Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has declared that his nation will continue to defend itself if diplomatic efforts to end the war with Russia fail. The statement came during a press briefing in Kyiv on Saturday, following a crucial meeting of security advisers from Ukraine's top allied nations.
Diplomatic Push for a January Summit
Security officials from 15 countries, including the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, alongside representatives from NATO and the European Union, convened in the Ukrainian capital. The talks centred on a US-brokered peace plan, with Kyiv recently indicating a potential deal was "90%" ready.
Zelenskyy expressed hope that these discussions would lead to a leaders' summit in the United States by the end of January. "We would like all of this to happen in January, by the end of January," he stated. The diplomatic process is set to continue next week with meetings in Paris and further negotiations with US officials.
Stark Warning Amid Ongoing Violence
Despite the accelerated peace efforts, a significant gap remains between Kyiv and Moscow, primarily over territorial control. Russia currently occupies roughly 20% of Ukraine and seeks full control of the eastern Donbas region as part of any agreement. Ukraine has firmly warned that ceding ground would only embolden the Kremlin.
President Zelenskyy made his country's position unequivocally clear. "If Russia blocks all of this... if our partners do not compel Russia to stop the war, there will be another path: to defend ourselves," he told reporters. This resolve underscores the challenges facing negotiators, even as the conflict approaches its fourth year.
Deadly Strikes Cast Shadow Over Talks
The high-level security meeting concluded a week marked by continued bloodshed across Ukraine. Key incidents included:
- A Russian missile strike on the city of Kharkiv on Friday, killing a woman and a three-year-old child.
- Russian bombardment in the southern Kherson region on Saturday, resulting in two fatalities.
- Accusations from Russia that a Ukrainian drone attack on a hotel and cafe in occupied Kherson killed 28 people on New Year's Day—a claim Ukraine denies, stating it targeted a military gathering.
Russia also claimed, without evidence provided, that Ukraine launched drones at a residence of President Vladimir Putin in an unsuccessful attack.
Russia Condemns US Action in Venezuela
Separately, the Russian foreign ministry used strong language to condemn a US military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of the country's leader, Nicolás Maduro. Moscow, a key ally of Caracas and a major supplier of military hardware to Venezuela, demanded Maduro's immediate release.
"This morning, the United States committed an act of armed aggression against Venezuela. This is deeply concerning and condemnable," the ministry said in a statement. It called for dialogue but stopped short of pledging immediate military or financial aid to the Venezuelan government.
As diplomatic channels hum with activity, the situation on the ground remains perilous. The juxtaposition of peace talks in Kyiv with ongoing civilian casualties highlights the immense pressure and complex realities facing all parties on day 1,411 of a conflict with no clear end in sight.
