U.S. and European government officials have begun calm talks with Ukrainian leaders about possible steps to end the war with Russia.
The discussions came as Ukraine reported that 14 civilians were injured in Russian attacks, and Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Union’s executive branch, arrived in Kiev on Saturday for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about joining the Union. European.
Yuri Malshko, governor of the southeastern province of Zaporizhzhia, said nine people were wounded in a Russian rocket attack on the village of Zarichne while 26 towns came under heavy fire over the past day.
In the neighboring Kherson region, five people were injured, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said.
He said attacks in the province came from artillery, mortars, drones, fighter jets and tanks.
The two provinces are among the areas Russia claims as its own and provide a key land corridor for Russia from Crimea to the eastern battlefields.
Talks to end the conflict between Ukraine and Russia included very broad outlines of what Ukraine might have to give up to reach a deal, US officials told NBC News.
Some of the conversations, which officials described to the outlet as “sensitive,” took place last month during a meeting of representatives from more than 50 countries that support Ukraine, according to the report.
European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with the president of Ukraine to discuss a path to EU membership for the war-torn country. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SER/AFP via Getty Images European and American leaders are quietly approaching peace talks with Ukraine to end the war with Russia.REUTERS
The talks come as the Biden administration has asked Congress for authorization to additionally fund military aid to Ukraine.
The White House has military assistance for both Ukraine and Israel in its most recent request.
Although the joint request has the support of some Republicans, other Republican lawmakers have said they will only support aid to Israel. The House on Thursday approved a $14.3 million aid package for Israel that is unlikely to receive Senate approval because it does not exclude funding for Ukraine.
European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made her sixth visit to Kiev on Saturday to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and discuss Ukraine’s path to the European Union.Ukrinform/Shutterstock
The Biden administration has spent $43.9 billion on security assistance for Ukraine since the Russian invasion began in February 2022, with $5 billion more to go before the cash runs out.
Despite ongoing talks with Ukraine, U.S. officials said there is no indication that Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to negotiate a peace deal.
Putin still feels he can “wait for the West” or continue fighting until domestic US support for the war runs out, according to NBC.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet with American and European leaders to discuss possible peace negotiations with Russia.AP
Von der Leyen, who made her sixth visit to the Ukrainian capital on Saturday, tweeted that talks would focus on the path for Ukraine to join the EU “and how we will continue to make Russia pay for its war of aggression.”
“I must say that you have made excellent progress. It’s impressive to see,” von der Leyen said after the meeting with Zelensky.
“We must never forget that you are fighting an existential war and at the same time you are profoundly reforming your country.”
“We will introduce sanctions until peace comes,” he said.
With pole cables
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Source: vtt.edu.vn