Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia has signaled to Donald Trump's emissaries its willingness to begin negotiations on the war in Ukraine, citing a possible de-escalation this winter, according to an interview with Axios.
AI-generated summary
The war in Ukraine continues with Russian attacks targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure every winter, affecting the civilian population and grain exports via the Black Sea.
Russia has signaled to Donald Trump's emissaries that it is willing to begin negotiations on the war in Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the American media Axios, referring to a possible "de-escalation" this winter. Russian leader Vladimir Putin “needs Trump” and does not want to “antagonize” him, especially before the American mid-term elections in early November, the Ukrainian president believes in this interview.
The Kremlin was therefore “ready to discuss”, he added, referring to what was assured to him by the American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who traveled in turn to Moscow and kyiv this weekend to meet the two presidents.
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“Substantial progress” according to Witkoff
Among the avenues put forward by Washington to initiate a peace process is a possible “de-escalation” before or during the winter, indicates Axios. “There are ideas around energy, grain, electricity and around oil and gas,” Volodymyr Zelensky told this media.
The infrastructures linked to these different sectors are particularly targeted by the attacks carried out daily by both camps. Russia intensifies its strikes against Ukraine's energy sector every winter, plunging the country's population into cold and darkness. It also targets traffic in the Black Sea, through which the majority of Ukrainian grain exports pass.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Preliminary negotiations between Russia and Ukraine could begin within a few weeks under the aegis of American envoys.
Possible · Within weeks

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