Elsewhere, there was a flurry of diplomatic efforts — but little concrete progress — since US President Donald Trump’s current conferences with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
We’ve rounded up the most recent strains on the battle for you, beneath:
• Trump’s letter: The US president sent a letter of support to Ukraine because the nation marks the anniversary of declaring itself freed from Soviet rule. Zelensky shared the letter on X and delivered his personal message on the nation’s thirty fourth Independence Day: We won’t lose. US envoy Keith Kellogg additionally attended a ceremony marking the event in Kyiv right now.
• Zelensky on safety ensures: Zelensky stated Saturday {that a} plan for US and European safety ensures for Ukraine within the occasion of a peace deal “can be prepared within the coming days,” following calls with a number of world leaders.
Safety ensures have grow to be the focus of current talks, with Kyiv’s western allies pledging they would offer backup for Ukraine to discourage any future assaults by Russia.
• Putin on restoring US relations: Putin stated Friday that the US and Russia are discussing the potential for joint initiatives in Alaska and that he views current talks as a step towards “full-scale restoration” of the nations’ relationship.
In feedback reported by Russia state media TASS, Putin described his assembly with Trump in Alaska as “excellent” and stated Russia sought an finish to the combating in Ukraine, however didn’t point out whether or not he would attend bilateral talks with Zelensky.
• Trump’s deadline prolonged — once more: The US president stated Friday he’ll give Putin “a couple of weeks,” additional extending his deadline for potential penalties towards Moscow after urging the Russian chief to satisfy along with his Ukrainian counterpart.
Requested by CNN’s Alayna Treene if there’s a risk he does nothing if Putin doesn’t come to the desk, Trump stated, “We’ll see. I’ll see whose fault it’s.”
