Russian President receives US representatives this afternoon to discuss a possible peace agreement with Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin rejects European proposals for a peace agreement, considering that “European demands are unacceptable for Russia”. He also accuses European leaders of “hindering” US proposals and that they “do not have a peaceful agenda”. The Russian president also stated that Europe was away from the peace plan negotiations through its own fault.
Putin also said that Russia does not want war, but “if Europe wants to wage war, we are ready now”, he added, according to Reuters.
These statements were made before the meeting in the Kremlin with Trump’s special envoys for peace in Ukraine, Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, which takes place this afternoon.
Zelensky says “there are no simple solutions”
On a visit to Ireland, and before Putin’s statements, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, stated that this trip takes place “at one of the most challenging and, at the same time, optimistic moments”, as “now, more than ever, there is an opportunity to end this war”.
Zelensky said that Ukraine will be attentive to the signals coming out of the Russia-US meeting and, “based on these signals, on what they say, we will decide our next steps”, putting forward the possibility of meeting with the US delegation next, depending on the outcome of the talks.
The Ukrainian president recalled that “nothing should be decided about Ukraine without Ukraine”, even admitting that “there are no simple solutions” to end the war.
The peace negotiations are “not an experiment” for Ukraine, but rather something that will define the future of the country and the nation, and the fact that Russia was the aggressor should not be ignored. “We have to end the war so that, a year from now, Russia does not return with a third invasion,” he said.
Pokrovsk “completely under Russian control”
Zelensky had already warned that the Russians were “launching new disinformation campaigns in view of the preparations for the upcoming meetings with the American side”, presumably referring to the Russian narrative about the situation on the battlefield, including Pokrovsk.
“I have given instructions to continue the most constructive work possible with President Trump’s team, as well as with our European partners. The Ukrainian intelligence services will provide partners with all available information about Russia’s true intentions and its attempts to use diplomatic compromise as a cover to weaken sanctions and block important collective European decisions”, stressed the Ukrainian president.
Russia announced on Monday the conquest of Pokrovsk, but Ukrainian forces said they still controlled the northern part of the city and that fighting was ongoing. This afternoon, Putin once again stated that the city of Pokrovsk is “completely under the control of the Russian army” and that this city has “a special significance and is “a great base for achieving objectives”.
