© Abaca Press/Photo by Mert Gokhan Koc/DIA Images/Sipa USA
(New York, NY) – There’s been a renewed sense of optimism in the push for peace between Ukraine and Russia. The war has been grinding on for three-and-a-half-years. It’s grueling, trench warfare fighting similar to what was scene during the world wars. Both sides have endured losses and the bloodshed has not stopped as talks and negotiations continue.
Over the weekend, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Lavrov appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” He said that there was no planned meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. That differed from what President Trump had said earlier — in which he suggested such a meeting had been set up. Reports circulated last week saying Budapest, Hungary could be the site of such a summit.
In recent weeks, Trump has meet with Putin — in Alaska — and with Zelenskyy — at the White House. But Trump’s also consistently said in order for a potential agreement to make a difference, both Russia and Ukraine must agree to its terms. Security guarantees and other concerns are potential sticking points — including a ban on the Russian language in parts of Eastern Ukraine. Moscow also wants Ukraine to vow it will never join NATO.
On Monday, as Ukraine celebrated its independence from the USSR in 1991, a new round of attacks was launched. This included drone attacks launched by Russia into Ukraine — and attacks launched from Ukraine into Russia. A drone sent into Russia eventually crashed and sparked a fire at a nuclear plant, but there was no widespread concern over contamination.
