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Zelenskyy Seeks Security Guarantees 11/06 06:36
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his
government is looking for specific guarantees from Western allies on how
post-war security support would function when the nearly-five-year war sparked
by Russia's full-scale invasion of his nation finally ends.
Zelenskyy's comments in an interview aired late Thursday came after two days
of discussions among allies concluded in Brussels that focused on post-war
security and reconstruction, and days before planned three-way talks next week
in Abu Dhabi between Ukraine, Russia and the United States, the first
trilateral peace discussions since February.
While talks on the contours of peace continue, the grim reality of war
remained front and center Friday in Ukraine, with more Russian drone attacks
and a rising death toll from Moscow's guided bomb strike Monday on a former
school operating as a humanitarian aid distribution center.
Zelenskyy seeks security guarantees for Ukraine
Two days of talks in Brussels discussed postwar reconstruction, funding for
2027 and security guarantees backed by the Ukrainian government's Western
allies. The meetings brought together officials from the U.S., U.K., France,
Germany and the European Union, along with representatives from the World Bank
and the U.S. investment group BlackRock, Ukrainian lead negotiator Rustem
Umerov wrote in an online post.
"We separately discussed the threats from Russia to Ukraine and all of
Europe, as well as joint steps to counter them," Umerov wrote.
In his television interview, Zelenskyy said he wants to see tangible results.
"What matters is that it's clear on paper," Zelenskyy said in an interview
with Ukraine's private 1+1 television broadcast late Thursday. "The question
isn't dozens of points, but simply an understanding of the outcome: If Russia
starts (attacking) again, what will happen? Who will do what, with what means,
and when? Those answers have to be clear, above all, to us Ukrainians."
Zelenskyy said it was important to maintain bipartisan support for Kyiv in
the United States but acknowledged Democrats' sweeping victories in this week's
midterm elections could have a positive effect on U.S. assistance, including
the faster delivery of Patriot missile interceptors that Kyiv says are vital to
fend off Russian airstrikes.
"I believe our chances of getting additional assistance from the United
States may now grow," he said.
Trump met a Russian envoy in Washington
President Donald Trump met Thursday with Moscow envoy Kirill Dmitriev but
declined to give details of what they discussed.
"There's going to be an agreement, it's going to be a big agreement and it's
going to involve more than Ukraine," Trump said, adding that it might include
all of Europe.
Trump, who has long boasted he could quickly broker an end to Russia's war
in Ukraine, has lately blamed Zelenskyy for refusing to make concessions to end
the conflict. Trump did not meet Thursday with visiting Ukrainian officials who
also were on hand for a ceremony in Washington with first lady Melania Trump.
Trump's son-in-law and envoy Jared Kushner said in a social media message
that the goal of the Brussels talks was to "develop practical arrangements that
address the security concerns of all sides, reduce the risk of future conflict
and create a more stable and predictable security environment."
Death toll climbs above 50 following Russian attack on aid location
The death toll from a Russian bomb attack this week on a shelter and a
former school now being used as an aid distribution center rose to 53 after
more bodies were recovered from the rubble, Mykhailo Semikin, acting head of
the region's military administration, said in an online post.
Ten powerful guided bombs destroyed the facility at Komyshuvakha, a village
in southeast Ukraine. Several dozen people are still believed to be missing
after what was one of the deadliest attacks in the region in nearly five years
of fighting.
Relentless drone war continues
Russian drones struck five districts of Ukraine's eastern Dnipropetrovsk
region more than 10 times overnight, regional administrator Oleksandr Hanzha
said. They damaged storage facilities, homes, cars and a sports complex.
Officials in the central Kirovohrad region said three people were wounded
when a drone struck a private residence and started a fire.
The Air Force said Russia launched 227 attack drones, including 86
jet-powered ones, with strikes reported at 14 locations and falling debris at
eight more. Overall, Ukraine's air defenses shot down or suppressed 196 Russian
drones overnight into Friday.
Russia's Ministry of Defense said Friday that it shot down 142 Ukrainian
drones overnight.
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