TERNOPIL, Ukraine: A source told AFP on Wednesday that a Russian strike in western Ukraine killed 26 people, including three children, and that Kyiv would have to give up land and cut its army in half as part of a fresh US peace deal. The plan seems to restate Russia’s maximalist demands for an end to the conflict, which Ukraine has repeatedly rejected as being equivalent to surrender. The unexpected move coincides with one of the bloodiest attacks on western Ukraine since the invasion started in 2022, when Russian missiles struck the city of Ternopil, which is far from the battle line.
During a visit to Turkey, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attempted to re-engage US President Donald Trump’s administration in the peace process, but an American ambassador who was supposed to accompany him did not show up. According to an unnamed source acquainted with the draft US peace proposal, “recognition of Crimea and other regions that the Russians have taken” and “reduction of the army to 400,000 personnel” are included.
Additionally, Ukraine would have to surrender its long-range weaponry. “An important nuance is that we don’t understand whether this is really Trump’s story” or one of “his entourage’s” , according to the official. The insider claimed that it was “unclear” what Russia was expected to do in exchange. According to US broadcaster CBS News, which cited the US military, US Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll arrived in Kyiv at the same time, heading a prominent Pentagon group to meet Ukrainian leaders and try to resolve the dispute. On Wednesday, Driscoll had a meeting with Denys Shmygal, the Ukrainian minister of defense.
Oleksandr Syrsky, the top military leader of Ukraine, reported that he and the US team had a “productive” discussion. “I once again stressed that reinforcing the protection of Ukraine’s airspace, expanding our long-range strike capabilities against enemy military targets and maintaining and stabilising the front line will undermine the offensive potential of the adversary,” he said on social media.
Axios, an American media outlet, previously revealed that Washington and Moscow were developing a covert strategy to put an end to the nearly four-year conflict. The Kremlin later stated that there was no fresh development in the peace settlement process and declined to comment on the report. The White House has been contacted by AFP for comment.
Currently, Russia controls around 25% of Ukraine, much of which has been devastated by conflict. “Too late” After cruise missiles crashed into residential buildings in Ternopil, AFP witnessed scores of rescuers sifting through debris and utilizing cranes to get to the demolished structure. Immediately after explosions were heard at 7:00 am (0500 GMT), thick grey smoke filled the streets. The 200,000 people of Ternopil were urged to stay indoors and shut their windows after city officials claimed that the fires had caused the air’s chlorine levels to rise to six times the usual amount. Oksana, 46, was waiting for word on her 20-year-old son, Bohdan, while wrapped in a pink blanket. “My son stayed at home while I went to work.
The family lived on the ninth floor, according to her sister Natalia Bachinska. “Their apartment is completely gone… I called him from the minibus and said ‘Bohdan, get dressed and come out,'” she said. “He said: ‘Mum, don’t worry, everything will be fine.’ But it was too late,” she told AFP. He is still missing. According to the state emergency agency, 26 people—including three children—were killed and another 92 people—including eighteen children—were injured.
“These were people who were simply at home, peacefully sleeping,” Zelensky stated. The amount of civilian deaths in the bombing “appalled” UN human rights chief Volker Turk. “The horror of powerful long-range missiles combined with waves of drones increasingly being used by Russian forces was again painfully laid bare in Ukraine this morning,” Turk said in a press release. “This is how Russia’s ‘peace plans’ look in reality,” stated Andriy Sybiga, the foreign minister of Ukraine. – Winter is approaching. The attack on Ternopil coincided with Russia attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in preparation for winter and with Kyiv’s overextended forces facing pressure on the front lines.
In an attempt to re-engage the United States in the war effort, Kyiv had proposed Zelensky’s unannounced journey to Turkey. However, Steve Witkoff, Trump’s envoy, did not fly after Ukraine stated he was anticipated to attend the negotiations. Furthermore, no Russian officials were in attendance. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey, called on the warring parties to participate in negotiations in Istanbul, where three rounds of talks this year have only resulted in the return of dead soldiers and the exchange of prisoners.
By the end of the year, Zelensky expressed his desire to start exchanging prisoners of war with Russia. However, Ukraine’s primary hope is that Washington can use sanctions, among other means, to force Russia to the bargaining table. Russian forces are advancing slowly but steadily on the battlefield, and Moscow is adamant that it will continue to fight if Ukraine does not comply with its demands.
