Zelensky reopens dialogue with Putin to end the war in Ukraine despite faltering peace efforts and escalating fighting on the ground

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that a meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin would be the most effective way to make progress toward ending the war, as his country celebrated Independence Day and exchanged prisoners of war with Russia.

On the ground, the Ukrainian military announced that its forces had recaptured three villages in the Russian-controlled Donetsk region, in addition to launching drone strikes on Russian territory, one of which caused a fire at a nuclear power plant near the city of Kursk.

After intensive diplomatic efforts and pressure from US President Donald Trump to broker a summit between his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts, prospects for peace appeared faltering on Friday when Russia ruled out any imminent meeting between Putin and Zelensky.

However, Zelensky stressed on Sunday that talks between presidents are the most effective way to make progress, renewing his call for a bilateral summit with Putin.

During Independence Day celebrations attended by US envoy Keith Kellogg and other Western officials, Zelensky said, “Together, we Ukrainians and our partners are working to move Russia toward peace… And its possible”.

The US envoy was awarded the Ukrainian Order of Merit during the ceremony.

In Moscow, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Western countries of seeking to disrupt the negotiations, denouncing Zelensky’s obstinate stance, setting conditions, and demanding an immediate meeting at any cost with Putin.

Lavrov said on Friday that there is no meeting planned between Putin and Zelensky.

Ukraine and Russia also announced on Sunday the return of 146 prisoners of war and civilians, in the latest exchange between the two sides.

Reporters Without Borders welcomed the release of Ukrainian journalists Dmitry Khylyuk and Mark Kalyus, but condemned their abduction and ill-treatment while in detention.

The three-and-a-half-year war, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives, has reached a near-stalemate, although Russia has recently made slow progress, seizing control of two villages in the eastern Donetsk region on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi announced on Sunday that his forces had recaptured three villages in the Donetsk region.

“Our forces successfully launched a counterattack and drove the enemy out of the villages of Mykhailivka, Zeleny Gai, and Volodymyrivka in the Donetsk region”.

Also, on Sunday, Ukraine launched drones into Russian territory, one of which was shot down over the Kursk nuclear power plant in western Russia. Its explosion caused a fire, according to the facility.

The station’s management announced that the fire had been extinguished, confirming that there were no injuries or increased radiation levels.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly warned of the risks of fighting around nuclear power plants following the war in February 2022.

Russian authorities also announced the downing of Ukrainian drones, sometimes over areas far from the front line, including St. Petersburg in northwestern Russia.

“Ten drones were shot down over the port of Ust-Luga on the Gulf of Finland, causing a fire at a fuel station owned by Russian energy group Novatek,” regional governor Alexander Drodzhenko wrote on Telegram.

The Ukrainian military has relied heavily on drones to respond to the Russian invasion, specifically targeting oil infrastructure to strike a major source of revenue for Moscow to fund the war.

Russia has seen a sharp rise in fuel prices since the attacks began.

For its part, Ukraine announced that Russia attacked it overnight with a ballistic missile and 72 Iranian-made Shahed drones, 48 ​​of which were shot down, according to the Air Force.

Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that Moscow and Kyiv had exchanged 146 prisoners of war from each side, adding to a series of releases of hundreds of prisoners of war this year.

“On August 24, 146 Russian servicemen returned from territories controlled by Kyiv,” the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a post on Telegram, adding, “In return, 146 prisoners of war from the Ukrainian Armed Forces were transferred” to Ukraine.

As Ukraine commemorated its independence in 1991 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Zelensky said in a speech on the occasion, “This is how Ukraine is struck when its calls for peace are ignored”.

He added, “Today, the United States and Europe agree that Ukraine has not yet fully won, but it certainly won’t lose… Ukraine has gained its independence… Ukraine isn’t a victim; it is a fighter”.

Meanwhile, Norway announced that it will contribute 7 billion kroner ($700 million) as part of its pledge, together with Germany, to supply Ukraine with two complete US-made Patriot systems owned by Germany.

The Norwegian government said in a statement that the two systems are located in Germany and will be delivered to Ukraine as soon as possible.