Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to attend a summit of European leaders in London this Sunday, following discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump earlier in the week. Macron reported that Zelenskyy has expressed a willingness to “restore dialogue” with the United States, indicating a potential agreement that could allow the US access to revenues from Ukraine's natural resources. However, Macron did not disclose specific details regarding his conversation with Trump. The White House has yet to respond to inquiries about the matter.
Zelenskyy’s visit coincides with his arrival in the UK, where he will engage with key European leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, at a special defence summit designed to maintain a unified approach to the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Starmer reaffirmed the UK’s support for Ukraine, stating that the nation stands “with you and Ukraine for as long as it may take.” During this meeting, Zelenskyy announced plans to utilise a new £2.26 billion ($2.84 billion) loan from the UK for the manufacturing of weapons within Ukraine.
In addition to the summit, Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet King Charles at Sandringham estate on Sunday, expressing his gratitude to Starmer for facilitating the meeting.
The summit will also see participation from Turkey's Foreign Minister, who is poised to communicate Turkey's ongoing offer to facilitate peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, according to a Turkish diplomatic source.
In parallel to diplomatic developments, incidents of violence continue to plague Ukraine. Ukrainian officials reported on Saturday that Russian strikes resulted in the death of one individual and injuries to 19 others in the southern Odesa region, where a missile strike hit port facilities, causing damage to infrastructure and a Panamanian-flagged ship owned by a European company.
In the eastern regions of Ukraine, reports emerged that Russian forces have captured two new villages, Sudne and Burlatske, in the Donetsk region. This follows earlier territorial gains made by Russian troops in January when they took control of Velyka Novosilka.
On the nuclear safety front, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has deployed a new monitoring team to the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant for the first time via Russian territory. Yuri Chernichuk, the plant's Moscow-installed chief, stated that the arrival of the inspectors had been facilitated by the Russian defence ministry after extensive negotiations, though the credibility of the claims surrounding their safe passage remains unverified.
Meanwhile, Russia reported the interception of three Ukrainian drones targeting a major gas pipeline that supplies European markets via Turkey. The alleged drone strike was directed at the Russkaya gas compressor station in Krasnodar, marking the second such incident in 2023, as concerns over ongoing military actions persist. Despite the claims from Moscow, Kyiv has not yet issued a response.
Source: Noah Wire Services