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Russia launches overnight strike on Odesa after Putin suggests he is open to direct talks with Ukraine
In the latest developments of Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed willingness to engage in direct discussions with Ukraine for the first time in several years. This marks a significant departure from his previous stance, which demanded the removal of Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a prerequisite for talks.
During an interview with Russian state television, Putin remarked:
We have always spoken of our openness to peace initiatives, and we hope that officials from the Kyiv regime share this sentiment.
Just hours after these diplomatic overtures, Russian forces executed a large-scale drone assault on the Black Sea city of Odesa, resulting in injuries to three individuals and significant structural damage to various residential buildings, according to local officials.
“The enemy has struck a residential area within a densely populated part of Odesa,” reported Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov via Telegram.
Putin’s shift in tone regarding peace talks coincides with the upcoming meeting in London involving Ukrainian, UK, French, and US representatives, focused on discussing the potential for a ceasefire agreement.
Facing pressure from Washington to broker some level of agreement, Zelenskyy stated that the main goal of the London discussions is to advocate for an unconditional ceasefire, which he believes should be the foundation for any negotiations moving forward.
In other updates:
The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia launched 54 drones during its latest overnight assault, successfully intercepting 38 of them. The remaining 16 drones were thwarted, likely due to effective electronic warfare tactics employed by Ukrainian forces.
Furthermore, Russian air defense systems reportedly downed 10 Ukrainian drones overnight, with several incidents occurring over the Crimean Peninsula.
Amid these military developments, information leaks suggest that the Trump administration is advocating for a “peace deal” that heavily favors Russian interests. This proposed agreement would involve a cessation of hostilities along the current 1,000km frontline, an acknowledgment of Crimea as part of Russia, and a prohibition of Ukraine’s NATO membership.
Additionally, there are unverified reports indicating that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, which has been under Russian control since 2022, may be included in a proposed “neutral” zone.
Updated at 09.33 CEST
Russian attacks across Ukraine kill five civilians over the past day – officials
In a grim turn of events, Russian attacks have resulted in the deaths of at least five civilians over the past day, according to officials. Among the casualties were a 54-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man from the village of Petropavlivka in the Kharkiv region.
A drone strike in the village of Ivashky, also in Kharkiv, claimed the life of a 24-year-old man on Tuesday evening.
Moreover, in the Kherson region, one individual was killed and seven were injured as a result of Russian assaults on 36 settlements within the oblast over the previous day.
In the northeastern Sumy region, reports indicate that Russian forces targeted the Esman community, resulting in at least one confirmed fatality. This information remains unverified.
Updated at 10.27 CEST
As previously mentioned, Ukraine is set to engage in talks with US and European representatives in London on Wednesday.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer voiced support for a complete ceasefire, reinforcing that the UK and France have proposed the establishment of a “reassurance” force for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.
Conversely, the US has been more restrained in its support, as it reassesses its role in European security.
Zelenskyy shared on X:
This Wednesday, our representatives will be in London, ready to collaborate with the UK, France, and the United States to forge ahead constructively towards an unconditional ceasefire and ultimately a lasting peace.
Russia continues to assert its maximalist demands, insisting that Ukraine cede all territories claimed by Putin and adopt a stance of permanent neutrality. Ukraine argues that such conditions would compromise its security and render it vulnerable to future aggression from Moscow. These conflicting demands are proving to be a significant hurdle in the ongoing negotiations, especially with US President Donald Trump advocating for a swift resolution to the conflict, which he deems a significant drain on American resources.
Updated at 09.49 CEST
Source
www.theguardian.com