Ukrainian City Hit by ‘Massive’ Airstrike as Peace Talks in the US Conclude
KREMENCHUK, Ukraine — Russia’s aerial bombardment of Ukraine persisted through the night on Sunday, hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described a “very constructive” phone call with former President Donald Trump’s negotiating team. The call followed three days of talks in Florida aimed at drafting a peace settlement between Ukraine and Russia.
In the early hours of Sunday, Kremenchuk, an industrial city located in central Ukraine, became the target of a massive airstrike. The city’s mayor, Vitaliy Maletsk, confirmed that the strike had caused significant damage, particularly to its infrastructure. Although no fatalities have been reported as of yet, the attack led to widespread disruptions, with water, electricity, and heating supplies cut off for many residents.
Kremenchuk, which lies halfway between Kyiv and the frontline in the east, has been a recurrent target for Russian forces since the outset of the invasion in February 2022. The latest assault, described by local officials as a “combined strike,” highlights the ongoing intensity of Russia’s military campaign, even as diplomatic talks aimed at securing peace continue.
A Cross-Atlantic Push for Peace
While Russian forces continued their strikes, Zelensky expressed his determination to persist with peace efforts following talks in the United States. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), the Ukrainian president said that his discussions with Trump’s representatives, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, had centered on ensuring that any potential agreement with Russia would be enforceable.
“Ukraine is determined to keep working in good faith with the American side to genuinely achieve peace,” Zelensky remarked, emphasizing that the talks had covered multiple aspects crucial to ending the conflict, including mechanisms to prevent a new full-scale Russian invasion.
These peace efforts come amid intensifying international diplomacy, with the US, Ukraine, and European powers all pushing for a resolution to the ongoing war. The Biden administration has presented a multi-point peace plan, but concrete progress has been limited so far, with both Ukraine and Russia still locked in a brutal conflict on the ground.
International Reactions and the European Push for De-Escalation
On Saturday, Zelensky’s statement came just hours after another Russian airstrike targeting Ukrainian cities, drawing strong condemnation from Ukraine’s European allies. French President Emmanuel Macron voiced his “full solidarity” with Zelensky, reiterating France’s commitment to working with global partners to de-escalate the situation and impose a ceasefire.
“I spoke with President Zelensky and offered our full solidarity,” Macron said in a social media post. “France is determined to work with all partners to secure de-escalation measures and to impose a ceasefire.”
Meanwhile, the leaders of the United Kingdom, Germany, and France are scheduled to meet in London on Monday for talks on the war’s future. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Macron will discuss ongoing efforts to bring about peace and security in Ukraine. One key issue is the European push for comprehensive security guarantees for a post-war Ukraine, including the possibility of deploying a peacekeeping force.
A Divide Over Post-War Security
While the US has taken the lead in pushing for a peace agreement, Europe has expressed concerns about some elements of the American plan. Particularly, European leaders have advocated for a post-war security framework that includes the potential for a peacekeeping force to deter any future Russian aggression. Sir Keir has emphasized the importance of a “coalition of the willing,” a loose alliance of Ukrainian allies committed to underwriting Kyiv’s defense in the event of a ceasefire. He argues that this approach is “vital” for Ukraine’s long-term security.
However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has firmly rejected the idea of deploying international peacekeeping forces in Ukraine. Speaking in a recent statement, Putin called any foreign troops on Ukrainian soil “legitimate targets,” signaling Russia’s continued resistance to external intervention.
Continuing Diplomatic Efforts
Despite the escalation in hostilities, both the US and Ukraine have urged Russia to demonstrate a “serious commitment” to achieving long-term peace. A joint statement issued by US and Ukrainian negotiators on Saturday called for Russia to show more concrete steps toward a ceasefire, following a series of failed talks between Witkoff and Russian officials in Moscow.
Witkoff and Rustem Umerov, who has recently been appointed as Zelensky’s top negotiator, stated that they had “agreed on the framework of security arrangements” during their talks with Russian representatives. They also discussed the necessary deterrence capabilities required to ensure that any future peace would be durable and lasting.
Despite the continued fighting and geopolitical tension, the ongoing peace discussions mark a critical phase in efforts to bring an end to the nearly three-year-long war. Whether these diplomatic initiatives will succeed remains uncertain, but for the people of Ukraine, the hope for a resolution remains high—especially in the face of continued Russian aggression on their cities.
