The situation at a glance: USA supports proposal for peace summit with Russia

The USA supports the proposal by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to invite Russian representatives to a second peace conference in the war that has been going on for more than two years. “It is up to Ukraine to decide when and how and in what state it will enter into diplomatic negotiations,” said US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller in Washington. “We support the Ukrainian government.” Miller spoke to journalists about whether the USA approved Zelensky’s proposal to invite Russia to the meeting, unlike at the first peace summit in Switzerland in mid-June.

Only Ukraine itself can decide, said Miller. A just peace is needed. “Ukraine is the victim here, Ukraine sees its country being invaded.” That is why it decides whether and in what format there will be negotiations. “But it has never been clear whether the Kremlin is ready for real diplomacy,” said Miller. The USA had already campaigned for a diplomatic solution to the conflict before the war. Today the country is the largest arms supplier for a military solution.

Kyiv: Plan for second peace summit in November

Zelensky had previously told journalists in Kyiv that Russian representatives should attend a second peace summit. “I have set the task of having a completely finished plan in November. When the plan is ready, everything will be ready for the second summit.”

Preparatory negotiations are planned in Qatar by then, in Turkey this summer and in Canada in September, said Zelensky, who has himself presented a peace plan. A key point in this is the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine. Moscow had rejected this as unrealistic.

Russia itself has repeatedly asserted that it is ready to negotiate – but on the condition that Kiev cedes territory. Ukraine rejects this. Russia will not take part in such a summit hosted by Zelensky, said the head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Russian State Duma, Leonid Slutsky. He described the Ukrainian leadership as “puppets” controlled by the West, who will not allow Moscow to dictate conditions.

Slutsky stressed that a number of countries have presented peace initiatives and a plan to Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. He also recalled that Russia no longer recognizes Zelensky as president after his term of office officially expired. However, Zelensky is still considered the legitimate head of state due to martial law. Russia, however, only recognizes the parliament and its chairman as legitimate.

Because of Orban’s solo action: boycott for Hungary

In Europe, the EU Commission is drawing conclusions from Hungary’s Ukraine policy. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen ordered a boycott, partly because of a trip abroad to Moscow by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. In future informal ministerial meetings under the leadership of the current EU Council Presidency in Hungary, no commissioners will be allowed to attend, only high-ranking officials.

In addition, according to a spokesperson, the EU Commission is foregoing the traditional inaugural visit to the Hungarian Presidency. There was initially an indignant reaction from Budapest from the Minister for European Union Affairs, Janos Boka.

Washington against strikes with US weapons against Russia

The USA is sticking to its decision not to allow the use of the weapons it supplies to strike military bases in the Russian hinterland. Attacks on Russian regions near the border from which air strikes against Ukraine are carried out are permitted, said ministry spokesman Miller. The USA does not want to go any further.

Zelenskyj has repeatedly called for Western weapons to be released for strikes against military targets, even deep in Russia’s hinterland. The country has so far used its own drones and missiles for this purpose. Russia had warned the West against allowing weapons from NATO states to be used for attacks on its territory. The country accuses the USA and Ukraine’s other Western allies of already being deeply involved in the war.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Miller stressed that the US has been supplying Ukraine with weapons for more than two years to defend itself against Russian attacks. The aim is to equip the country with an air defense system and the announced F-16 fighter jets so that it can protect itself against Russian air attacks. Zelensky had previously again called for at least 25 Patriot air defense systems.

Since the beginning of the war, Ukraine has received at least four Patriot systems, including three from Germany alone. According to media reports, however, several launch pads have been either destroyed or damaged by Russian air strikes. A complete system consisting of radar, antennas, fire control and command post and several launch pads costs the equivalent of several hundred million euros. The unit price for a modern anti-aircraft missile is, according to various sources, the equivalent of just over three million euros.