the violence.
Zelenskyy’s top aide, Andriy Yermak, echoed this sentiment, claiming Russia was using negotiations as a façade while continuing its war efforts. “Putin wants war, not peace,” he said.
Russia’s Stance and Ceasefire Prospects
In a state TV interview, President Putin reiterated Moscow’s objective to “address the root causes” of the conflict, ensure lasting peace, and protect Russian national security—claims that have often been linked to justifications like NATO expansion, alleged discrimination against Russian speakers, and a desire to “de-Nazify” Ukraine.
Western officials have repeatedly dismissed these claims, describing Russia’s invasion as a blatant territorial conquest. The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and millions displaced.
Putin said Russia had sufficient military resources to achieve its aims, and the Kremlin remained open to continued dialogue, albeit under its terms.
According to the U.S. State Department, Secretary Rubio spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov over the weekend, acknowledging the prisoner swap agreement reached in Istanbul.
Ukraine’s Defense Minister and chief negotiator Rustem Umerov emphasized that a presidential-level meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin would be the next step. Russia responded by stating that such a meeting would only be considered after the prisoner exchange and once both sides present their visions for a ceasefire.
Source: Aljazeera
About The Author
