President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged allies of Ukraine on Sunday to intensify pressure on Moscow to halt the ongoing conflict. This call came in response to nearly 150 Russian drones targeting Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities overnight, resulting in at least seven fatalities. Zelenskyy emphasized the need for new decisions and increased pressure on Moscow to put an end to these strikes and the war as a whole. The US-Ukraine talks, originally scheduled for Monday in Saudi Arabia, began on Sunday, aiming to bring a just peace closer and enhance security. US President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, expressed expectations of progress on a Black Sea ceasefire during the talks. Meanwhile, Russia played down expectations of a quick resolution to the conflict, warning of tough negotiations ahead. The discussions between the US team and the Russian delegation focused on the possible resumption of the 2022 Black Sea grain deal. While the US expects real progress, Russia’s main focus is on ensuring safe navigation for Ukrainian agricultural exports in the Black Sea. Both sides engaged in new drone attacks on the eve of the negotiations, with Putin proposing a halt in strikes only on energy facilities. Edited by: Louis Oelofse.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/zelenskyy-urges-pressure-on-russia-as-us-ukraine-talks-begin/a-72011403?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf