Ukraine warfare briefing: Zelenskyy accuses Moscow of doing ‘everything it can’ to sabotage peace talks

Ukraine has stated it does no longer be expecting any effects from talks with Russia in Turkey, until Moscow supplies its peace phrases upfront, accusing the Kremlin of doing “everything” it will possibly to sabotage the prospective assembly. Moscow stated it used to be sending a workforce of negotiators to Istanbul for a 2d spherical of talks on Monday however Kyiv has but to substantiate if it’s going to attend. “For over a week now, the Russians have been unable to present the so-called memorandum,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on X on Friday, relating to a report Russia says it has ready outlining its stipulations for peace. “For a meeting to be meaningful, its agenda must be clear, and the negotiations must be properly prepared,” the Ukrainian president added. “Unfortunately, Russia is doing everything it can to ensure that the next potential meeting brings no results.” Russia says it’s going to give you the memorandum on the talks in particular person on Monday. But Ukraine suspects it’s going to comprise its maximalist calls for that Kyiv has already rejected.

Zelenskyy stated he and the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, mentioned on Friday the stipulations underneath which Ukraine would take part within the Istanbul assembly proposed by way of Russia. “There must be a ceasefire to move further toward peace. The killing of people must stop,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram. While he didn’t decide to Ukraine’s attendance, he stated that of their name he and Erdogan mentioned the potential of establishing a four-way assembly with the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and america. Erdogan stated it used to be necessary that Russia and Ukraine despatched sturdy delegations to Istanbul, including {that a} leaders’ assembly may just give a contribution to the peace procedure, the Turkish presidency stated.

A number one US senator warned Moscow it might be “hit hard” by way of new US sanctions. Republican Lindsey Graham stated on a consult with to Kyiv that america Senate used to be anticipated to transport forward with a invoice on sanctions in opposition to Russia subsequent week. Graham, who met Zelenskyy within the Ukrainian capital, instructed a information briefing he had talked with Trump ahead of his go back and forth and america president anticipated concrete movements now from Moscow. Graham accused the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, of seeking to drag out the peace procedure and stated he doubted the Istanbul assembly would quantity to greater than a “Russian charade”.

Trump, in the meantime, stated on Friday that each Putin and Zelenskyy have been cussed and that he were shocked and dissatisfied by way of Russian bombing in Ukraine whilst he used to be seeking to prepare a ceasefire.

Pro-Kremlin web sites are ramping up a disinformation marketing campaign focused on Ukrainian refugees in Poland, the usage of AI-generated content material to stoke resentment forward of Sunday’s presidential election, mavens warned. Russia-aligned accounts have “inflamed negative sentiment towards Ukrainians”, calling them “pigs” and accusing them of making plans armed assaults, the London-based Institute for Strategic Dialogue stated in a file on Friday. Ukraine best friend Poland hosts about 1,000,000 Ukrainian refugees – most commonly girls and youngsters – and immigration has been a key factor for electorate.

Ukraine has jailed a 21-year-old guy for 15 years on allegations he guided missile assaults for Russia. The SBU safety provider stated on Friday that at the orders of a Russian particular services and products officer, the person travelled across the Ukrainian capital and its outskirts secretly photographing the places of Ukrainian troops. It stated the Kyiv resident, who used to be no longer recognized by way of identify, used to be additionally getting ready assaults within the town on behalf of Russia and used to be stuck red-handed whilst “spying” close to an army facility.