Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has said he had a very constructive phone call with Donald Trump's peace envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the US president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
Zelensky said they had discussed how to ensure that Russia stuck to any potential deal to end its war with Ukraine and that he was determined to continue working with the US.
Ukrainian officials also joined the call from Miami, where they are engaged in a third day of talks on US efforts to engineer a peace deal with Russia.
Moscow does not appear to have made any concessions and continues massive bombardments of Ukraine.
Ukraine is determined to keep working in good faith with the American side to genuinely achieve peace, Zelensky said on X.
We covered many aspects and went through key points that could ensure an end to the bloodshed and eliminate the threat of a new Russian full-scale invasion.
Russia subjected Ukraine to further air and missile strikes overnight, drawing condemnation from Ukraine's EU allies.
In a social media post, French President Emmanuel Macron stated he had spoken to Zelensky and offered his full solidarity. Macron emphasized that France is committed to collaborating with all partners to implement de-escalation measures and impose a ceasefire.
Earlier, Macron confirmed that he would join Zelensky, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in talks in London on Monday. The four leaders will address ongoing negotiations between US and Ukrainian officials aimed at securing an agreement on Ukraine's post-war security.
Two weeks prior, they had a virtual meeting to discuss the possibility of a European peacekeeping force being deployed to Ukraine should a ceasefire occur.
Sir Keir has underscored that Ukraine must determine its own future, asserting that the peacekeeping force would be vital in securing the country’s safety.
Conversely, Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected the notion of such a force, stating that any troops deployed in Ukraine would be legitimate targets.
Ukrainian authorities reported that on Friday night, Russia launched 653 drones and 51 missiles aimed at various targets, including a railway hub in Fastiv, which was severely damaged.
In total, Ukrainian energy facilities across eight regions faced disruptions due to Russian strikes.
While Russian claims indicate a focus on military-industrial sites and critical infrastructure, US and Ukrainian negotiators are urging Russia to demonstrate a serious commitment to long-term peace following unsuccessful talks in Moscow.
Meanwhile, discussions in Florida between Ukrainian and US officials, aimed at persuading Ukraine to endorse a US-backed peace plan, are entering a third day. A recent statement from Witkoff expressed optimism regarding the constructive discussions with Ukraine's national security council secretary, Rustem Umerov.
Both parties have agreed on a framework for security arrangements, emphasizing the necessity for deterrence capabilities to ensure lasting peace. The success of efforts to end the war hinges on Russia taking significant steps towards de-escalation and ceasing hostilities.
