Kremenchuk, Ukraine, Under Attack as US-Led Peace Talks show Limited Progress
Kremenchuk, a city located roughly halfway between Kyiv adn the frontline in eastern Ukraine, sustained a “massive combined strike” on its infrastructure in the early hours of Sunday, according to Mayor Vitaliy Maletsk. The attack has cut off water,electricity,and heat to some residents. The city has been repeatedly targeted as Russia‘s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
The strikes occurred hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced discussions wiht the United States regarding how to ensure Russia adheres to any potential peace agreement. Zelensky stated on X, ”Ukraine is persistent to keep working in good faith with the American side to genuinely achieve peace…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.”
The White House has been pushing Kyiv and Moscow to agree to a multi-point peace plan, but a breakthrough remains elusive despite engagement from both sides.
International support for Ukraine continues, with French President Emmanuel Macron offering “full solidarity” to Zelensky and stating France is “determined to work with all partners to secure de-escalation measures and to impose a ceasefire.” macron, Zelensky, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and german Chancellor Friedrich Merz are scheduled to hold in-person talks in London on Monday.
European nations have advocated for comprehensive security guarantees for a post-war Ukraine, including the potential deployment of a peacekeeping force. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared any troops deployed to Ukraine would be considered “legitimate targets.”
US and Ukrainian negotiators, including newly appointed Zelensky negotiator Rustem Umerov and US envoy Derek Witkoff, recently issued a joint statement urging Russia to demonstrate a “serious commitment to long-term peace.” The statement followed Witkoff’s talks with Putin in the Kremlin, which did not yield a breakthrough. They reported having “agreed on the framework of security arrangements” and “discussed necessary deterrence capabilities to sustain a lasting peace.”
