As European leaders gathered at the weekend to work on a peace plan for ending the war in Ukraine, further east Russian drones continued to devastate civilian infrastructure and take more lives.
The strikes persisted as on Friday, in an extraordinary showdown in Washington between Zelensky and the US President, Trump berated him for allegedly showing insufficient gratitude to the US.
By halting the vital US assistance, Trump is essentially pressuring Ukraine into negotiations by threatening additional setbacks on the battlefield.
Firefighters work at the site of a Russian drone attack on an apartment building, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv (Photo: George Ivanchenko/Anadolu via Getty Images)Russia, watching every move, has been quick to express its delight, with the Kremlin spokesman saying the US’s foreign policy now largely aligns with that of the Russian government.
“I think Trump has given Putin everything he wants, more or less, in terms of he’s given away all his negotiating points, all his leverage. No Nato, no security guarantees.”
The potential start of peace negotiations and the prospect of a ceasefire could push Russia to become even more aggressive in the weeks ahead, as Putin seeks to maintain the upper hand.
Dozens of civilians have been killed across Ukraine since Trump held what he dubbed a “highly productive” phone call with the Russian president less than three weeks ago.
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Read MoreMore than 30 servicemen were killed on Saturday when a Russian Iskander-M ballistic missile fitted with cluster munitions hit a training ground in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region.
According to Ukraine’s air force, 138 drones were shot down, while another 119 vanished from radar after being disrupted by electronic warfare. Russia also launched three ballistic missiles, causing damage in five Ukrainian regions, the air force said.
“It is incredibly painful, and I express the grief of our entire team at losing such bright and remarkable individuals,” said Serhii Cherevatyi, director of the state news agency Ukrinform, where Kulyk worked.
The funeral for Tetyana Kulyk, 42, a journalist of national Ukrainian informational agency Ukrinform and her husband Pavlo Ivanchov, 52, in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Photo: Danylo Antoniuk/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Trump’s alignment with the Kremlin’s talking points, and offering concessions before negotiations have even begun, make Putin feel he is in a stronger position than before the new US administration took office, suggested Ash.
“I think Putin was in a weak position going into negotiations, and now [Trump] he’s made Russia think that it can play a much tougher hand, be much more aggressive with Ukraine,” Ash said. “So, again, Trump had a very, very good negotiating position, and he’s thrown it away.”
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Read MoreIn response to Moscow’s attacks, Kyiv may feel compelled to intensify its own attacks on Russian territory to disrupt Moscow’s military supplies and operations.
“It could be escalation by both sides. I mean, Ukraine has long-range capability and has been moderating its attacks, long-range attacks on Russia because the Americans have asked them not to do it,” he said.
But the United States’ unreliability could, paradoxically, benefit Ukraine in another way, Ash suggested, pointing to concrete steps being taken by Europe to increase their defence capabilities and support for Ukraine.
“In a way, it’s created momentum in Europe to take the initiative on peace talks,” he said. “Now it’s back to Europe and Ukraine, and that gives Ukraine input and Europe input into that peace process.”
“In a way, it perhaps suggests that the peace could be more durable. I think an imposed ceasefire by Russia and the US would not have worked. So, I mean, there are some positives to come out of it,” Ash said.
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