Ukraine-Russia battle reside: Zelensky assist posts cryptic ‘handshake’ emoji throughout US talks

Ukrainian media is reporting that the primary spherical of talks between Ukraine and the US this morning targeted on Kyiv’s proposal for a sea and air truce with Russia, and the minerals deal that was shelved after a spat between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky within the White Home.

Polish prime minister Donald Tusk has urged Ukraine and the US peace groups in talks in Saudi Arabia to not “waste this opportunity”.

“Expensive Individuals, pricey Ukrainians, don’t waste this opportunity. The entire world is watching you in Jeddah at present. Good luck!” he wrote on X.

The final time the 2 sides met, US president Donald Trump and vice chairman JD Vance berated Volodymyr Zelensky for not being grateful sufficient for American assist.

Andriy Yermak, the person main Ukraine’s peace delegation in Saudi Arabia, has simply posted a handshake emoji on social media.

May this imply that Ukraine and the US have signed a essential minerals deal that was shelved after a conflict between US president Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky final month?

We’ll deliver you extra after we know.

The scenario within the Russian border area of Kursk is “extraordinarily unhealthy”, battle trackers have mentioned, as Moscow’s troops launch a counteroffensive within the space.

Previously week, a fast Russian assault has diminished Ukraine’s partial maintain of the area by roughly half and threatened to encircle the troops remaining there.

Emil Kastehelmi, a navy analyst monitoring developments on the frontline for The Black Fowl Group, tells me it is a “important victory” for Russia.

“This can be very unhealthy. This may be thought-about a big Russian victory, as they had been in a position to comparatively rapidly drive the Ukrainians out of many of the salient rapidly,” he says.

He provides that the Ukrainians seem to have been caught off guard as their provide strains got here below risk.

For Ukraine, that is extra than simply dropping floor to Russia.

Kyiv had hoped to make use of its partial maintain of Kursk as a key bargaining chip to commerce land with Russia for Ukrainian-occupied territory.

That key bargaining chip may quickly be wrested away from them.

Under, you’ll be able to see the pace with which Russia is regaining territory. It covers modifications from 7 March to 9 March.

Talks between Ukraine and the US being held in Saudi Arabia have resumed after a lunch break.

The group broke for lunch round 12.35 pm GMT, having begun talks at round 9.15 am GMT.

Andriy Yermak, the pinnacle of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s workplace and the lead for Ukraine’s peace delegation, says they’re making “progress” throughout talks with the US in Saudi Arabia.

In the meantime, Donald Trump’s nationwide safety adviser advised reporters throughout a lunch break that they had been “getting there”.