Selenskyj sends negotiators to New York

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Selenskyj sends negotiators to New York

While Russia again covers Ukraine with air strikes, the defenders strive for international support. Can discussions in the United States influence the situation?

The Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj sends his chief negotiators to talks about security guarantees for his country attacked by Russia to the USA. Presidential office chief Andrij Jermak and ex-defense minister Rustem Umjerow are to speak to representatives of the government of US President Donald Trump in New York on Friday, as Selenskyj announced in Kiev. On the part of the Americans, Trump’s Russia negotiator Steve Witkoff confirmed the meeting. Meanwhile, the Russian military once overwhelm Ukraine with air strikes.

“Everyone who works on the security guarantees – on the military, political and economic components of the security guarantees – are included,” said Selenskyj in a video address. One has to make as quick as possible: “The Russians have to see how serious it is for the world and how bad the consequences for Russia will be when the war continues.”

The Ukrainian President accused Moscow of not being ready to negotiate and thus breaking a Trump promise. The security guarantees are about protecting Ukraine from the end of the war from a rebuilding of Russian aggression. The United States is planning to participate, but the main military burden is said to be among the Europeans. Russia strictly rejects troops from NATO countries in Ukraine.

Jermak and Umjerow also have the ongoing talks of the warring parties in Istanbul on the Ukrainian side. According to Selenskyjs, you will also explore possible places for a meeting with Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin. The Ukrainian representatives were visited in the Gulf state of Qatar on Tuesday, on Wednesday in Saudi Arabia. Talks in Switzerland are planned for Thursday. Putin, however, only wants to speak to a representative of Ukraine if there is a fully negotiated solution for an end to the war.

The German Foreign Minister Johann WadePhul also sees Moscow’s alleged willingness to negotiate skeptical. “I have the greatest doubts that negotiations between Russia and Ukraine occur in the foreseeable future,” he told the news magazine “Focus”. Putin does not move at all despite Trump’s efforts. “I strongly advise to maintain the pressure on Russia. It is more likely that there will be new sanctions against Russia in the near future when Putin is steering into a ceasefire in negotiations,” said WadePhul.

Russia has been waging a war against Ukraine for more than three and a half years. During the night there were new attacks from the air. Explosions could be heard above the capital Kiev, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko, the aircraft was deployed. Explosions were also reported from the cities of Sumy in the north as well as Dnipro and Saporischschja in the south.