A ceasefire brokered by the United States between Russia and Ukraine was set to end on Monday amid accusations from both sides of violating the 72-hour agreement. American and European officials were contemplating ways to guide the conflicting nations towards further negotiations.
Ukrainian officials reported that Russian drones, bombs, and artillery targeted civilian areas in the northeastern Kharkiv and southern Kherson regions, resulting in the deaths of at least two individuals and injuries to seven others, including a 14-year-old boy.
The Russian Defence Ministry claimed that the military had strictly adhered to the ceasefire while accusing Ukraine of repeated breaches of the agreement.
Previous ceasefire attempts following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine over four years ago have not succeeded in halting the conflict, and diplomatic initiatives led by the U.S. in the past year have yielded no results.
According to the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, data from NASA observations indicated a decrease in military activities but did not completely stop following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had accepted a ceasefire from Saturday to Monday to coincide with Victory Day, a Russian commemoration of the defeat of Nazi Germany.
The institute emphasized that ceasefires lacking explicit enforcement mechanisms, credible monitoring, and defined dispute resolution processes are unlikely to be effective.
Trump mentioned a planned exchange of prisoners, suggesting that the temporary halt in hostilities could signal the “beginning of the end” of the war. Zelenskyy confirmed preparations for a prisoner exchange involving 1,000 individuals from each side.
However, there are no indications that both parties are willing to shift from their primary negotiating stances. Putin aims to control the entire Donbas region, Ukraine’s industrial core, despite not fully capturing it, while Zelenskyy refuses to surrender it. Zelenskyy has proposed a ceasefire and a direct meeting with Putin, which the Russian leader rejected until a negotiated settlement is nearly finalized.
Putin suggested the possibility of former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder acting as a mediator over the weekend, but German and European officials dismissed this idea, acknowledging that the European Union could play a more significant role in peace efforts after being largely sidelined by Washington.
Amid these developments, Finnish President Alexander Stubb emphasized the need for Europe to engage directly with Moscow to address the ongoing conflict.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stressed the importance of defining clear objectives before engaging in negotiations with Russia.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha participated in a meeting with EU foreign ministers in Brussels, emphasizing the need for continued U.S. leadership in peace talks while acknowledging the potential role of Europe in the process.
Zelenskyy highlighted ongoing communication with representatives of the Trump administration, revealing recent meetings between Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council chief, and U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Sybiha pointed out Ukraine’s enhanced battlefield performance in recent months, attributing this to the country’s utilization of advanced drone technology and missiles to target deep locations within Russia.
Drone technology driving success
The innovative use of drone technology has significantly contributed to Ukraine’s military achievements, attracting international attention and support.
Zelenskyy mentioned that nearly 20 countries worldwide are in various stages of negotiating deals with Ukraine for battle-tested drones, leading to enhanced international cooperation and support for Ukraine.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius visited Kyiv to bolster defense cooperation between Germany and Ukraine, underscoring Germany’s role as a key provider of security assistance to Ukraine.
Germany’s assistance includes air defense missiles and financing for the production of medium- and long-range strike drones, crucial for conducting deep-strike operations.