Russian Attacks Kill Five in Ukraine Amid Ongoing Diplomatic Talks

Ukraine’s president holds talks with US envoys and European leaders, expressing hope for renewed diplomatic efforts.

A pregnant woman and two others were killed in Russian strikes on Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, according to Ukrainian officials. In Donetsk, two people lost their lives, while six others were injured in the town of Chuhuiv following overnight missile attacks that also damaged residential buildings and shops. The regional prosecutor’s office reported the incident.

In the city of Kharkiv, 16 people were wounded in a drone attack, including children. Photos shared online by officials show damage to buildings and vehicles. Additionally, two people were killed in Bilozerske and Druzhkivka on Monday, with 11 others injured in Sloviansk and Shabelkivka.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he had a “very positive” phone conversation with US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The president expressed gratitude for their readiness to work on reinvigorating diplomacy aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine. He also spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and reiterated his support for Ukraine.

The leaders discussed coordinating support for Ukraine through upcoming summits, including the G7 summit in France. They reaffirmed their commitment to increasing pressure on Russia’s war economy and pledging military and defense support. Zelenskyy also shared comments from an interview with The Guardian, stating that he believes there are differing opinions within Russia regarding the conflict.

In a separate development, last week, Zelenskyy wrote a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin requesting an in-person meeting.

Source: Al Jazeera