On Sunday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia is open to peace with Ukraine, yet emphasized that achieving its military goals remains a top priority. This statement came shortly after former U.S. President Donald Trump issued a 50-day ultimatum for Moscow to agree to a ceasefire or face increased sanctions. Peskov, alongside other Russian officials, has consistently rejected claims from Kyiv and Western nations regarding the stalling of peace negotiations.
Despite expressing a desire for a peaceful resolution, Peskov indicated that the Kremlin's demands include Ukraine withdrawing from the four regions that Russia unlawfully annexed in September 2022 but has not fully captured. Additionally, Russia insists that Ukraine must renounce its NATO ambitions and accept significant limitations on its armed forces, requests that Kyiv and its allies have firmly rejected. Peskov further noted that the peace process is a lengthy and challenging endeavor.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently announced that Ukrainian officials proposed a new round of peace talks for this week. Although Russian state media reported that a date for negotiations has not yet been established, it suggested that Istanbul might serve as the host city for these discussions.
In a notable shift in stance, Trump threatened severe tariffs against Russia while advocating for a strengthened supply of American military equipment to Ukraine. He specified that these tariffs would be implemented if a peace agreement is not reached within the 50-day deadline. Although the details of the tariffs remain vague, Trump articulated that they would aim to isolate Russia from its trading partners globally. Alongside this, he promised that European allies would procure substantial amounts of U.S. military hardware to bolster Ukraine’s defenses.
Certain apprehensions have arisen about Trump’s commitment to supporting Ukraine militarily, particularly following recent reports of a pause in Pentagon shipments due to dwindling U.S. stockpiles of weapons.
Meanwhile, the ongoing conflict saw further drone strikes from both Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine’s air force reported intercepting 18 out of 57 drones launched by Russia overnight. In contrast, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed to have downed 93 Ukrainian drones aimed at its territory, including at least 15 en route to Moscow. One drone ended up striking a residential building in Zelenograd, located on the outskirts of Moscow. Fortunately, the attack did not result in any casualties, though it did cause damage to an apartment.
In Ukraine, the repercussions of the drone strikes were also significant, with several civilians injured due to attacks in regions such as Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv. Ukrainian officials reported that civilians were hurt when a drone hit a residential structure in Kharkiv, and further attacks in Sumy injured a woman and her young son while damaging local power lines.
As the war continues to escalate, both nations remain entrenched in their positions, with little sign of a breakthrough in negotiations or cessation of hostilities. The situation remains fluid as international diplomatic efforts continue to seek a resolution to the ongoing conflict.
