On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for increased pressure on Russia to bring an end to the ongoing war, which has lasted three years, as his senior advisors held discussions in Paris with officials from the U.S. and Europe regarding the conflict.
Reports indicated that at least 12 individuals lost their lives, with many others injured, as Russia intensified its barrage of drone strikes and shelling across Ukraine on the same day.
“Russia uses every moment of every day and night to carry out killings. We must apply pressure on these murderers… to halt this conflict and ensure a stable peace,” Zelensky expressed in a message on Telegram.
Andriy Yermak, Zelensky’s chief of staff, stated that he, along with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, had arrived in Paris to engage in talks with officials from the U.S., Britain, Germany, and France, though he did not disclose the details of the meetings.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, along with Keith Kellogg, a special envoy to Ukraine from former President Donald Trump, were scheduled to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday to discuss the possibility of establishing a ceasefire in Ukraine.
This meeting occurs in the wake of a series of deadly Russian air assaults on Ukrainian cities, which has sparked outrage in Kyiv and across Europe.
According to Zelensky’s office, the delegation in Paris is tasked with discussing “the path to peace in Ukraine.”
“The discussions will include considerations for implementing a comprehensive and unconditional ceasefire, deploying a multinational military force to ensure stability, and further advancing Ukraine’s security framework,” a statement from the Ukrainian presidency read.
The Kremlin dismissed these discussions, accusing Kyiv’s allies of prolonging the conflict.
“Regrettably, we observe a European inclination towards perpetuating the war,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked about expectations for the talks.
Overnight, Russia launched a “massive” drone strike on the city of Dnipro, resulting in three fatalities and over 30 injuries, as reported by local Governor Serhiy Lysak.
Following the strike, fires erupted in residential buildings within the city.
Additionally, two more individuals were killed in artillery fire in Nikopol, located south of Dnipro, according to Lysak, who also noted fatalities in frontline regions of Donetsk and Kherson.
In Kherson, an ambulance was struck by a drone while transporting a patient, injuring the driver, as reported by local police.
Moreover, Russia’s military claimed to have seized control of a small village in the eastern region of Donetsk, where its forces have been gradually advancing for several months.
