Location at a glance: USA and Ukraine take up talks after scandal

A week and a half after the unprecedented scandal in Washington, the United States and Ukraine a new attempt to talk about ways out of the Russian attack war. Immediately before the meeting of an American and a Ukrainian delegation in the Saudi Arabian port city of Dschidda, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was hopeful to make progress. The Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj announced that his country would appear “very constructive” in the conversations. And also in Paris is advised on Ukraine today: the general staff of the supporters of Ukraine supporters talk about a possible posting of peacekeepers.

Selenskyj has traveled to Saudi Arabia, but does not want to personally take part in the meeting with the US representatives. The Ukrainian delegation consists, among other things, of his Chancellor Andrij Jermak and Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha. According to Rubio, the national security advisor Mike Waltz and the special envoy Steve Witkoff are reported to the US side.

Rubio did not exclude an informal meeting with Selenskyj – and expressed himself optimistic. “We would not come if we weren’t,” he replied on journalist questions the evening before the talks. The decisive factor at the meeting is to what extent the Ukrainians were ready to do difficult things, just as the Russians have to do difficult things to end the war. Rubio indicated that the Ukrainians could expect more US help again if the talks went well. They have already recovered intelligence information for defensive purposes.

As a confidence -building measure for peace talks with Moscow, Selenskyj suggested the release of prisoners and the return of Ukrainian children to their homeland. This could “become an important step towards the formation of trust in the diplomatic efforts,” he wrote after a meeting with the Saudi crown prince and factual ruler of the kingdom, Mohammed bin Salman, on the platform X.

The Ukrainian government accuses the Russian invaders of kidnapping thousands of children from the occupied areas – the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in March 2023. Communication to exchange prisoners is practically the only channel of conversation that still works between Kiev and Moscow. Both warring parties have already exchanged thousands of prisoners in several actions. How many prisoners are currently still on both sides is unclear.

Eklat has worsened the position of Ukraine

Ukraine has been defending itself with western support against Russia’s invasion for more than three years. However, their position has deteriorated since the open dispute in the White House at the end of February. At that time, Trump and his Vice President JD Vance had sharply caught the Ukrainian head of state in front of ongoing cameras. They assumed Selenskyj ingratitude and lack of peace of peace.

Trump wants to force a quick end of the war. He puts Kiev under pressure by at least temporarily stopping arms deliveries, but has so far appeared far less demanding compared to the aggressor Russia. The USA also no longer deliver information data to Kyiv. As a result, the Ukrainian army lacks information about Russian troop collections.

Moscow has basically signaled willingness to negotiate, but adheres to maximum claims. Trump has taken over many of the Russian conditions – and also Putin’s Dodus several times. So the Ukraine should not be a member of NATO.

The Ukrainian leadership recently supported an initiative by French President Emmanuel Macron for a partial armistice in attacks from the air and the sea. The US government, on the other hand, insists on a quick and comprehensive ceasefire, followed by elections that are excluded in times of war according to Ukrainian law.

Supreme military talk about possible peace troops

In addition, the general staff of the supporters of Ukraine in Paris will advise this afternoon about a possible posting of peace troops. It is about how a possible peace agreement could be secured by sending soldiers. President Macron organizes the meeting in which Germany is represented by the Bundeswehr General Inspector, Carsten Breuer. Great Britain and Poland also take part. A full list of participants was not known in advance.

The basis is the plans for European peace troops that have been driven by France and Great Britain for weeks, which could be part of possible security guarantees for Ukraine. “These would not fight today that they would not fight on the front line, but they would be there after the signing of peace to ensure compliance,” said Macron a few days ago.

France’s Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu also brought up arms camp in Europe as a security guarantee for Ukraine. The country could be supplied from them after a ceasefire in the event of a crisis. The army cheers advise behind closed doors, information from the public has not yet been planned. Russia strictly rejects European troops in Ukraine, especially since most participants are NATO countries.

Drone attack: Moscow airports hire operation

After the shooting of several drones above the Russian main city region, air traffic was temporarily stopped at two Moscow airports for security reasons. According to the State Agency Tass, Russia’s aviation authority announced that starts and landings were exposed to Domodedowo and Schukowski at the airports. Mayor Sergej Sobjanin said on Telegram that around 60 drones were shot down in the Moscow region. At first he did not provide any information on injured and damage.

Restrictions of this kind occur again and again at Russian airports due to drone attacks from Ukraine. Due to the use of the Russian air defense, no starts and landings are sometimes possible.