Ukraine⁤ Proposes New Peace Talks as Trump Threatens Tariffs

Kyiv has put forward a new round of peace negotiations this week, while former US President Donald Trump has intensified pressure on Russia with threats of steep tariffs and a bolstered weapons pipeline to Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced in his nightly address‍ that his ‍officials had proposed a new round ⁢of ⁤peace talks. Russian state media reported that while⁤ no date has been set, Istanbul is likely to⁤ remain the host ⁣city for these potential negotiations.

This⁣ advancement follows ⁢a hardening of Mr. TrumpS stance towards Moscow. On July 14th, ‍he threatened Russia with⁣ significant tariffs and announced a revitalized pipeline for US weapons to reach Ukraine. These measures come after months of frustration stemming from unsuccessful negotiations aimed at ending the protracted conflict.

Previous Negotiations in Istanbul

Direct Russia-Ukraine negotiations⁢ previously held in Istanbul yielded several prisoner exchanges ‍but little substantial progress towards ⁢a lasting peace agreement.

Mr. Trump has stated his intention to implement “severe tariffs” unless ⁢a peace deal is ⁣reached within a 50-day timeframe. While⁢ specific details on the implementation of these tariffs remain scarce, he suggested they would target Russia’s trading partners ⁣in⁤ an effort to isolate⁤ Moscow economically on the global⁢ stage.

Furthermore, Mr. Trump indicated‍ that European allies would procure⁢ “billions and billions” of dollars worth of US military ⁣equipment for transfer to ukraine. This initiative aims to replenish the besieged country’s dwindling weapon supplies. A key component of this plan includes the provision of Patriot air defense systems, a critical priority for Ukraine as it continues to defend ⁢against ⁤Russian drone and missile attacks.

Russian Drones Shot Down ‍Overnight

In parallel, Ukraine’s air force reported a significant defensive success overnight, stating that it had‍ shot down 18 out ⁢of 57 Shahed-type and decoy ⁣drones launched by Russia. An additional seven drones reportedly disappeared from radar.

the drone attacks‍ resulted in civilian casualties. in Zaporizhzhia, a southern Ukrainian region partially occupied by Russia, two women were injured when a drone struck thier home, according to the regional military administration. In Izium, north-eastern Ukraine, two more civilians sustained injuries after⁣ a drone⁣ impacted a residential building, as confirmed by local Ukrainian officials.

Later, drones struck a central square in Sumy, wounding a woman and her seven-year-old son. The strike also caused damage to a power line, ⁢leaving approximately‍ 100 households without electricity, according to ‍Serhii⁢ krivosheienko of the municipal military administration.

Meanwhile,Russia’s defence ministry claimed ‍its forces had intercepted 93 Ukrainian drones targeting Russian territory ⁢overnight. this included at least 15 drones that appeared to be heading towards Moscow. The mayor ⁣of Moscow, Sergei Sobyanin, reported that ⁣ten additional drones were downed on the approach to the‍ capital earlier today. He also ⁢confirmed that‍ one drone ⁣had struck ⁢a residential building in Zelenograd, on the outskirts of Moscow, causing damage to an apartment but no casualties.