Ukraine to Begin Peace Talks with US Amid Ongoing Conflict

Ukraine's Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council announced on Saturday that the country will commence talks with the United States in Switzerland in the coming days concerning the proposed 28-point peace plan, jointly suggested by Russia and the US. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the development, stating that he has appointed a delegation to engage with Washington about the initiative aimed at halting Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. In a video address, Zelenskyy emphasized his commitment to this diplomatic effort. "I have signed a decree on the composition of the Ukrainian delegation and approved all relevant directives. Our representatives are well aware of how to protect Ukrainian national interests and what is necessary to prevent Russia from executing a third invasion or launching another strike against Ukraine," he said. Rustem Umerov, the Secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, stated that Ukraine is entering a critical phase of discussions with the United States, underlining a clear understanding of its national interests. In a social media post on Facebook, he indicated that these consultations mark an important opportunity for the future peace deal. As the talks loom, Zelenskyy also commemorated Holodomor Memorial Day in Kyiv, reflecting on the historical famine imposed by Soviet leader Josef Stalin, which resulted in millions of deaths. In a poignant message on Telegram, he adopted a defiant tone, stating, "We all know how and why millions of our people died starved to death and millions were never born. And we are once again defending ourselves against Russia, which has not changed and is once again bringing death." The backdrop of this peace initiative is a continued onslaught from Russian forces. Recently, Russia launched 104 drones in overnight attacks across Ukraine, with ballistic missiles also being fired from the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea. Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that 89 of the drones were either intercepted or jammed; however, six locations were successfully hit, with at least two injuries reported in Odesa, a region bordering Romania. Compounding the urgency of the peace talks, earlier this week, a devastating Russian strike on two apartment blocks in the city of Ternopil resulted in 26 fatalities and 93 injuries, marking the severest assault on Western Ukraine since the onset of the full-scale invasion. As the humanitarian toll rises, the importance of diplomatic resolutions to the conflict becomes increasingly critical for Ukraine and its allies. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2