Kyiv Under Fire 💔: Rescue & Shifting Peace Talks 🇺🇦

World News

Russian forces conducted a multi-pronged drone and missile attack on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on Tuesday, resulting in at least two fatalities and six injuries. Ukraine’s State Emergency Service reported damage to residential buildings in the Pecherskyi and Dniprovskyi districts, where 18 people were rescued, including three children. Hours later, a separate attack targeted Brovarsky, Bila Tserkva, and Vyshgorod districts, wounding a 14-year-old child. The casualty figures – two killed and six injured, with 18 rescued including three children – were repeated in the subsequent attack. As these developments occurred, officials from Ukraine and the United States were working to revise a peace plan originally proposed by Washington. This plan aimed to bolster support for Kyiv, potentially including an acceptance of some of Russia’s justifications for its 2022 invasion. US policy regarding the war has seen shifts in approach; for example, Donald Trump’s hastily arranged August summit with Vladimir Putin raised concerns that Washington was considering a significant concession of Russian demands, ultimately leading to increased pressure on Russia. The latest 28-point peace proposal further surprised government officials in the US, Kyiv, and Europe, generating renewed anxieties about the possibility of a shift in the Trump administration’s strategy.

Ukrainian officials are reportedly willing to negotiate a peace deal heavily favoring Moscow, a proposal that would require Kyiv to cede additional territory and accept restrictions on its military, including a permanent ban from joining NATO – conditions Kyiv has consistently rejected as effectively surrendering. The plan also offers no reassurance to broader European concerns regarding further Russian aggression. In response, Ukraine’s European allies formulated a counter-proposal, as reported by Reuters, which would freeze the current front lines and defer discussions on territorial concessions, alongside the inclusion of a NATO-style security guarantee for Ukraine. The revised draft of the Geneva agreement has not yet been released publicly.

Kremlin officials swiftly condemned the EU’s proposal. An advisor to President Zelenskyy, speaking to The Associated Press, stated that nearly all aspects of the plan were discussed, with the issue of territory remaining the final point of contention, requiring a decision at the head-of-state level. Oleksandr Bevz further indicated that the United States demonstrated “great openness and understanding” regarding the importance of security guarantees as a foundational element of any agreement. He added that the US would continue working on the plan, followed by a meeting between the leaders of Ukraine and the United States, after which the plan would be presented to Russia.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the Geneva talks as an “interim result,” noting that the US proposal had undergone “significant modifications” without providing specific details. Chancellor Merz emphasized that Moscow now needs to actively engage in the negotiations.

“The next step, he asserted during a summit in Angola between African and European Union nations, is for Russia to come to the table,” stated the official. “This is a laborious process and will likely advance in small increments this week; I do not anticipate a significant breakthrough at this time.” The Kremlin confirmed it had not yet reviewed the revised peace plan. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov indicated that no meetings were currently planned between US and Russian delegations this week, although the Russian side remained “open for such contacts.” Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s foreign affairs advisor, explained that the Kremlin’s previous receipt of the Geneva talks’ peace plan contained numerous provisions deemed “quite acceptable” by Moscow. However, he characterized the European proposals as “completely unconstructive.” Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke to Putin by telephone, stating that Ankara would contribute to any diplomatic efforts to facilitate direct contact between Russia and Ukraine. Erdogan’s office reported that he “stated that Turkiye will continue its efforts for the termination of the Russia-Ukraine war with a fair and lasting peace.”