BRUSSELS (AP) – NATO’s defense chief was scheduled to hold a virtual meeting on Wednesday, allies say as the country is asking for an end. Russia’s Ukrainian War We will devise the possibilities of future security assurances in Kiev, which could help to build peace agreements.
Italian Admiral Giuseppe Cabo Dragon, chairman of NATO’s military committee, said 32 defense chiefs from allies will hold a video conference. US-led diplomatic push I’m trying to end the battle.
General Alexus Grinkeivic, Europe, NATO’s highest alliance commander, will take part in the consultation, Dragone said on Social Platform X.
President Donald Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin last Friday In Alaska And on Monday he hosted Ukrainian President Voldymi Zelensky and prominent European leaders. At the White House. Neither meeting made any concrete advancements.
Trump is trying to steer Putin and Zelensky towards a settlement more than three years after Russia invaded his neighbors, but he is there Major obstacles. They include a demand for Ukrainian Western-backed military guarantees to ensure Russia does not have another invasion in the coming years.
“We need strong security guarantees to ensure truly safe and lasting peace,” Zelensky said in a telegram post Wednesday after Russian missile and drone strikes struck six Ukraine regions overnight.
Kiev’s European allies are Looking for a power setup It can support peace agreements, Alliance of 30 countriessigned up to support the initiative, including European countries, Japan and Australia.
The military chief is thinking about how its security forces will function. The role that the United States may play is unknown. Tuesday’s Trump I’ve excluded They send troops to protect Ukraine from Russia.
Russia has repeatedly said it would not accept Ukrainian NATO forces.
Ukrainian authorities said the attacks on the civilian areas of Smie and Odesa up until Wednesday have injured 15 people, including a family with three small children. The Russian strike also targeted ports and fuel and energy infrastructure, officials said.
Zelenskyy said the strike “just confirms the need for pressure on Moscow, the need to introduce new sanctions and tariffs until diplomacy is utilized to its fullest extent.”
Trump said he had it on Monday Arrangements have begun Due to the in-person meeting between Putin and Zelensky, the Kremlin has not publicly confirmed such a possibility, and the venue has not been proposed.
French President Emmanuel Macron proposed the Swiss city of Geneva, saying the summit could take place in Europe. Switzerland has expressed its willingness to act as a host.
Putin’s ability to travel abroad LimitedHowever, he is being sought by the International Criminal Court in The Hague for a warrant dated back to March 2023 due to alleged involvement in acquiring Ukrainian children. Over 100 countries are ICC signatories and have a legal obligation to arrest Russian leaders in the soil.
Switzerland is planning to ask the ICC to exempt sanctions so Putin can participate in the summit, according to a senior Hague official, and they will know the request first-hand. Officials were not permitted to talk about the lawsuit and spoke on condition of anonymity.
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Novikov reported from Kyiv, Ukraine. Molly Quell contributed from The Hague.
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