"Ukrainian port city ablaze following massive Russian assault; Trump expresses optimism prior to peace talks negotiation"
Fiery Fracas in Odesa: Russian Drone Onslaught Amid Peace Talk Optimism
Southern Ukraine's bustling port city, Odesa, erupted in a blaze late Thursday, victim to a massive Russian drone assault, just hours after US President Donald Trump expressed optimism about quelling the war. As peace negotiations are set to resume on Monday, Trump, Putin, and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky have been engaged in behind-the-scenes diplomacy, hoping to implement a partial ceasefire.
Trump, fresh off conversations with both Putin and Zelensky on enforcing a tentative truce, conveyed a positive outlook on ending the hostilities, commenting, "we're doing pretty well in that regard." Following this, delegations from Russia and the US are poised to reconvene talks in Saudi Arabia on Monday, their officials confirmed.
Notwithstanding Trump's hopes, hours after his optimistic statements, Odesa was engulfed in flames, with drone strikes targeting civilian hotspots, injuring at least three, including a minor. Local authorities identified a high-rise residential building and a shopping center amongst the devastated targets. Shocking footage circulating on social media showed what seemed to be civilian buildings burning and thick plumes of smoke billowing over the city. CNN could not immediately confirm the footage's authenticity.
Concurrent strikes in Zaporizhzhia left five more wounded, while nearly 200 drones attacked the Kirovohrad region in central Ukraine overnight into Thursday, causing injuries and infrastructure damage.
Zelensky urged Putin to "stop making unnecessary demands that only prolong the war" during their recent discussions. However, under the apparent veneer of negotiations, acts of aggression persist. In response to Putin's ceasefire on energy infrastructure attacks, Zelensky accused Russia of breaking its pledge by launching 150 drone assaults, including strikes on energy facilities.
Although Ukraine and Russia have repeatedly clashed in aerial attacks, Russia has agreed, albeit temporarily, to halt attacks on energy infrastructure. However, the Kremlin's demands for a broader ceasefire extend beyond energy infrastructure, including a halt to all foreign military aid and intelligence to Kyiv, and a stop to any Ukrainian mobilization or rearming during the truce period.
Zelensky spoke with European leaders on Thursday, seeking support for Ukraine amid Trump's intensifying reconciliation efforts with Russia. EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas expressed her conviction that the Ukrainians' battlefield strength would bolster their negotiation power, as reported by Reuters.
The aim of the talks in Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, on Monday is for US and Russian officials to comprehensively draft the terms of the ceasefire deal and cover additional aspects of a potential peace accord. The discussions won't involve top-tier US officials, according to the State Department.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-unmanned-aerial-vehicles-hit-ukraine-capital-kyiv-kyiv-city-mayor-2023-03-09/[2] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-says-confirmed-cyberattack-on-railway-ticketing-system-believed-be-associated-2023-03-08/
- Despite the ongoing peace talks and the tentative agreement for a partial ceasefire, Ukraine was hit by a series of drone strikes overnight, with Odesa and other cities, such as Zaporizhzhia and Kirovohrad, suffering damage and injuries.
- Amidst the ongoing conflict, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed to European leaders for support, with EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas expressing confidence that Ukraine's military strength would bolster its negotiating power.
- While Russia has agreed to halt attacks on energy infrastructure temporarily, the Kremlin's demands for a broader ceasefire also include a halt to all foreign military aid and intelligence to Kyiv, and a stop to any Ukrainian mobilization or rearming during the truce period.
