Tensions Rise as Ukraine Negotiates Peace Amid Continued Conflicts

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed concerns that former President Donald Trump is placing undue pressure on Ukraine to concede in negotiations aimed at resolving the prolonged Russia-Ukraine war. In a recent Axios interview, Zelenskyy emphasized that any proposal requiring Ukraine to relinquish territory that Russia has not occupied in the eastern Donbas region would be outright rejected by the Ukrainian populace if subjected to a referendum. Zelenskyy criticized Trump's repeated calls for Ukraine, rather than Russia, to make concessions, stating, "I hope it is just his tactics and not the decision." The remarks come as U.S., Russian, and Ukrainian negotiators engaged in discussions in Geneva. Trump recently reiterated his stance, insisting that Ukraine must act quickly: "Ukraine better come to the table fast. That's all I'm telling you." Ukraine's lead negotiator, Rustem Umerov, noted that the initial discussions in Geneva focused on practical considerations and potential decision-making mechanics, while withholding detailed information. He indicated that negotiations would continue for a final day, raising anticipations about the outcomes. Meanwhile, tensions have escalated outside diplomatic circles as Ukrainian drones launched attacks on significant Russian targets. Reports from Ukraine's SBU domestic security service confirmed drone strikes on the Taman oil terminal and the Metafrax chemicals plant, pivotal facilities in Russia’s oil and chemical industries. The commander of Kyiv's drone forces reported that Ukrainian operations have targeted nine oil refineries across Russia since the year's start, marking a significant development in Ukraine's ongoing military response. Furthermore, Lithuania's Vilnius airport briefly suspended operations due to the intrusion of weather balloons from Belarus, a recurrent issue since October 2025. Additionally, France has released a tanker suspected of being part of a Russian sanctions-busting fleet after its owner paid a substantial fine. French forces had previously boarded the vessel while it was en route between Spain and Morocco. In military developments, Russia claims its operations have remained unaffected by the disconnection of Starlink terminals, which had been offline for two weeks. However, Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov asserted that the shutdown had significantly hampered Russian military activities, contributing to Ukraine recapturing 201 square kilometers of territory in recent days. As the complexities of the negotiations and military engagements unfold, Sweden’s military intelligence has warned about Russia's increasing hybrid threat activities in the region. Director Thomas Nilsson foresees that Russia is likely to continue engaging in such activities, despite the current dynamics in Ukraine. The Swedish Military Intelligence and Security Service highlighted numerous methods employed by Russia in hybrid warfare, including disinformation campaigns, cyberattacks, and election interference. The coming days will be crucial as negotiations resume in Geneva, while the conflict on the ground and diplomatic engagements with international leaders continue to evolve. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2