Zelenskyy Calls Out Putin's Fear of Negotiation Amid Ongoing Conflict
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of being afraid of negotiations to end the ongoing war. This assertion follows Putin's recent declaration that he would not engage in direct talks with Zelenskyy, whom he refers to as illegitimate due to the absence of elections since the war began. Ukraine is currently under martial law, rendering elections impossible under its constitution. Zelenskyy warns that excluding Ukraine from peace talks between Russia and the United States would only enable Putin to manipulate global leaders like President Donald Trump.
In a recent escalation, Ukrainian drone strikes targeted oil and power facilities in western Russia, as reported by Russian officials and media. A social media channel linked to Russian security agencies indicated that an oil refinery in Kstovo, Nizhny Novgorod—east of Moscow—was ablaze following these attacks. Additionally, Smolensk, a western region bordering Belarus, faced a significant drone assault. The governor, Vasily Anokhin, reported that air defense systems successfully intercepted a drone threatening a nuclear power facility. Regional authorities in Bryansk and Tver also acknowledged drone activity, prompting flight suspensions at Kazan airport to ensure safety.
In a bid to bolster defenses, the United States reportedly transferred around 90 Patriot air defense interceptors from Israel to Poland, which are expected to subsequently reach Ukraine. While Pentagon officials have remained tight-lipped about the details, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed the transfer without clarity on its destination.
Amid these developments, Zelenskyy indicated that multiple humanitarian projects in Ukraine have been halted due to Trump's freeze on foreign aid. He directed government officials to assess which U.S. programs remain suspended, emphasizing the need to support priority initiatives related to Ukrainian children, veterans, and critical infrastructure. Zelenskyy assured that funds would be sourced from domestic finances to fill the gap left by the halted U.S. assistance.
In a separate diplomatic development, Marco Rubio, Trump’s former Secretary of State, and Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief, held a conversation about the Ukraine war, underscoring the necessity of maintaining pressure on Moscow to attain a fair and lasting peace.
In Ukraine's government, internal turmoil erupted over arms procurement. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov criticized the current system for failing frontline troops, leading to the dismissal of Deputy Defense Minister Dmytro Klimenkov and a restructuring of the Defense Procurement Agency. The agency, initially created to manage weapon purchases and prevent corruption, has faced accusations of public visibility resembling an e-commerce platform. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine announced a probe into Umerov following these remarks, with G7 diplomats urging swift resolution of the conflict for adherence to good governance and NATO standards.
On the economic front, the European Commission has proposed additional tariffs on agricultural imports from Russia and Belarus. If approved, this plan will subject all Russian agricultural imports to EU tariffs, striking at a critical revenue source for Russia while maintaining a flow of essential goods to non-EU countries, notably in Africa and Asia, to prevent global food supply disruptions. By continuing to target agricultural imports, the EU aims to reduce its dependency on these nations and mitigate any coercive actions Russia may employ that could jeopardize food security across Europe.
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