It’s published •update
Ukrainian President Voldimia Zelensky has raised doubts about whether new peace talks with Russia in Istanbul next week will bring about consequences.
He said on Friday that Kiev is still waiting for clarification of Russia’s proposals ahead of the talk that is scheduled to take place on Monday.
Zelensky’s top advisor Andri Yermack said Friday that Kiev is ready to resume direct peace talks with Russia, but the Kremlin should first provide a memorandum of commitment outlining its position to end a war of more than three years.
Zelenskyy said Russia would “weak diplomacy” by withholding documents.
“We, as host countries, neither Ukraine nor Turkey, have no information about Russia’s so-called “memorandum.” For some reason, the Russians are hiding this document.
Russia’s strike continues in Ukraine
The Russian strike continues to strike Ukraine as uncertainty remains about a new round of peace negotiations.
Officials said that attacks on Russian drones and missiles in Ukraine on Saturday killed at least two people.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russian forces fired around 109 drones and five missiles across Ukraine. He said three of the missiles and 42 drones were destroyed, and 30 more drones were unable to reach the target without causing damage.
Zaporidian Governor Ivan Fedorov said the 16-year-old was killed in a strike in a frontline village in Drinka in the Zaporidian region, and the 16-year-old was injured.
“One house was destroyed. The shock wave from the explosion damaged several other homes, cars and outdoors,” Fedorov wrote in Telegram.
Another person was killed by Russian artillery fire in the Herson area of Ukraine, local governor Oleksandr Prokdin, who wrote on Telegram.
Moscow did not comment on either attack.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said it gained control of Novopiru, a Ukrainian village in the Donetsk region on Saturday, robbing Bodrahi village in the North Smee region.
Ukrainian authorities in Smie have ordered forced evacuations to 11 more villages as Russian troops are steadily gaining profits in the region.
The new addition brings the total number of settlements under the evacuation order in Smie, adjacent to the Kursk region of Russia, to 213.
Additional sources •AP
