Ukraine has announced its intention to reveal an exhaustive plan this year aimed at pacifying its ongoing conflict with Russia. Meanwhile, Moscow has criticised the United States for escalating its unmanned drone patrols over the Black Sea, aggravating the chance of a direct confrontation between Nato forces and the Kremlin.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the President of Ukraine, released a 10-point strategy for peace that was analysed at a Switzerland-based summit earlier this month. Approximately 80 nations were in attendance, with Russia noticeably absent due to lack of invitation, and China opting to abstain. Kyiv hopes to cultivate an international consensus around the initiatives before inviting Moscow to a subsequent summit.
On Friday, Zelenskiy stated that extensive efforts were being directed towards three primary aspects that were highlighted in the initial summit – ensuring food and energy securities and facilitating prisoner exchange. He expressed optimism about resolving these issues while suggesting a more comprehensive peace plan is in the pipeline for this year.
Speaking after a meeting in Kyiv with Slovenian president Natasa Pirc Musar, he affirmed, “We aspire for peace. However, we need to be powerful, that’s why we are expanding our military manufacturing. Russia only capitulates before power and respects the mighty.” He emphasised the need for strength both on the battlefield and strategic planning, assuring that a detailed action plan will be available this year.
On the other hand, Russia insists that peace talks in its absence are futile and mandates a resolution that recognises its occupation of territories in the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine, even ones out of its reach. Moscow also requires Ukraine to relinquish its aspirations of joining Nato.
China also proposed a peace plan outlining basic principles for a potential settlement, but it fails to acknowledge that Russia should cease its occupation of Ukrainian territory or suffer consequences for the wide-scale invasion launched in February 2022.
Despite failing to capture and maintain control over any regional capitals in Ukraine, the Kremlin states it’s waging a war against the “collective west” on Ukrainian soil, representing it as a struggle for Russia’s continued existence.
The defence ministry of Moscow acknowledged on Friday a rise in the number of US strategic drone flights over the Black Sea. These drones are claimed to perform surveillance and target identification for high-precision weaponry provided to Ukrainian armed forces by the West, intended for hitting Russian targets.
Such activities highlight the escalating involvement of the US and NATO countries in the Ukraine conflict, siding with the Kyiv regime, which Russia has pointed out. Moscow drew attention to the increased potential for mid-air incidents involving these flights and Russian aircraft, which heightens the chances of a direct clash between the NATO alliance and Russia.
Russia’s defence minister, Andrei Belousov, has instructed the military to table suggestions for swiftly reacting to provocations, the ministry revealed.
Last weekend, Moscow made a statement accusing the US of being accountable for a missile assault on Crimea, a region of Ukraine under Russian occupation. The attack reportedly resulted in four deaths and over a hundred injuries, with Russia alleging Ukraine’s military expedited the attack using US-provided missiles.
Ukraine retorted, attesting that a Russian airstrike on New York, an eastern village, led to four casualties and three injuries on Friday. Russia counterclaimed, stating it had intercepted 25 Ukrainian drones within its borders, one of which instigated a fire at an oil depot in Tambov, a central region.