Zelensky speaks to US envoys as Trump lashes out

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held talks with top US envoys on Sunday to attempt to ease tensions between the two nations. The conflict intensified as Russia targeted energy sites in both Ukraine and Russia, leaving thousands without power. While Zelensky met with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Donald Trump claimed that Zelensky does not want to end the war and is profiting from it, as the US has pumped money into Ukraine.

Tensions escalated after a Wall Street Journal report suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a meeting on Ukraine with Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, but not Zelensky. Trump's social media platform stated that he was negotiating peace between Russia and Ukraine and had made "great progress," but claimed Zelensky was not interested in peace and did not want the war to end. He also accused Ukraine of not caring about the war, which is impacting global diesel markets including the US.

Zelensky expressed that a lot depends on the US position in the war, but stressed that many issues matter to all parties, and that the war must end. He emphasized that Ukraine is ready to work constructively and honestly, and that they expect the same approach from European partners and the American side. He also discussed the delivery of US Patriot air defence systems to counter Russian missiles.

The conflict has resulted in thousands without power, with Russian strikes causing nationwide fuel shortages in Russia earlier this year. Ukrainian officials reported three people killed in the recent attacks, with a drone attack on Saint Petersburg's oil refinery killing one person. Russia's VKontakte social network and Ozon, Russia's second-largest retailer, reported strikes on their logistics centers. The Kremlin denied that Ukrainian attacks on its cities would change its war aims.