Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had “very constructive” phone calls with President Donald Trump’s peace envoy Steve Witkov and the U.S. president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Zelensky said they discussed ways to ensure Russia sticks to a potential deal to end the war with Ukraine and decided to continue to cooperate with the United States.
Ukrainian officials also called from Miami to join a third day of talks on U.S. efforts to reach a peace deal with Russia.
Moscow appears to have made no concessions and continues to heavily bomb Ukraine.
Prime Minister Zelensky said, “Ukraine will continue to cooperate in good faith with the United States to achieve true peace.”
“We covered many aspects and looked at key points that could end the bloodshed and eliminate the threat of a new, full-scale invasion by Russia.”
Russia carried out additional airstrikes and missile attacks on Ukraine overnight, drawing condemnation from Ukraine’s EU allies.
French President Emmanuel Macron said in a social media post that he had spoken with Zelenskyy and offered “full solidarity.”
“France is determined to work with all partners to secure de-escalation measures and enforce a ceasefire,” Macron added.
President Macron earlier confirmed that Zelenskyy, British Prime Minister Kir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz would hold talks in London on Monday.
The four leaders will discuss ongoing talks between U.S. and Ukrainian officials to find an agreement on Ukraine’s postwar security guarantees.
Two weeks ago, the four met virtually to discuss European peacekeeping forces that could be deployed to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.
Sir Keir reiterated that Ukraine must decide its own future and said the peacekeeping coalition would play a “vital role” in ensuring the country’s security.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected the idea of such troops, saying any troops deployed to Ukraine would be a “legitimate target.”
Ukraine launched 653 drones and 51 missiles Friday night, Ukrainian authorities said.
One strike hit the railway hub in the town of Fastiv, southwest of Kiev, destroying the main station building and damaging rolling stock.
Ukraine’s Energy Ministry said the Russian attack hit energy facilities in eight regions, causing power outages.
Russia said it targeted military industrial sites, energy and port infrastructure.
U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators called on Russia to show a “serious commitment to long-term peace” after talks in Moscow failed to produce a breakthrough.
Meanwhile, talks in Florida between Ukrainian and U.S. officials aimed at persuading Ukraine to accept a U.S.-backed peace plan continue for a third day.
In a statement released Friday, Witkov said his two-day meeting with Rustem Umerov, secretary of Ukraine’s National Security Council, had been “constructive.”
Witkov and Umerov “agreed on the framework of a security agreement” and “discussed the deterrence capabilities needed to maintain lasting peace,” their statement said, without providing details.
The statement added that prospects for ending the war depend on Russia’s readiness to take “steps to mitigate and stop the killings.”
