Europe cannot be sidelined in Ukraine peace process – Zelenskyy

In his evening address, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reaffirmed Ukraine’s readiness for talks with Russia to end its full-scale aggression, emphasizing that European and U.S. involvement in such negotiations is essential.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy

The President of Ukraine summarized his discussions with Ukraine’s European and U.S. partners, stating that they all agree: “It is Russia that must agree to a ceasefire and real diplomacy that can guarantee peace.”

He also emphasized that Russia’s war against Ukraine is “a war in Europe and against Europe.”

“All the decisions that will be made to end this war and ensure security genuinely concern the whole of Europe, not just any one party. That is why Europe’s voice must influence the processes,” Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy also said his government coordinates with European leaders “on our talks and meetings to align all positions, and also on the work each of us is doing with other leaders to defend Europe’s positions.”

“We are planning some meetings on the continent,” he announced.

Zelenskyy earlier reported that officials discussed potential formats for high-level meetings during a Tuesday phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump and European leaders.

As of 12:35 a.m., an air alert has been declared in the capital of Ukraine. 

Previously, ZMINA reported that a new poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) showed that 76% of Ukrainians categorically reject any “peace plan” on Russian terms, viewing Russia as the aggressor state. Meanwhile, 17% may agree to Russia’s demands. Ukrainians consider a joint peace plan by Europe and Ukraine the most acceptable.

On 28 July, the day that U.S. President Donald Trump announced a new deadline for Russian ruler Vladimir Putin to end the war, Russia killed 22 civilians and injured 85 others in Ukraine. Seventy-three Ukrainian cities and villages came under Russian attack that day. 

As is known, including  China, North Korea, India, and Brazil, assist Moscow in killing citizens of Ukraine in Russia’s war, including funding the Russian budget through trade. 

The European Union intends to push for sanctions against China over its support for Russia in the war against Ukraine. An unnamed EU diplomat, in comments to a Politico journalist, said that the EU made this move following a July report by Reuters, which revealed that Russia had secretly obtained Chinese engines for drones.

Companies reportedly shipped the engines to Russia via front companies under the label of “industrial refrigeration units” to circumvent Western sanctions.

The report raised an alarm in Brussels. Fifteen EU member states contacted Beijing about the deliveries, but China either denied involvement or refused to respond.

Previously, Reuters reported that Russian energy giant Gazprom’s average daily natural gas supplies to Europe increased by 37% in July from a month earlier, when maintenance work reduced them.

Reuters also reported that a top aide to President Donald Trump on Sunday accused India of effectively financing Russia’s war in Ukraine by purchasing oil from Moscow, after the U.S. leader escalated pressure on New Delhi to stop buying Russian oil.