Ukraine war latest: Russia gives more details ahead of peace talks with US - as Zelenskyy reveals 46,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed

 

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Arrives in Saudi Arabia Amid Diplomatic Talks on Ukraine

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in Saudi Arabia ahead of anticipated discussions with Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has provided an updated estimate on the number of Ukrainian soldiers killed in the ongoing conflict.

Despite an increase in diplomatic activity this week, a resolution to the war in Ukraine remains unlikely, according to a leading conflict expert.

Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman, emeritus professor of war studies at King's College London, told Sky News that a peace agreement involving only the US and Russia is unlikely to be effective.

He compared the situation to former President Donald Trump’s efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula through negotiations with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. "Eventually, it fell apart because the positions on each side were simply incompatible," Sir Lawrence said. "I'm skeptical that these talks will lead to anything substantial shortly."

Debate Over European Troop Deployment

Sir Lawrence also cautioned against labeling a potential European military presence in Ukraine as a "peacekeeping" force.

"We're far from reaching that point," he explained. "And this would not be a peacekeeping mission in the traditional sense, which implies neutrality. Instead, it would be a partial force positioned behind Ukrainian frontline troops to provide support in case Russia violates any agreement."

    German Chancellor Olaf Scholz

Germany has expressed willingness to send troops for a potential mission in Ukraine. A defense ministry spokesperson stated that Berlin would "not shy away" from involvement if a framework were established. However, they emphasized that discussions were still in the early stages.

Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has suggested that Britain would consider deploying troops to Ukraine if a peace deal were reached. In contrast, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has ruled out any such commitment, stating that Poland has "no plans" to contribute soldiers to such a force.

These statements come ahead of a European leaders' summit in Paris, where German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized the need for Europe to face future challenges with "strength and sovereignty."

Zelenskyy: Ukraine Must Be Involved in Any Peace Talks

President Zelenskyy has announced plans to visit Saudi Arabia but made it clear he will not engage with Russian officials during his trip.

His visit coincides with high-level US-Russia discussions on ending the war. However, he reiterated that any peace negotiations must involve Ukraine directly.

"I will never accept any decisions made solely between the United States and Russia about Ukraine. Never," Zelenskyy told NBC News. "This war is being fought in Ukraine, against us, and it is our people who are suffering the losses."

He also revealed that, according to Ukrainian estimates, at least 46,000 of the country’s soldiers have been killed in the conflict.

Zelenskyy has maintained that peace talks should follow a structured sequence: first, negotiations between Kyiv and Washington, then between Kyiv and European allies. Only after a unified stance is established would Ukraine consider direct talks with Russia.

However, former US President Donald Trump’s push for a swift resolution to the war has raised concerns that outside pressures could bypass Ukraine’s conditions for peace.