RUSSIA OPPOSES EU FORCES IN UKRAINE AND FAST-TRACKED ZELENSKYY TALKS. (PHOTO).

 Russia opposes EU forces in Ukraine and fast-tracked Zelenskyy talks

Russia on Wednesday rejected the deployment of European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine and downplayed the likelihood of a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, casting further doubt on prospects for a peace deal. U.S. President Donald Trump has recently met with both Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin in an effort to end the war, which has now stretched beyond three and a half years. However, Moscow has shown little willingness to compromise.

Ukraine continues to seek Western-backed security guarantees as part of any settlement to prevent future Russian attacks, while Russia insists that Kyiv cede additional territory in the east. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the idea of European peacekeepers as “negative,” framing NATO’s military presence in Ukraine as a “root cause” of Russia’s 2022 offensive. Peskov said security guarantees are a key topic in negotiations but refused to publicly discuss specifics. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy accused Russia of not being serious about peace, noting continued strikes on Ukrainian cities and villages. Talks between Kyiv and Western allies are ongoing, but the Kremlin further pushed back against scheduling a high-level summit with Zelenskyy, stating any meeting would need careful preparation.

Fighting continues on the ground. Russia struck multiple energy and gas facilities across six regions on Wednesday, killing three people and leaving more than 100,000 households without power, according to Ukrainian authorities. In Kherson, a farm was damaged in heavy shelling, killing two workers, and an 81-year-old woman died during an overnight attack. Moscow, which occupies roughly one-fifth of Ukraine, claimed to have captured another settlement in the Donetsk region, near the heavily contested city of Pokrovsk, as its campaign against Kyiv’s smaller army grinds on.