😵‍💫💬🇺🇸🇪🇺🇷🇺 — 🇺🇦 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky:

"The complexity of the entire diplomatic situation is that this war was started by Russia – and only Russia, and throughout the full-scale war it is Russia and only Russia that does not want to end the war. From the very first moments of February 24, Putin has been conducting this war in such a way that he does not care how many of his own people he loses and how many of our people he kills.

Russian commanders do not just have a desire to act cruelly – they have clear orders that they can kill as they please. That is why the Russian war is so bloody and takes lives both on the front lines and in peaceful Ukrainian cities. That is why Russia not only kills adults but also kidnaps children and tries to re-educate them so that they will participate in the war when they grow up.

Now Russian commanders are throwing into assaults against Ukrainian positions those who were still in elementary school in 2014, when Crimea was occupied and hybrid aggression against Ukraine began. This is a long war, and the main thing Russia is trying to do is to keep the possibility of fighting even longer and not only against Ukraine. That is why we so appreciate that so many forces and leaders are working for peace now.

Ukraine is grateful to the United States, to every American heart, and personally to President Trump for the help that, starting with the Javelins, saves the lives of Ukrainians. We thank everyone in Europe, in the Group of Seven and the Group of Twenty, who help us protect lives. It is important to maintain support.

It is important not to forget the main goal – to stop the Russian war and not allow it to flare up again someday. And for this to happen, peace must be dignified. Just this year alone, Putin has already sent hundreds of thousands of his people to their deaths to occupy a percentage or a few of Ukrainian territory. And this is done by Russia, which already has more internationally recognized territory than anyone else in the world. Such a nature of the war and Russia's attempt to prolong the war show that for them it is not about territory, not about how a particular neighbor of Russia behaves, but about Russia's "right to war," about the "right to subjugate" others, about a fundamental lack of security.

That is why we work so carefully on every point, on every step toward peace. Everything must work correctly – so that this war really ends and so that a repeat of the war is not allowed. Thank you to everyone who helps! Thank you, America! Thank you, Europe! I am proud of our people. Glory to Ukraine!"

🔗 Source:

🇷🇺🇺🇦🇺🇸Umerov at negotiations in the USA agreed to the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbass and the reduction of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to 600,000 people.

Later, this formed the basis of Trump's plan for Ukraine, writes Washington Post columnist David Ignatius.

According to him, negotiations on the new plan began almost a month ago, led by Americans in consultation with Russian, European, and Ukrainian partners.

"The process peaked last weekend after a senior Turkish official informed Whitkoff that Rustem Umerov was ready to meet him in Florida. According to American officials, at the meeting in Florida, Umerov stated that Zelensky might be ready to compromise on the crucial issue of exchanging territory in Donetsk for a peace agreement, as demanded by Russia. Umerov also said that Ukraine might agree to limit the size of its army to 600,000," Ignatius writes, citing officials.

Recall that Umerov himself denied agreeing to any points of Trump's plan.

At the same time, the White House claimed his direct involvement in preparing the plan.

It was previously reported that Ukraine might have known about Trump's plan since the end of October.

🇸🇩 Sudan is one of Africa’s leading gold producers, with deposits across the northeast, centre and the south.

Since the war began, control over gold mines and trade routes has become a critical source of funding for both sides.

🔗 Al Jazeera