Zelenskyy Confirms Participation in U.S. Peace Talks Amid…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed participation in U.S.-led peace talks in Saudi Arabia, following a contentious meeting with President Trump. Despite opposition leaders denying involvement in any plans to remove Zelenskyy, Russia escalated its attacks on Ukraine post-announcement. Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine’s commitment to peace amid ongoing accusations regarding negotiation readiness.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that he will attend peace talks in Saudi Arabia with American officials. This announcement follows a recent contentious meeting in the Oval Office with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, which ended prematurely. Zelenskyy expressed his commitment to peace in a post on X, stating, “Next Monday, I have a visit planned to Saudi Arabia for a meeting with the Crown Prince. After that, my team will stay in Saudi Arabia to work with our American partners.”

In the same post, Zelenskyy assured President Trump of Ukraine’s dedication to achieving swift and reliable peace. Concurrently, notable Ukrainian opposition figures, former President Petro Poroshenko and former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, had discussions with U.S. representatives but stated they were not involved in any plans to remove Zelenskyy from office. Poroshenko, who was defeated by Zelenskyy in 2019, emphasized the importance of delaying elections until after the martial law period ends.

In a concerning development, following the announcement of peace talks, Russia conducted a missile and drone attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, resulting in injuries to at least ten individuals, including a child. Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko confirmed this attack on social media, highlighting Ukraine’s enduring pursuit of peace despite ongoing hostilities. Zelenskyy remarked, “The task is to force Russia to stop the war,” emphasizing Ukraine’s readiness for dialogue.

The Kremlin defended its actions, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov describing the attacks as legitimate given their ties to Ukraine’s military industry. For context, Russia has frequently targeted Ukraine’s energy capabilities throughout the protracted conflict, with significant infrastructure damage reported in previous years. President Trump, during a joint session of Congress, echoed a desire for peace, revealing correspondence from Zelenskyy highlighting Ukraine’s eagerness to negotiate.

In response to Trump’s earlier accusations that Zelenskyy was unwilling to pursue peace, the Ukrainian leader affirmed his commitment to peace talks and the cessation of the ongoing war with Russia. Trump later expressed his belief that Zelenskyy’s unpreparedness for peace was linked to U.S. involvement in negotiations, suggesting that it gave Ukraine a negotiating advantage opposed to a focus on achieving peace.

In summary, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will engage in peace talks in Saudi Arabia, reinforcing Ukraine’s pursuit of peace despite recent tensions with U.S. leadership. As hostilities continue with Russia, including targeted attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure, Zelenskyy remains committed to negotiations, amidst claims from former Ukrainian leaders denying any coup plans. The entangled dynamics between U.S. support and Ukraine’s governance underscore the complexity of the situation as both nations seek a resolution to the ongoing war.

Original Source: www.foxnews.com