Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on leaders from Latin America to assist Kyiv in acquiring essential equipment for repairing its power infrastructure. Speaking at a summit in Madrid on Thursday, the president stated that every power plant in Ukraine has sustained damage of some kind due to Russian attacks. He emphasized that repair crews are currently working around the clock to restore services and that the country requires significant international cooperation to rebuild its energy system.
Zelenskyy addressed a meeting on the sidelines of a summit hosted by the Ibero-American Community, a group comprising 22 nations that are primarily Spanish and Portuguese-speaking. He noted that companies in Spain and Latin America possess the capacity to support Ukraine’s recovery efforts. The Ukrainian leader stressed the urgency of the situation, explaining that the equipment needed must be compatible with the existing power grid and that it is required immediately.
In Washington, President Donald Trump indicated that a significant agreement with Russia is imminent. He made these remarks after an unscheduled meeting with Kirill Dmitriev, an envoy of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Dmitriev was at the White House for discussions with Ukrainian officials, which were hosted by US First Lady Melania Trump. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that the coming agreement would be very large in scope.
The US president suggested that the deal would extend beyond the immediate context of the Ukraine war and could potentially involve all of Europe. He expressed confidence that the outcome would please many parties, though he did not reveal the specific details of the discussions. Trump also noted that he had not met with the Ukrainian officials who were present at the White House on Thursday. These comments have raised concerns in Europe that the US may be pivoting toward the Kremlin, potentially pressuring Ukraine to accept a less favorable settlement to end the invasion.
On the battlefield, Russia and Ukraine continued to exchange overnight airstrikes. A second day of talks regarding Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction and security guarantees concluded in Brussels. In the Russian-occupied Luhansk region, a Ukrainian attack on a bus resulted in five deaths and 13 injuries, according to Leonid Pasechnik, the Moscow-backed leader of the region. Rescue operations are ongoing in Komyshuvakha, near the frontline in the Zaporizhzhia region, where more than 30 people are believed to be trapped in the wreckage of a former school and a nearby shelter damaged by Russian guided bombs on Monday.
Zelenskyy confirmed that 43 people have died in the Komyshuvakha incident. He also reported that one individual previously listed as missing had been found alive. Meanwhile, in Russia, the Ryazan oil refinery, one of the country’s largest, appeared to come under attack during a large overnight drone strike on industrial sites south-east of Moscow, based on video analysis by Reuters.
Leaked defense industry documents have revealed that Russia arranged to supply Iran with 90 launchers for advanced guided missiles. The documents, obtained by a Ukrainian private intelligence firm, highlight the depth of military cooperation between Moscow and Tehran. They detail plans to provide Iran with launchers for the LMUR, a guided missile system fired from attack helicopters that Russian forces have used extensively against Ukraine.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has criticized what she described as Europe’s disorderly approach to negotiations with Ukraine. In a letter seen by Agence France-Presse, Meloni demanded that the European Union determine who should speak on its behalf. She expressed frustration with the recent proliferation of meetings in various formats concerning the war. Meloni wrote that this lack of coordination is making European nations appear to lack credibility in handling one of their most complex challenges.
In response to Meloni’s letter, European Council chief António Costa agreed that Europe needs to act with coherence, unity, and determination. The exchange highlights the ongoing diplomatic tensions and the search for a unified strategy as the conflict enters its 1,717th day.
