President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday he held a "very constructive" call with Donald Trump's peace envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the US president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as Ukraine and the US continue efforts to shape a potential deal to end Russia's war. Zelensky said they discussed mechanisms to ensure Russia would adhere to any future agreement and reaffirmed that Ukraine remains "determined to keep working in good faith with the American side to genuinely achieve peace." Ukrainian officials joined the call from Miami, where US–Ukraine negotiations are now in their third day. Despite the talks, Moscow has shown no signs of concession and continues its bombardment campaign. Ukrainian authorities said Russia launched 653 drones and 51 missiles overnight. A strike on the railway hub of Fastiv southwest of Kyiv destroyed the main station and damaged rolling stock. Ukraine's energy ministry said attacks hit energy facilities in eight regions, causing widespread blackouts. Russia claimed it targeted military-industrial, energy and port infrastructure. EU leaders condemned the strikes. French President Emmanuel Macron said he spoke with Zelensky and offered "full solidarity," adding that France is working with partners "to secure de-escalation measures and to impose a ceasefire." Macron confirmed he will meet Zelensky, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in London on Monday. The four leaders will discuss ongoing US–Ukraine negotiations on Ukraine's post-war security. Two weeks ago, they met virtually to examine the possibility of a European peacekeeping force to be deployed if a ceasefire takes hold. Starmer has maintained that Ukraine must determine its own future and said such a force could play a "vital role" in safeguarding its security. Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected the idea, calling any foreign troops in Ukraine "legitimate targets." In a joint statement Friday, Witkoff and Rustem Umerov, secretary of Ukraine's national security council, said two days of discussions had been "constructive." They said they agreed on a framework for security arrangements and discussed deterrence capabilities needed for a lasting peace. But they stressed the outcome depends on Russia showing "a serious commitment to long-term peace," after talks in Moscow this week produced no breakthrough. "Ukraine is determined to keep working... to achieve peace," Zelensky wrote on X, saying the call covered key points needed "to ensure an end to the bloodshed and eliminate the threat of a new Russian full-scale invasion." — Agencies
