 "Russian strikes kill 12 in Ukraine as US pushes for ceasefire talks")
Russian strikes overnight had killed at least 12 people in eastern Ukraine as of Saturday morning, AFP reported citing country’s emergency service said.
This development comes days ahead of talks in Saudi Arabia between US and Ukrainian negotiators aimed at negotiating a truce deal.
A separate strike city of on Dobropillia in Ukraine’s Donetsk region late Friday killed 11 people and injured 30, according to emergency services.
In a separate incident, a drone strike early Saturday in the city of Bogodukhiv killed one person and wounded seven others, said Kharkiv region military chief Oleg Synegubov.
The overnight air raids followed US President Donald Trump’s warning of new sanctions and tariffs on Russia. However, he also suggested that negotiating with Moscow might be “easier” than dealing with Kyiv to end the ongoing three-year war.
Trump had earlier criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a White House meeting and suspended US aid to Kyiv, claiming it was meant to push for diplomacy. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump said he found negotiations with Ukraine difficult and expressed trust in Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Ukraine doesn’t have the cards,” Trump said. “It may be easier dealing with Russia.”
His comments came shortly after he threatened fresh sanctions and tariffs on Russia in response to its intensified attacks on Ukraine, including drone and missile strikes on energy facilities.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“Since Russia is heavily bombarding Ukraine right now, I am seriously considering large-scale banking sanctions, tariffs, and other measures until a ceasefire and final peace agreement is reached,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“Russia and Ukraine, get to the table now before it’s too late,” he urged.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Friday. According to State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, Rubio reiterated Trump’s goal of ending the war quickly and stressed that “all sides must take steps toward a lasting peace.”
Zelensky to visit Saudi Arabia
Zelensky is due to land in Saudi Arabia on Monday for talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The meeting is a day before Ukrainian officials are expected to hold fresh talks with their US counterparts on Tuesday in the Middle Eastern kingdom.
After meeting with Prince Mohammed, Zelensky said his team “will remain in Saudi Arabia to work with our American partners”.
“Ukraine is most interested in peace,” he added.
Earlier on Friday, he renewed calls for a mutual halt to aerial attacks on critical infrastructure following the recent Russian barrage.
The Ukrainian leader said the first steps to establishing real peace should be stopping both Russian and Ukrainian aerial and naval attacks.
This latest proposal builds on growing rhetoric from Kyiv, Washington and Moscow on halting the war.
The Kremlin has previously ruled out a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine.
Moscow’s defence ministry said Saturday its air defence systems destroyed 31 Ukrainian drones over the past night, with most over the territory of Krasnodar Krai.
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