Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been preparing to discuss a 20-point peace plan for Ukraine with Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday, following a ‘sick’ attack on Kyiv by Russia ITV News’ Sabah Choudhury reports
A missile and drone attack launched on Ukraine’s capital one day before peace talks with Donald Trump “really shows” that Vladimir Putin “doesn’t want peace”, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.
The Ukrainian President made the remarks as he met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Nova Scotia before flying to Florida to meet Trump on Sunday to discuss a possible end to Ukraine’s war with Russia.
The Kremlin remains to be sold on a 20-point peace due to be discussed with Russian President Vladimir Putin showing no signs of backing down as of Saturday.
Using a euphemism for the war in Ukraine, state media service TASS quoted Putin as saying: “If Kyiv is not willing to resolve the matter peacefully, Russia will accomplish all the aims of the special military operation by military means.”
Zelenskyy arrived in Canada on Saturday ahead of his trip to the US, meeting Carney in Halifax, Nova Scotia, less than a day after Russian strikes on Kyiv that killed at least one person and left at least 27 others wounded.
“This attack is Russia’s answer on our peace efforts. It really shows that (President Vladimir) Putin doesn’t want peace,” the Ukrainian leader said.
On his upcoming meeting with Trump, Zelenskyy said he hopes to have a “very important” and “very constructive” talks with Trump.
Carney announced $1.8 billion (£975m) worth of economic assistance to Ukraine that helps unlock financing from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank for reconstruction and development.
“The barbarism that we saw overnight, the attack of Kyiv, shows just how important that we stand with Ukraine during this difficult time,” the Canadian leader said.
In a social media post in the wake of the attacks, Zelenskyy said: “There have been many questions over the past few days – so where is Russia’s response to the proposals to end the war offered by the United States and the world?”
In reference to a type of ballistic missile and drone, Zelenskyy added: “Russian representatives engage in lengthy talks, but in reality, Kinzhals and ‘shaheds’ speak for them. This is the true attitude of Putin and his inner circle.”
Zelenskyy separately wrote: “If Russia turns even the Christmas and New Year period into a time of destroyed homes and burned apartments, of ruined power plants, then this sick activity can only be responded to with truly strong steps.
“The United States has this capability. Europe has this capability. Many of our partners have this capability. The key is to use it.”
He went on to say rescuers were still searching through rubble for a person believed to be trapped.
Two children were among those injured in Saturday morning’s attack, which affected seven places across the city, according to the head of Kyiv’s City Military Administration Tymur Tkachenko.
A fire broke out in an 18-story residential building in the Dnipro area of the city, and emergency crews rushed to the scene to contain the flames.
A 24-story residential building in Darnytsia was also hit, Tkachenko said, and more fires broke out in the Obolonskyi and Holosiivsky districts.
In the wider Kyiv region, the strikes hit industrial and residential buildings, according to Ukraine’s Emergency Service.
In the Vyshhorod area, emergency crews rescued one person found under the rubble of a destroyed house.
Zelenskyy and Trump will meet on Sunday for talks on bringing about an end to the war.
The Ukrainian leader said they plan to discuss issues including security guarantees and territorial issues in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.
On Friday, Zelenskyy said he could not say whether the upcoming meeting would lead to a firm peace agreement, but said the two sides would aim to “finalise as much as we can.”
Earlier on Friday, the Ukrainian leader had struck an optimistic note, writing on X that “a lot can be decided before the New Year.”
Zelenskyy told reporters that the 20-point peace plan hammered out by Ukrainian and US officials is “90% ready” and that he planned to discuss with Trump how Ukraine’s allies could guarantee its security in the future.
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