By: The Trek News Desk
Ukraine’s national security chief says Kyiv is working to secure a visit by President Volodymyr Zelensky to the United States as early as this month, aiming to finalise a potential peace deal in direct talks with US President Donald Trump.
A US official told reporters that Ukraine has “agreed to a peace framework,” though several “minor issues” remain unresolved.
So far, neither Kyiv nor the White House has confirmed whether a Trump-Zelensky meeting is officially planned.
US and Russian Officials to Meet in Abu Dhabi
Washington has confirmed that its representatives will soon meet a Russian delegation in Abu Dhabi to continue discussions on the evolving peace proposal.
The diplomatic activity comes even as heavy fighting persists along the front lines. Both Russia and Ukraine exchanged drone and missile strikes overnight, resulting in casualties on both sides.
Civilian Deaths Reported After Overnight Strikes
Authorities in Kyiv say at least six people were killed in Russian attacks on the city.
Meanwhile, officials in Russia’s Rostov region reported three deaths following a Ukrainian strike.
Two high-rise buildings in Kyiv caught fire after an impact, prompting widespread evacuations. Emergency teams rescued 18 people, including three children.
Ukraine’s energy ministry reported major strikes against power infrastructure, describing the assault as one of the most intense in recent weeks.
According to Ukrainian officials, Russia launched 22 missiles and more than 460 drones overnight.
NATO scrambled four fighter jets over Romania, the third such deployment in four days, while Moldovan authorities detected six Russian drones in their airspace.
Russia claims it intercepted 249 Ukrainian drones, including many over the Black Sea and the Kursk region.
European Allies Hold Virtual Meeting
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said a virtual meeting of Europe’s “coalition of the willing” was convened on Tuesday to review security developments and the status of the peace talks.
Revised Peace Plan Gains Support in Kyiv but Faces Russian Pushback
An earlier version of the US-led peace plan drew strong criticism from Ukraine and several European governments, who said it leaned too far toward Moscow’s interests.
In response, the UK, France, and Germany drafted revisions that include:
- Rejecting recognition of Russian-occupied territories
- Increasing Ukraine’s permitted troop levels
- Leaving open a pathway for Ukraine to join NATO
Zelensky welcomed the updated framework, calling it “realistic and workable” for ending the war.
The Kremlin, however, dismissed the revisions as “unconstructive.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow has not yet received an “interim draft,” adding that any plan should reflect the “spirit and terms” of the Trump–Putin discussions in Alaska in August.
Territorial Demands Remain the Biggest Obstacle
Russia continues to insist that Ukraine:
- Withdraw all forces from Donbas (Donetsk and Luhansk)
- Accept Russia’s control over Crimea, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia
Zelensky says these territorial concessions remain the “central barrier” to any agreement.
EU Warns: ‘No Return to Business as Usual’
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the final peace plan must ensure Moscow cannot launch another invasion.
She added that Russia should “absolutely not” be allowed back into the G8 in the future.
Humanitarian Toll Continues to Rise
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022:
- Tens of thousands of soldiers have been killed or wounded
- Thousands of civilians have died
- Millions have fled their homes
With pressure mounting on both Kyiv and Moscow, global powers are pushing one of the most serious diplomatic efforts since the war began.
Source: News Agencies
