By HANNA ARHIROVA, Related Press
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated Friday that Ukrainian officers need to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump and European leaders subsequent week to debate latest developments in efforts to finish the three-year conflict with Russia.
The proposed conferences appeared designed so as to add momentum to the push for peace, as Zelenskyy expressed frustration with what he known as Russia’s lack of constructive engagement within the course of whereas it continues to launch devastating aerial assaults on civilian areas.
Trump has bristled at Russian chief Vladimir Putin’s stalling on an U.S. proposal for direct peace talks with Zelenskyy, and stated every week in the past he anticipated to resolve on subsequent steps in two weeks if direct talks aren’t scheduled.
Trump complained final month that Putin “ talks nice and then he bombs everybody.” However he has additionally chided Ukraine’s assaults, and a significant missile and drone assault on Ukraine in a single day from Wednesday to Thursday that killed not less than 23 folks drew no public condemnation from the Trump administration. White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt famous Thursday that Ukraine has been putting Russian oil refineries.
Andriy Yermak, the pinnacle of Ukraine’s presidential workplace, is anticipated to satisfy Friday in New York with Trump’s particular envoy Steve Witkoff to debate preparations for upcoming conferences, Zelenskyy stated throughout a briefing.
Zelenskyy informed reporters in Kyiv that he anticipated “several meetings at different venues” with European leaders subsequent week.
Ukrainian negotiators have been making an attempt to maneuver the peace course of ahead in talks in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland and america, he stated.
Ukraine has accepted a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire and a gathering between Putin and Zelenskyy, however Moscow has raised objections.
Ukraine needs leaders concerned
Zelenskyy accused Russia of dragging out negotiations, together with by pushing aside a Russia-Ukraine summit with the argument that the groundwork for a attainable peace settlement have to be thrashed out first by decrease officers earlier than leaders meet.
That reasoning, Zelenskyy stated, is “artificial … because they want to show the United States that they are constructive, but they are not constructive.”
“In my opinion, leaders must urgently be involved to reach agreements,” Zelenskyy added.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Friday reiterated Moscow’s long-held place that Putin “doesn’t rule out” assembly Zelenskyy, however solely after progress is made “at the expert level.”
A summit “must be well prepared so that it can finalize the work that must first be carried out at the expert level,” Peskov informed reporters throughout his day by day convention name.
“At this point we can’t say that the expert work is in full swing, so to speak. No, unfortunately, not. We maintain our interest and our readiness for these negotiations,” he stated.
Zelenskyy says extra weapons are essential for safety
Zelenskyy urged swift secondary sanctions on international locations that commerce with Russia and thereby help its conflict financial system.
Firefighters work on the location of a burning constructing after a Russian assault in Kyiv, Ukraine, early Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025. (AP Picture/Efrem Lukatsky)
The attainable postwar safety ensures being assessed by Western international locations to discourage one other Russian invasion sooner or later should embody a safe provide of weapons for Ukraine, both by way of home manufacturing or Western provision, and U.S. weapons paid for by Europe.
Zelenskyy’s feedback got here after the dying toll in a significant Russian missile and drone strike on the Ukrainian capital rose to 23, together with 4 youngsters, officers stated Friday. Ukraine wants extra subtle Western air protection techniques to counter such assaults.
Kyiv area observes a day of mourning
Authorities within the Kyiv area declared Friday an official day of mourning. Flags flew at half-staff and all leisure occasions have been canceled after Russia hammered Ukraine with nearly 600 drones and greater than 30 missiles in a single day from Wednesday to Thursday, together with uncommon strikes on downtown Kyiv.
A person carries a settee at his condo broken by a Russian strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025. (AP Picture/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Rescue staff pulled 17 folks from the rubble after the assault, amongst them 4 youngsters, Inside Minister Ihor Klymenko stated. The youngest sufferer was a 2-year-old lady. Some our bodies have but to be recognized, and eight folks stay unaccounted for, authorities stated. Greater than 50 folks have been wounded.
Ukrainian International Minister Andriy Sybiha stated that, on the request of Ukraine, the U.N. Safety Council was resulting from maintain an emergency assembly Friday in response to the most recent Russian aerial assault.
Extra diplomatic strikes lie forward
Putin is because of attend a gathering in China from Sunday that can even embody Iran and North Korea, international locations which have additionally aided Russia’s conflict effort, in response to america.
From Sept. 9, world leaders are anticipated to attend the U.N. Basic Meeting, the place Russia’s invasion will doubtless be mentioned.
The Atlantic Council, a Washington suppose tank, famous that latest U.S. presidents have shied away from taking a harder line with Putin for worry of a possible nuclear battle.
“Putin knows that Washington and its allies have more than enough capacity to reverse his gains in Ukraine, but it is nearly certain that he doubts the United States has the will to do so,” the Atlantic Council stated in an evaluation this week.
It added that “the second Trump administration has repeatedly signaled that the United States has no vital interests at stake in this war.”
