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Geneva talks amid strikes
Russian and Ukrainian delegations concluded the first day of US-brokered peace talks in Geneva, with Ukraine’s chief negotiator Rustem Umerov saying discussions would resume in the Swiss city this morning.
“Russian and Ukrainian delegations concluded the first day of US-brokered peace talks in Geneva”
The talks were set against a large combined aerial attack on Ukraine in which Russia hit 12 regions with 400 drones and almost 30 missiles, and Ukrainian officials said at least three people were killed.
Russia said its air defences repelled more than 150 drones, while an oil refinery caught on fire after a Ukrainian drone strike, according to News On AIR.
In a statement on social media last evening, Umerov said the talks focused on practical issues and the mechanics of possible solutions, and he added that he would brief Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the outcome.
Putin calls proposals exotic
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow has received what he called "exotic" and "unacceptable" proposals related to ending the war in Ukraine, in comments during a period of stalled peace talks.
Putin told journalist Pavel Zarubin, "The proposals being conveyed to us are sometimes, I would say, exotic in nature and are unacceptable," and when asked what he meant, he refused to clarify, saying, "I would not like to talk about that now or go into details".
The Kyiv Independent described the wider context as Ukraine and the United States exploring new approaches, including proposals for a partial aerial ceasefire, while Kyiv pushed for a ceasefire framework based on the current front line.
The same article said Russia continues to demand that Ukrainian forces withdraw entirely from Donbas as a condition for an agreement, and it added that Ukraine rejected those demands by arguing that freezing the current front line would provide the most realistic basis for a ceasefire.
Europe backs air defense
At Ukraine’s Independence Day event marking the 35th anniversary of the country’s independence, Volodymyr Zelensky said, "Ukraine desires peace with all its might, but is not willing to surrender without more," as European leaders gathered in Kiev.
“"Ukraine desires peace with all its might, but is not willing to surrender without more,"”
The El País report said the European Commission announced approval of a new €6.1 billion package for the purchase of air defense and anti-missile systems, as well as missiles, ammunition, and radars, and it quoted Ursula von der Leyen saying, "On Ukraine’s Independence Day, Europe proves that our support is unwavering and concrete."
In Kyiv, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul emphasized at a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha that he was in talks about further support for Ukraine, including air defense systems, and he said, "We need to be willing to take unconventional paths."
Ukrinform also reported that Wadephul recalled Germany’s June contributions of $200 million each to NATO’s PURL mechanism and the Jumpstart agreement, and it said he expected the United States to remain willing to play an active role in negotiations with Ukraine.