Russia-Ukraine war: Fresh attacks kill at least 25, Volodymyr Zelensky asks for peace talks to ‘move quickly’

Intensifying Russian attacks have killed at least 25 people in Ukraine, as Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky and nearby European neighbours plead for peace.

In Donetsk Region, at least 11 people have died, with 40 people, including six children, have been left seriously wounded.

Others have been hurt from additional attacks in Kharkiv and Odesa.

Following the fresh attacks, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said: “This is what happens when someone appeases barbarians.”

“More bombs, more aggression, more victims,” he wrote on social media.

Following a train wreck meeting with United States President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D Vance and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House last week, the US paused the sharing of intelligence with Ukraine.

The move, mixed with Russia ramping out military action, has seen more destruction and death in the region.

Mr Zelensky says Ukraine is “fully committed” to having a constructive dialogue with US representatives in Saudi Arabia next week over ways to end the war with Russia.

Since taking office in January, Mr Trump has also paused US military aid to Ukraine.

He has accused Mr Zelensky of not being serious about reaching a peace agreement with Russia, which invaded Ukraine three years ago and has seized about 20 per cent of its territory.

“Ukraine has been seeking peace from the very first second of this war. Realistic proposals are on the table. The key is to move quickly and effectively,” Mr Zelensky said on social media network X.

Mr Zelensky said he would visit Saudi Arabia next week and that after meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman on Monday, Ukrainian diplomatic and military representatives would stay for a meeting on Tuesday with the US team.

“On our side, we are fully committed to constructive dialogue, and we hope to discuss and agree on the necessary decisions and steps,” he said.

On Friday, Mr Trump took to Truth Social to call for peace.

“Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely ‘pounding’ Ukraine on the battlefield right now, I am strongly considering large-scale banking sanctions, sanctions, and tariffs on Russia until a cease fire and final settlement agreement on peace is reached. ,” Mr Trump said.

“To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late. Thank you!!!”

The Ukrainian delegation will include Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Zelensky’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak and Defence Minister Rustem Umerov.

Mr Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff has also said he was in discussions with Ukraine for a framework deal to end the three-year war with Russia, and a meeting was planned next week with a Ukrainian delegation in Saudi Arabia.

In February, Saudi Arabia hosted a meeting between US and Russian officials to discuss ways to halt the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II.

Ukraine was not included in those talks, raising concern among officials in Kyiv and among its European allies.

Meanwhile, war bloggers and a senior Russian commander said on Saturday that Russian troops had launched a large-scale offensive to retake swaths of the western Kursk region from Ukrainian forces.

Ukrainian troops invaded Russia’s Kursk region last summer, taking chunks of territory in an unexpected lightning attack more than two years after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine.

“In all directions of the Kursk section of the front, all units have launched a large-scale offensive,” Major General Apti Alaudinov, commander of a Chechen unit fighting for Russia in Kursk, said on Telegram.

“The enemy is abandoning its positions.”

Reuters was unable to verify the situation on the battlefield.

Ukraine’s military did not immediately comment.

Open source maps showed this week that Ukraine’s positions in Kursk have deteriorated sharply and its troops are nearly surrounded by Russian forces.

Pro-Russian war blogger Two Majors said on Saturday that Russian troops had begun an assault on Sudzha, a town 9.5km from the border with Ukraine, and that the situation for Ukrainian troops there was “close to critical”.

Major General Alaudinov said Russian airborne brigades, motorised rifle regiments and the Akhmat special forces were taking part in “fierce battles” and “our guys are moving forward very well”.

Russian troops recaptured three villages in Kursk - Viktorovka, Nikolaevka and Staraya Sorochina - from Ukraine on Saturday, the defence ministry said.

Reuters could not independently verify its report.

- with Reuters