Zelensky seeks new meeting with US, Europe

“ [Russia] has concentrated as many as 100,000 troops there”, Zelensky said Friday evening, referring to front lines near the strategic town of Pokrovsk.

Pokrovsk, in the southern Donjeck region of Ukraine, had a population of 60,000 before the war. Most residents have fled because Russian forces have been surrounding the city for months but have failed to break the protective lines and take control of the city.

Shortly after Zelensky made those statements, the head of the regional military administration in Dnepropetrovsk said the region is facing “massive attacks”.

Serhiy Lysak wrote on the telegram that “is hearing explosions. There's a hit on Dnipro and Pavlohrad”.

Authorities in Zaporija reported that even this region was under attack Saturday morning, and that there may be victims.

Meanwhile, Russia's Defence Minister, Andrei Belousov, boasted of his country's military efforts in Ukraine, despite years of major human losses and serious damage to the Russian economy.

Belousov also praised Russia's campaign with deadly missile attacks and fears over Ukraine, which have killed thousands of civilians and have been widely condemned by the international community.

He stressed that 35 air strikes against 146 strategic targets this year have caused serious damage to Ukraine's military infrastructure.

This week, Ukraine mourned the loss of 22 people, including four children, in a building that had collapsed from a Russian attack in Kiev.

Zelensky said Ukrainian officials want to meet with Trump and European allies next week, at a time when efforts at a ceasefire and the end of the war began in February 2022 when Russia began its full invasion ] are facing difficulties.

Trump, who has made the war's top priority of his presidential mandate, has expressed his anger at Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, who is not accepting American calls for face-to-face talks with Zelensky.

A week ago, Trump said he would decide within two weeks for future steps if no direct talks were scheduled, though he has previously given deadlines but has been delayed.

On 26 August, it raised the possibility of imposing new sanctions on Moscow.

“won't be a world war, but it will be an economic war,” said Trump. “An economic fight will be bad, and it will be bad for Russia, and I don't want it. ”

But, he added, “as Zelensky is not completely innocent. I now have a good time with him, but we have a very different relationship because we are no longer paying money to Ukraine”, Trump said, referring to an agreement in which NATO members buy American weapons to be used by Kiev.

Ukraine has accepted a US ceasefire proposal and calls for a meeting between Putin and Zelensky, but Moscow has declined.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on 29 August reiterated Moscow's stance that Putin “has not ruled out” a meeting with Zelensky, but that the meeting can only happen after there is progress “at expert level”. / REL/