Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported having “very good” talks with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner regarding efforts to end the conflict with Russia, while Russia stated it sees “slow but steady progress” in peace negotiations with the United States.
Zelenskyy Discusses Peace Efforts with U.S. Envoys
Zelenskyy stated on social media that he and the U.S. envoys discussed “certain substantive details of the ongoing work” toward a “shared outcome and lasting peace.” He thanked Witkoff and Kushner for their “constructive approach, the intensive work, and the kind words.”
Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov is scheduled to speak with the two envoys again, according to Zelenskyy. The discussions followed Zelenskyy’s announcement that Ukraine had secured some concessions in a U.S.-led draft plan to end the Russian invasion, a 20-point plan currently under review by Russia.
Zelenskyy acknowledged some disagreements with the document but noted that Kyiv successfully removed requirements for immediate Ukrainian withdrawal from the Donetsk region and the recognition of land seized by Russia.
Russia Reports Progress in Talks, Accuses West of Interference
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow observes “slow but steady progress” in peace talks with the U.S. She also claimed that Western European countries are attempting to undermine the progress and urged the U.S. to address these efforts.
Ukraine Strikes Russian Oil and Gas Facilities
Ukraine has launched attacks using British-made Storm Shadow missiles and domestically produced long-range drones, targeting several Russian oil and gas facilities. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Storm Shadow missiles struck the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in Russia’s Rostov region, resulting in multiple explosions.
Ukraine’s SBU security service stated that long-range drones hit oil product tanks in the Russian port of Temryuk in the Krasnodar region and a gas processing plant in Orenburg. The Orenburg plant, the world’s largest of its kind, is located approximately 1,400km from the Ukrainian border. Authorities in the Krasnodar region reported fires at the Temryuk port after the drone attack, covering an area of about 2,000 square metres.
As the conflict approaches its four-year mark, both Ukraine and Russia have increased attacks on energy facilities. Ukraine has intensified strikes on Russian oil refineries since August to reduce Moscow’s oil revenues.
Poland Intercepts Russian Aircraft, Investigates Airspace Violations
Poland dispatched fighter jets to intercept a Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying near its airspace over the Baltic Sea. Additionally, Polish authorities reported dozens of objects entering Polish airspace from Belarus, suggesting a possible provocation.
The Polish army stated that the objects included likely smuggling balloons. Part of the airspace over northeast Poland, bordering Belarus, was temporarily closed to civilian traffic for security reasons. Similar incidents have been reported in Lithuania, which has labeled the balloons a “hybrid attack” by Belarus.
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