KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – On Monday, Keith Kellogg, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, emphasized ongoing efforts to resolve the three-year conflict between Russia and Ukraine during his visit to Kyiv. He stated that officials are “working very, very hard” on initiatives to secure a peace settlement, amidst growing skepticism about the progress being made.
Kellogg outlined the goal of achieving “security guarantees” for Ukraine that would alleviate concerns about potential future invasions by Russia. He described this objective as a “work in progress,” which he discussed alongside various politicians, business leaders, and diplomats at Ukraine’s annual National Prayer Breakfast.
A week prior, Trump claimed he had initiated arrangements for direct peace talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. However, Russian officials have indicated that such a meeting is unlikely to happen imminently. Trump expressed that he would evaluate next steps within two weeks if direct discussions do not materialize.
The influx of high-ranking visitors to Kyiv in recent days underscores the urgent atmosphere surrounding the U.S.-led peace initiative. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney pledged 2 billion Canadian dollars in aid during his meeting with Zelenskyy on Sunday, while NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte was present in the Ukrainian capital on Friday. Additionally, Germany’s Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil arrived in Kyiv on Monday to explore ways to support Ukraine in a potential peace process.
In related developments, Putin engaged in a phone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The Kremlin noted the close relationship between Russia and Iran, while Putin has also strengthened ties with countries such as China, India, and North Korea, particularly as Western nations align with Ukraine’s stance in the conflict. Expectations are high for a meeting between Putin and Pezeshkian next week at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s annual summit in Tianjin.
Klingbeil conveyed to Zelenskyy the need for allies to discuss contingencies should President Putin persist in his war efforts. He reiterated Germany's commitment to support Ukraine. This sentiment was echoed earlier in the day by Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, who announced that Norway's military and civilian assistance to Ukraine would continue into the following year, seeking to allocate $8.45 billion to Ukraine from the Norwegian Parliament for 2024.
Store, who leads a country sharing a border with Russia, remarked that Ukraine is defending a significant principle on the European continent by resisting Russia's annexation of territory. Furthermore, Norway pledged around 7 billion kroner (approximately $695 million) for the procurement of air defense systems for Ukraine, while collaborating with Germany on two U.S.-made Patriot anti-missile systems.
In the military domain, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched 104 strike and decoy drones targeting Ukraine’s northern and eastern regions overnight, although no immediate damages or casualties were reported. Meanwhile, Ukraine has continued its offensive with long-range drone strikes against Russian infrastructure, impacting oil facilities, munitions depots, and transportation hubs, leading to significant disruptions in civilian flight operations.
On Sunday, a flight carrying Russian tourists from Sharm El Sheikh to St. Petersburg was diverted to Tallinn due to a temporary closure of St. Petersburg’s international airport caused by a drone attack. Concurrently, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have intercepted 23 Ukrainian drones over several regions, both at the border and further inland.
