Donald Trump has announced that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin will engage in talks regarding “land,” “power plants,” and “dividing up certain assets” during a scheduled Ukraine peace negotiation set for Tuesday. Moscow has confirmed the planned call between the two leaders but remains tight-lipped about the specific issues that will be discussed during the meeting.
In an analysis by Sarah Rainsford, it’s clear that while US officials are striving to remain optimistic about the possibility of a ceasefire agreement, the tone from Russia appears increasingly defiant and bullish. Moscow’s firm stance casts doubt on the likelihood of reaching a peaceful resolution.
Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has voiced skepticism, stating that Russia may not truly be interested in peace. Her remarks come as discussions about Ukraine’s future continue in Brussels, with the situation on the ground remaining dire.
Overnight, both Ukrainian and Russian forces continued their drone strikes, with Ukraine reporting ongoing Russian efforts to invade the Sumy region in northern Ukraine. Sumy is strategically located near the Kursk region in Russia, which Russian forces are in the process of retaking. Our correspondent Jonathan Beale spoke with Ukrainian troops about their harrowing and “catastrophic” withdrawal as they faced mounting pressure from Russian advances.
