Ukraine has sought the support of United States negotiators to liaise with Russia for an “end to the war”.
In a significant diplomatic move, President Volodymyr Zelenskiyy announced that Ukraine has submitted a comprehensive peace proposal to U.S. negotiators, aiming to bring an end to the prolonged conflict with Russia that has endured for over four years.
During his regular evening video address, Zelenskiyy stated, “We have communicated our proposals to the American side.”
“The United States has the potential to bolster our defense capabilities, particularly in air defense, and can exert influence on Russia. This is crucial not only to alter Russia’s current strategy but also to push for a resolution that ends the war rather than extends it.”
In a related development, Zelenskiyy on Tuesday accused Russia of employing North Korean ballistic missiles during an attack on a Ukrainian steel plant, which tragically claimed the lives of seven workers in the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia.
The attack inflicted substantial damage on the Zaporizhstal plant, halting its operations. Russian forces reportedly used a combination of Zircon hypersonic missiles, guided aerial bombs, and ballistic missiles in the assault, intensifying the bombardment of Zaporizhzhia.
“The ballistic missile strike hit as employees were making their way to a shelter immediately after the air-raid alert was sounded,” parent company Metinvest Group said in a statement that put the death toll at seven.
Regional governor Ivan Fedorov posted photos of buildings and vehicles ablaze after the strike, which also damaged four residential buildings.
At least 24 people were injured.
No damage was reported at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Russia’s defence ministry said Russian forces had struck a metallurgical plant in Zaporizhzhia that produces flat-rolled steel which it said was used by the Ukrainian military.
The ministry also said Russian forces had struck the Nova Poshta sorting complex in Kyiv, which it described as used to distribute dual-use goods including components for drones and electronic warfare equipment.
The attacks followed a Ukrainian drone strike that Russian authorities said on Monday had killed at least 13 people and wounded 39 in Nizhnekamsk, one of the heaviest civilian tolls in Russia in months.
Ukrainian forces said they had hit the city’s TANECO oil refinery.