Zelenskyy seeks talks with Trump and European leaders on slow progress of peace efforts with Russia

By HANNA ARHIROVA Associated Press KYIV Ukraine AP Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Friday that Ukrainian representatives want to meet with U S President Donald Trump and European leaders next week to discuss latest developments in efforts to end the three-year war with Russia The proposed meetings appeared designed to add momentum to the push for peace as Zelenskyy expressed frustration with what he called Russia s lack of constructive engagement in the process while it continues to launch devastating aerial attacks on civilian areas Related Articles Israel declares Gaza s largest city a combat zone as the bodies of hostages are recovered At present in History August Olympic marathoner attacked by spectator Japan uses AI-generated eruption of Mount Fuji to prepare Tokyo for worst-case scenario Major domination for families against Saudi Arabia now Boston al Qaeda terror cell can be probed Major Russian attack includes rare strikes on the center of Kyiv killing at least Trump has bristled at Russian leader Vladimir Putin s stalling on an U S proposal for direct peace talks with Zelenskyy and announced a week ago he expected to decide on next initiatives in two weeks if direct talks aren t scheduled Trump complained last month that Putin talks nice and then he bombs everybody But he has also chided Ukraine s attacks and a major missile and drone attack on Ukraine overnight from Wednesday to Thursday that killed at least people drew no society condemnation from the Trump administration White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt noted Thursday that Ukraine has been striking Russian oil refineries Andriy Yermak the head of Ukraine s presidential office is expected to meet Friday in New York with Trump s special envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss preparations for upcoming meetings Zelenskyy disclosed during a briefing Zelenskyy narrated reporters in Kyiv that he expected several meetings at different venues with European leaders next week Ukrainian negotiators have been trying to move the peace process forward in talks in Qatar Saudi Arabia Turkey the United Arab Emirates Switzerland and the United States he stated Ukraine has accepted a U S proposal for a ceasefire and a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy but Moscow has raised objections Ukraine wants leaders involved Zelenskyy accused Russia of dragging out negotiations including by putting off a Russia-Ukraine summit with the argument that the groundwork for a practicable peace settlement must be thrashed out first by lower agents before leaders meet That reasoning Zelenskyy commented is artificial because they want to show the United States that they are constructive but they are not constructive In my opinion leaders must urgently be involved to reach agreements Zelenskyy added Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Friday reiterated Moscow s long-held position that Putin doesn t rule out meeting Zelenskyy but only after progress is made at the expert level A summit must be well prepared so that it can finalize the work that must first be carried out at the expert level Peskov reported reporters during his daily conference call At this point we can t say that the expert work is in full swing so to speak No unfortunately not We maintain our interest and our readiness for these negotiations he mentioned Zelenskyy says more weapons are crucial for assurance Zelenskyy urged swift secondary sanctions on countries that pact with Russia and thereby assistance its war financial system Firefighters work on the site of a burning building after a Russian attack in Kyiv Ukraine early Thursday Aug AP Photo Efrem Lukatsky The viable postwar precaution guarantees being assessed by Western countries to deter another Russian invasion in the future must include a secure supply of weapons for Ukraine either through domestic production or Western provision and U S weapons paid for by Europe Zelenskyy s comments came after the death toll in a major Russian missile and drone strike on the Ukrainian capital rose to including four children leaders announced Friday Ukraine necessities more sophisticated Western air defense systems to counter such attacks Kyiv region observes a day of mourning Bureaucrats in the Kyiv region declared Friday an official day of mourning Flags flew at half-staff and all entertainment events were canceled after Russia hammered Ukraine with almost drones and more than missiles overnight from Wednesday to Thursday including rare strikes on downtown Kyiv A man carries a sofa at his apartment damaged by a Russian strike in Kyiv Ukraine on Thursday Aug AP Photo Evgeniy Maloletka Rescue workers pulled people from the rubble after the attack among them four children Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko disclosed The youngest victim was a -year-old girl Particular bodies have yet to be identified and eight people remain unaccounted for administration mentioned More than people were wounded Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha declared that at the request of Ukraine the U N Protection Council was due to hold an crisis meeting Friday in response to the latest Russian aerial attack More diplomatic moves lie ahead Putin is due to attend a meeting in China from Sunday that will also include Iran and North Korea countries which have also aided Russia s war effort according to the United States From Sept world leaders are expected to attend the U N General Assembly where Russia s invasion will likely be discussed The Atlantic Council a Washington think tank noted that latest U S presidents have shied away from taking a tougher line with Putin for fear of a probable nuclear conflict Putin knows that Washington and its allies have more than enough maximum to reverse his gains in Ukraine but it is nearly certain that he doubts the United States has the will to do so the Atlantic Council noted in an assessment this week It added that the second Trump administration has repeatedly signaled that the United States has no vital interests at stake in this war