Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the peace talks in London “emotional.” His deft handling of the choppy waters of diplomacy on this intergovernmental dialogue is to be commended. Zelenskyy highlighted the importance of the meeting, which included representatives from five countries, emphasizing their collective responsibility in advancing peace efforts. His comments come amid heightened tensions and a hot war in Ukraine. After a major drone attack on September 27, the death toll from this attack continues to increase.
In a post multiplied on social media, Zelenskyy hailed the five-nation tête-à-tête as “important” for its broad impact. He called it a historic breakthrough for peace. He pointed out that every one of the stakeholders at the negotiating table was instrumental, highlighting the collaborative spirit of the discussions. Even former U.S. President Donald Trump has recently attacked Zelenskyy for his alleged over-emphasis on Crimea. This area has been under de facto Kremlin control since 2014 when Russia annexed this territory.
Trump remarked that “nobody is asking Volodymyr Zelenskyy to recognize Crimea,” suggesting that Zelenskyy’s fixation on the issue could hinder diplomatic progress. Zelenskyy went on to praise the 2018 Crimea Declaration, which was signed by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the time. The declaration reaffirms that the United States does not recognize Russia’s annexation of Crimea and will not recognize it, pledging to do so until Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is returned.
Despite these political strides, the humanitarian situation in Ukraine is worsening by the day. A Ukrainian drone strike on Marhanets killed at least nine civilian victims. It put a three-year-old child in the hospital. The attack follows the Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s armed forces warning of a spike in Russian aerial attacks. In Kyiv, at least 21 people were injured when Kyiv was struck by several missiles in the early hours of Thursday. In much the same way, Kharkiv suffered missile and artillery blitzkriegs that terrorized the city’s inhabitants.
Ukraine’s general staff announced a significant advancement in its military capabilities, revealing that a local plant could potentially produce 300 drones per day. Ukrainian forces scored a crucial success with the destruction of a Russian long-range drone production facility in Tatarstan. This operation represents a very important step forward in the long running conflict.
As tensions rise and military operations intensify, Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, met with national security advisers from both France and Germany to discuss the escalating situation. The results of these conversations are still to play out. In absence of material impact, at least, they manifest a powerful, unified European expression of support for Ukrainian sovereignty.