Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced US-Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia next week. Meanwhile, European leaders pledged €800 billion for defense in response to Trump’s comments on NATO. French President Macron criticized Putin, while intelligence support for Ukraine is maintained by Britain amidst ongoing Russian drone attacks on Odesa.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that discussions aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine with the United States will occur in Saudi Arabia next week. He stated in his recent address that he would be traveling to the kingdom on Monday, where his team will engage with US officials. Zelenskyy emphasized, “Ukraine is most interested in peace.”

In Brussels, European leaders convened for emergency talks, culminating in a commitment to mobilize €800 billion for European defense. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen characterized this as a “watershed moment” in response to the ongoing geopolitical tensions. This agreement coincided with Donald Trump’s assertion that the US might not defend NATO allies failing to contribute their fair share of defense spending. Trump remarked, “If they don’t pay, I’m not going to defend them.”

Opposition figures in Ukraine revealed they had engaged in discussions with members of Trump’s circle, yet they denied involvement in any plots to unseat Zelenskyy. Petro Poroshenko, the former Ukrainian president who was succeeded by Zelenskyy, confirmed his participation in these dialogues but expressed opposition to Trump’s suggestions regarding wartime elections.

French President Emmanuel Macron intensified his critiques of Russian President Vladimir Putin, labeling him as an “imperialist who seeks to rewrite history” following Putin’s Napoleon comparison. Macron indicated that he was approached by various leaders throughout the Brussels meeting regarding his offer to extend France’s nuclear deterrent, aiming for practical cooperation by mid-2025.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov rejected Macron’s nuclear deterrent discussions as a “threat” and reiterated Moscow’s disapproval of deploying European military forces in Ukraine should a peace agreement be reached. Zelenskyy, present at the European dialogue, proposed actionable strategies to bring an end to the conflict, including a ceasefire in designated regions such as the Black Sea, calling for a cessation of military operations.

Furthermore, Britain is set to maintain its intelligence support for Ukraine, diverging from the stance of the Trump administration, which indicated a withdrawal of such assistance. Sources indicate that the UK will also share its analysis while adhering to standard intelligence sharing protocols without merely duplicating US intelligence data.

In a concerning development, Russian forces executed a large-scale drone assault on Ukraine’s port city of Odesa late Thursday, injuring vital energy infrastructure and igniting fires. Regional Governor Oleh Kiper reported damage to private residences and indicated that casualty figures are currently being assessed as drone attacks continue to plague the city nightly.

In summary, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine remains a complex issue with various international dynamics at play. President Zelenskyy is pursuing peace talks in Saudi Arabia, while European leaders have pledged significant financial support for defense. Furthermore, the rhetoric between Western leaders and Russia has escalated, particularly concerning military support and nuclear policies. The situation continues to evolve with daily assaults on Ukrainian territories and international diplomatic efforts addressing the crisis.

Original Source: www.theguardian.com

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