Russian forces struck fresh targets in Ukraine on Thursday amid hopes of fresh peace talks, brokered by the White House, between the two warring sides. The strikes come at a particularly concerning point as recent close ties between the US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin stoked fears of the US turning its back on Kyiv.
Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets also announced that he would be meeting Melania Trump in Washington. A decree released on the Ukrainian presidential website acknowledged Melania Trump’s “significant personal contribution to humanitarian support for Ukraine, and for active human rights and charitable work. “Mrs. “This achievement marks an unprecedented diplomatic initiative by an American First Lady. She has also been involved in diplomatic efforts to return Ukrainian children taken to Russia.
The Russian strikes took place soon after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed on X that he had a “very detailed, hour-and-a-half-long conversation” with US peace envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. Moscow’s adviser for international economic cooperation, Kirill Dmitriev and human rights ombudsman Yana Lantratova will meet the First Lady on Thursday “provided that all logistical arrangements work out”, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov revealed, according to Russia’s TASS news agency. Trump independently initiated engagement” to secure “a ceasefire in Oleshky and the surrounding Kherson region,” an official statement from the First Lady’s office read.
