Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of blocking efforts to hold peace talks with Vladimir Putin, warning Moscow seeks to prolong the war. U.S. President Donald Trump has pushed for a Putin-Zelensky summit after meeting both leaders, calling the conflict his toughest challenge yet. While Zelensky supports the initiative, he demands strong Western security guarantees to deter future Russian aggression, similar to NATO’s Article 5. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the alliance is working with Ukraine on robust defense commitments. However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed prospects of a summit, insisting the agenda was “not ready at all.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Ukraine of blocking progress in peace talks, claiming Kyiv rejected U.S.-backed principles, including no NATO membership and territorial discussions. He blamed President Zelensky for refusing “everything,” while EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned Moscow’s demands were a trap, stressing Russia had made no concessions. President Putin, meanwhile, praised his recent Alaska meeting with Donald Trump as “very good,” expressing hope for improved U.S.-Russia ties but avoiding mention of Ukraine. Despite diplomatic efforts, Russia launched one of its heaviest assaults in weeks, firing 574 drones and 40 missiles across Ukraine in a single night.
A Ukrainian drone strike destroyed an oil pumping station in Russia’s Bryansk region, disrupting the Druzhba pipeline that supplies Hungary and Slovakia. It marked the third attack on the pipeline in nine days, forcing a temporary halt in deliveries. Hungary said repairs could take at least five days, while both Hungary and Slovakia lodged complaints with the European Commission. The EU, which has sought to reduce dependence on Russian energy since the 2022 invasion, plans to phase out Russian oil and gas by 2027. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban wrote to President Trump about the disruption, receiving a handwritten reply.
Trump Expresses Anger Over Pipeline Attack in Letter to Orban, Calls Him a “Great Friend”.
-Peace News Desk