A Russian overnight attack on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, the country's second most populous city before the Moscow-launched invasion in February 2022, left four dead and 17 injured, as announced by the mayor early Sunday to Monday.
"There are 17 injured. Four people have lost their lives," declared Igor Terekhov, the mayor of this city near the Russian border. "Despite the peace negotiations" regarding Ukraine, "Russian troops attacked (...) residential buildings," he added.
Zelensky says Kiev will continue working with US peace proposals
Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, stated on Monday that Kiev will continue working with its partners on commitments regarding the US peace proposals to strengthen, not weaken, Ukraine.
In a video conference intervention at a Crimea Platform summit held in Sweden, Zelensky emphasized that Russia must be held accountable for the war in Ukraine and that a decision on the use of frozen Russian assets is crucial.
Hungarian Foreign Minister says Europe must support the 28-point peace plan
The 28-point peace plan is a significant opportunity to end the war in Ukraine, and every European politician has a duty to fully and unconditionally support it, wrote Hungarian Foreign Minister, Peter Szijjarto, on Monday.
On Sunday, Europeans presented a modified version of the US peace plan for Ukraine that rejects the proposed limits on the Kiev army and territorial concessions.
Russia attacks civilian infrastructure in three regions of Ukraine
Russia launched a total of 162 drones of various types last night, targeting civilian infrastructure in the Ukrainian regions of Chernihiv (north), Kharkiv (northeast), and Dnipropetrovsk (central-east), as reported by the Ukrainian Air Force on Monday.
Around eighty of the drones were unmanned attack aircraft Shahed.
Ukrainian defenses neutralized 125 drones of various types, while another 37 were not intercepted and hit fifteen different locations in the country, unspecified by the Air Force.
EU leaders hold informal summit on Ukraine in Luanda
EU heads of state and government will hold an informal summit on Monday in the Angolan capital, Luanda, to discuss issues such as the US peace plan for Ukraine, which was debated by Ukrainian, US, and European delegations on Sunday in Geneva.
The informal summit will take place on Monday at 10:30 am (same time as in mainland Spain), according to EU sources consulted by Europa Press. The meeting will continue contacts and exchanges between European countries regarding the US initiative for Ukraine.
This past Saturday, EU and UK Foreign Ministers held a phone conference to address the proposal. "I will present our suggestions on the Russian-American peace plan," noted Polish Foreign Minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, referring to the Russian-authored text that Warsaw denounces. "Naturally, nothing concerning Poland can be decided without our consent," he emphasized.
Finnish Stubb celebrates progress in US-Ukraine talks
Finnish President, Alexander Stubb, celebrated the progress made in the meetings between the United States and Ukraine held on Sunday in Geneva, but stated that there are still significant issues to be resolved.
German Foreign Minister says Geneva talks achieved "decisive success" for Europeans
German Foreign Minister, Johann Wadephul, stated on Monday that the talks between the United States and Ukraine in Geneva to modify a 28-point plan aimed at ending the war with Russia had achieved a "decisive success" for Europeans.
"All issues affecting Europe, including those related to NATO, have been removed from this plan; this is a decisive success we achieved yesterday," declared Wadephul to Deutschlandfunk radio.
"From the beginning, it was clear, as we have reiterated, that any agreement should not be reached behind the backs of Europeans and Ukrainians."
Aonishiki, the first Ukrainian to win a sumo title, expresses surprise
Sumo wrestler Danylo Yavhusishyn said on Monday that he had even surprised himself by becoming the first Ukrainian to win a tournament in this ancient Japanese sport.
This 21-year-old, who fled the war in Ukraine three years ago, won the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament after defeating Mongolian grand champion Hoshoryu in a tiebreaker on Sunday.
The victory earned Yavhusishyn, known by his stage name Aonishiki, his first title in just his fourteenth competition.
This week, he will be promoted to the second-highest sumo rank, ozeki, a success that, he admitted, has exceeded his expectations.
Washington and Kiev affirm peace agreement will maintain Ukraine's "full sovereignty"
Ukraine's sovereignty must be fully respected in any future agreement to halt the war with Russia, stated US and Ukrainian authorities amid peace negotiations in Geneva.
The discussions focused on a US 28-point plan promoted by Donald Trump, aimed at ending nearly four years of conflict triggered by the Russian invasion.
"We have made huge progress," and "I can tell you that the remaining issues are not insurmountable. We just need more time," declared Rubio to journalists, without providing further details and emphasizing that the Russians will have a "say in the matter."
Russia shoots down 93 Ukrainian drones overnight
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported on Monday that air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 93 Ukrainian drones overnight.
The drones were shot down over four regions, including 45 in the border region of Belgorod, as well as over the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.
US and Ukraine report progress in ending war with Russia
US and Ukrainian envoys reported progress on Sunday towards ending the war between Russia and Kiev, but provided few details as they discussed the American peace proposal that has raised concerns among many of Washington's European allies that the plan may be too conciliatory towards Moscow.
US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, stated that the high-level talks in Geneva were "very valuable" and constituted the most productive day in "a long time."
"I am very optimistic that we can achieve something," Rubio affirmed.
Four dead and 17 injured in a Russian attack on KharkivAn overnight Russian attack on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, the country's second most populous city before the Moscow-launched invasion in February 2022, left four dead and 17 injured, as announced by the mayor from Sunday night to Monday.
"There are 17 injured. Four people have lost their lives," declared Igor Terekhov, the mayor of this city near the Russian border. "Despite peace negotiations" regarding Ukraine, "Russian troops attacked (...) residential buildings," he added.