Despite Putin declaring a unilateral ceasefire on Saturday and Kiev stating its willingness to support it, attacks continue in Ukraine as if nothing had happened. This morning, a Russian drone attack has resulted in at least nine deaths and several injuries in the mining city of Marhanets, in central Ukraine.
According to the governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, where Marhanets is located, one of the drones hit a bus full of workers on their way to work in this town. "There are many dead and injured," he stated in a release.
In diplomatic circles, Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed to the United States to halt its invasion of Ukraine and freeze the current front line, as reported by the British newspaper Financial Times. Ceasing hostilities and freezing the front line would mean that Russia renounces complete control over the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, of which it already occupies large sectors.
Trump's "final offer" for peace demands that Ukraine accept Russian occupation
The "final offer" made by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, to achieve peace in Ukraine includes U.S. recognition of Crimea as part of Russia and unofficial recognition of Russian control over almost all areas occupied since the 2022 invasion, reported Axios on Wednesday, according to Efe.
The U.S. expects a response from Ukraine to this offer on the same Wednesday, as indicated by the American media.
The one-page document presented by the United States to Ukrainian officials in Paris last week describes it as President Trump's "final offer."
The White House also emphasized that it is willing to withdraw from the process if the parties do not reach an agreement soon, as stated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio last weekend in Paris.
Russia launches 134 drones against Ukrainian territory
Russian forces launched a total of 134 drones against Ukrainian territory since last night, including attack drones and non-explosive replicas used to confuse enemy defenses, as reported by the Ukrainian Air Force on Wednesday, according to Efe.
Ukrainian defenses shot down 67 attack drones of the Shahed model acquired by Russia from Iran. These interceptions took place over regions in the east, north, south, and center of Ukraine.
Additionally, 47 replica drones fell without causing consequences, according to the Air Force report, which also reported damage in the regions of Kharkiv (northeast), Poltava and Dnipropetrovsk (center), Donetsk (east), Odesa (south), and Zaporizhzhia (southeast) as a result of the fall of Russian attack drones.
Ukraine shoots down 67 Russian drones in overnight attack
Russia launched 134 drones in overnight attacks against Ukraine, reported the Ukrainian Air Force on Wednesday. Air defense units shot down 67 drones, and another 47 were diverted through electronic warfare, the Air Force reported on Telegram. The attacks caused damage in six Ukrainian regions, it added.
Russia shoots down 11 Ukrainian drones over six of its regions and annexed Crimea
Russian anti-aircraft defenses shot down 11 Ukrainian drones last night over six regions of the country and the annexed Crimean peninsula, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported on its Telegram channel on Wednesday, according to Efe.
According to the military report, all the drones, fixed-wing aircraft, were shot down over the regions of Tula (3), Belgorod (2), Kursk (2), Bryansk (1), Kaluga (1), and Oryol (1). The remaining unmanned aerial vehicle was destroyed over the Crimea peninsula, annexed by Moscow in 2014.
Ukraine, US, and UK officials meet in London to push for end of war
Diplomats and Defense chiefs from the UK, US, European countries, and Ukraine will meet on Wednesday in London to push for a peace agreement between Moscow and Kiev, as reported by AP.
British Defense Secretary John Healey stated that the meeting of Foreign Ministers and National Security Advisors follows last week's talks in Paris and will address "how a ceasefire could be achieved and how to ensure long-term peace."
Among the attendees is retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, President Donald Trump's envoy for Ukraine and Russia. The US State Department confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was present at the Paris talks, cannot attend due to a scheduling conflict.
Ukraine summons Chinese ambassador to express "concern"
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Chinese ambassador on Tuesday to express "concern" about the presence, according to Kiev, of Chinese fighters in the Russian army and Chinese companies' assistance to Moscow in manufacturing military equipment, as reported by Afp.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that at least 155 Chinese individuals were fighting with the Russian army, two of whom were detained by Ukraine. He also claimed to have "information" that China is supplying weapons to Russia.
Beijing denied last week that it had supplied weapons to Russia.