Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky (Tetiana Dzhafarova/AFP)
EA-Ukraine VideoCast: A Split in Trump Administration Over Putin’s Invasion?
In his nightly address to the nation, Zelensky summarized:
There is now a strong U.S. proposal for a mutual halt to strikes on critical infrastructure. If this can become the first de-escalatory step – a step toward ending Russian strikes on our critical infrastructure and our strikes in response – then Ukraine is ready to support de-escalation.
Donald Trump’s envoys, real estate developer Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, visited Moscow and Kyiv just over a week ago.
So far, the Kremlin has shown no sign of easing its attacks to break Ukraine’s civilian resistance and infrastructure. Zelensky noted, “No one has seen any genuine desire on Russia’s part to move toward ending the war.” However, he explained:
We see that the Russians feel the pressure from our precise s>trikes on Russia’s war economy….If our American partners can ensure that Russia is genuinely ready to stop this war aimed at destroying life – and to do so for real and for the long term – Ukraine will take its own de-escalatory steps.
He called for further details on a wider settlement halting Russia’s 54 1/2-month full-scale invasion: “We need a strong and fair solution, and not just for the [Russian] “elections” but for good. We expect specifics from our partners.”
Ukraine counter-attacked overnight with strikes on the Syzran Oil Refinery in the Samara region and on a warehouse of online retailer Ozon in the Rostov region.