Russia trying to stop meeting on peace and prolong war, says Zelensky

Ukraine’s President Volodymr Zelensky has accused Russia of “doing every little thing it may possibly” to forestall a gathering with Vladimir Putin to attempt to finish the conflict.

US President Donald Trump has sought to convey the 2 leaders collectively, however he mentioned on Friday “that is like oil and vinegar… they do not get alongside too properly”.

Russian International Minister Sergei Lavrov mentioned Putin was prepared to satisfy Ukraine’s chief “when the agenda is prepared for a summit, and this agenda will not be prepared in any respect”, accusing Zelensky of claiming “no to every little thing”.

After an intensive week of diplomacy, through which Trump first met Putin in Alaska after which Zelensky with European leaders in Washington, the US president mentioned the conflict was turning out to be probably the most tough he had tried to cease.

Trump mentioned after a name with the Russian chief on Monday that he had begun preparations for a Putin-Zelensky summit that he would be a part of afterwards.

Ukraine’s president has backed the transfer, however he has sought safety ensures from Western allies to forestall any future Russian assault within the occasion of a peace deal: “Ukraine, not like Russia, will not be afraid of any conferences between leaders.”

On a go to to Kyiv, Nato Secretary Normal Mark Rutte mentioned Trump was aiming to “break the impasse” and the alliance was engaged on strong safety ensures with the US and Europe to make sure Putin “won’t ever ever attempt to assault Ukraine once more”.

Talking alongside Rutte, Zelensky mentioned he needed Ukraine’s security guarantees to replicate Nato’s Article 5, which considers an assault on one member of the alliance an assault in opposition to all Nato members.

“That is the start of an enormous enterprise, and it’s not simple, as a result of ensures encompass what our companions can provide Ukraine, in addition to what the Ukrainian military ought to be like, and the place we are able to discover alternatives for the military to keep up its energy,” Zelensky mentioned.

Rutte mentioned the alliance was working with Ukraine to outline the ensures, explaining that they’d deal with making Ukraine’s navy as sturdy as attainable and contain Western safety commitments. It was “too early to precisely say what would be the final result”, he added.

Russia’s overseas minister appeared to dent hopes of any potential summit, telling NBC Information that “there isn’t a assembly deliberate”.

Sergei Lavrov mentioned Russia had agreed to indicate flexibility on a lot of points raised by Trump on the US-Russia summit in Alaska final week.

He went on to accuse Ukraine of not displaying the identical flexibility in subsequent talks in Washington, blaming Ukraine for hindering progress towards a peace deal.

Lavrov mentioned it was “very clear to everyone that there are a number of ideas which Washington believes should be accepted”.

He mentioned this included no Nato membership for Ukraine and discussions of territorial points: “Zelensky mentioned no to every little thing,” Lavrov mentioned.

He was talking after EU overseas coverage chief Kaja Kallas informed the BBC that Putin was in search of territorial concessions from Ukraine that had been a “lure that Putin desires us to stroll into”.

“We’re forgetting that Russia has not made one single concession and they’re those who’re the aggressor right here,” Kallas mentioned.

Regardless of newest efforts to dealer a peace deal, Russia launched one in every of its heaviest assaults on Ukraine in weeks on Thursday, launching 574 drone and 40 missiles in a single evening.

In the meantime, a Ukrainian drone blew up an oil pumping station within the Russian area of Bryansk, halting oil deliveries alongside the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia – the third assault on the pipeline in 9 days.

Hungary and Slovakia are largely depending on the Druzbha pipeline for his or her oil provides, and Budapest says it may take at the very least 5 days earlier than operations resume. The 2 EU member states have complained to the European Fee.

The European Union sought to chop Russia’s power provides after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and goals to section out Russian oil and gasoline by the tip of 2027.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban wrote to President Trump to complain in regards to the assault on the pipeline, and his officers posted what they mentioned was Trump’s handwritten response.

“Viktor – I don’t like listening to this – I’m very indignant about it. Inform Slovakia.”

“You’re my nice buddy,” he added.

The White Home didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.