Russia-Ukraine struggle reside: Putin says he’s open to talks with Ukraine after Russian forces launch in a single day assault on Odesa

As we talked about within the opening submit, Ukraine is because of take part in talks with US and European nations in London on Wednesday.

British prime minister Keir Starmer has instructed Volodymyr Zelenskyy he helps Kyiv’s requires a full ceasefire and mentioned the UK and France, backed by a “coalition of the willing”, have proposed offering a “reassurance” power for Ukraine within the occasion of a ceasefire.

The US, nevertheless, has to this point held off its assist because it pulls again from its lengthy function as a bulwark of European safety.

In a submit on X, Zelenskyy mentioned:

Already this Wednesday, our representatives will probably be working in London.

Ukraine, the UK, France, and america – we’re prepared to maneuver ahead as constructively as attainable, simply as we’ve got achieved earlier than, to attain an unconditional ceasefire, adopted by the institution of an actual and lasting peace.

Russia has maintained its maximalist calls for: that Ukraine cede all of the land Putin claims to have annexed and settle for everlasting neutrality. Ukraine says that may quantity to give up and go away it undefended if Moscow assaults once more. The opposing calls for have pissed off Washington, with US President Donald Trump eager to deliver a fast finish to the struggle, which he has described as an enormous drain on American sources.

Welcome again to our reside protection of Russia’s struggle on Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has mentioned for the primary time in years that he’s open to bilateral talks with Ukraine, having beforehand demanded Volodymyr Zelenskyy get replaced earlier than it might occur.

Chatting with Russian state TV, Putin mentioned:

We’ve got at all times talked about this, that we’ve got a optimistic angle in the direction of any peace initiatives. We hope that representatives of the Kyiv regime will really feel the identical approach.

His feedback have been adopted by Russian forces launching a mass in a single day drone assault on Ukraine’s Black Sea port metropolis of Odesa, which, in line with native officers, injured three individuals and broken many house buildings.

“The enemy targeted a residential area in a densely populated district of Odesa,” mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov wrote in a submit on Telegram.

Putin’s change of rhetoric on truce talks got here as representatives from Ukraine, the UK, France and the US have been set to fulfill in London tomorrow to speak a couple of potential ceasefire settlement.

Zelenskyy, below strain from Washington to comply with some type of settlement or have assist probably withdrawn, mentioned the London talks “have a primary task: to push for an unconditional ceasefire. This must be the starting point”.

In another developments:

• The Ukrainian air power mentioned on Tuesday that Russia launched 54 drones throughout an in a single day assault. The air power mentioned it shot down 38 drones and one other 16 didn’t attain their targets, seemingly as a result of digital warfare countermeasures.

• Russia’s air defence items destroyed 10 Ukrainian drones in a single day, downing half of them over the Crimean Peninsula, in line with experiences.

• Leaks counsel the Trump administration is now pushing for a “peace deal” that closely favours Russia. It will embrace a pause to the struggle alongside the present 1,000km frontline; recognition that Crimea belongs to Moscow; and a veto on Ukraine’s Nato membership.

• There are additionally unconfirmed experiences that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear energy station – which Russia seized in 2022 – could be a part of a “neutral” zone.