Ukraine-Russia: Zelensky to Putin: "Leaders meeting for peace."

A meeting with Vladimir Putin is needed to give peace a chance . As the war nears its three-and-a-half-year mark, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed a new round of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, including a "meeting at the highest level" to reach a ceasefire. The Kiev leader is urging an acceleration of the dialogue and pushing for talks that could take place as early as next week. The new meetings would follow the two unsuccessful ones held in Istanbul between the two delegations, which failed to yield any significant progress toward ending the war.

"A meeting at the highest level is necessary to truly secure peace ," Zelensky said in his speech, announcing Kiev's intention to negotiate "prisoner exchanges, the return of children, and an end to the killings." Zelensky, as he has done in the past, is ready for a direct confrontation with the Kremlin leader for a leader-level meeting that would be necessary to truly secure peace, a truly lasting peace. "Ukraine is ready for this meeting," the Ukrainian president reiterated, addressing Putin directly, who also received the EU's agreement on new sanctions , adding that "everything must be done to secure a ceasefire, and the Russians must stop running away from decisions."

Ukraine has already taken a formal step: "Secretary of the Security Council Umerov reportedly proposed the next meeting with the Russian side for next week," the Ukrainian president explained. "Negotiations need to be given new impetus."

The 'record' raid

The continuing signals from the ground show no change in the sadly established picture. Russia has launched its largest-ever attack against the city of Pavlohrad in eastern Ukraine, involving hundreds of kamikaze drones and ballistic missiles. The six-hour bombardment was the worst in the city's history, according to Sergey Lysak, head of the Dnipropetrovsk region, adding that a factory was damaged, a fire station destroyed, and a five-story residential building hit.

"A hellish night and morning for Pavlohrad. The most intense attack on the city. Explosion after explosion. Russian terrorists targeted it with missiles and drones," Lisak said.

US support

While trying to keep dialogue with Moscow alive, Ukraine continues to receive messages of support from the United States . The Donald Trump administration's reversal of course appears to be solidifying. The US House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved continued military aid to Ukraine, with 353 votes in favor and 76 against. The result was highlighted on Telegram by the head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, while Representative Don Bacon also confirmed the news on the X platform. The bill, which now moves to the Senate, authorizes the shipment of new weapons and, if approved, will be submitted to the president for signature.

During a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump announced in recent days that Ukraine will receive "billions of dollars' worth of weapons." The measure, sponsored by Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal and supported by 85 senators, also allows the US president to impose punitive tariffs of at least 500% on imports from countries such as China, Brazil, and India that maintain trade relations with Russia.

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