Kyiv, 7 December (H.S.): Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed a very constructive Saturday telephone exchange with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law, emphasizing mechanisms to bind Russia to any prospective peace accord after nearly four years of conflict.

Joined by Miami-based negotiators Rustem Umerov and Andrii Hnatov amid their third day of US-brokered discussions on a 28-point framework, Zelenskyy affirmed Kyiv's commitment to good-faith collaboration, targeting an end to bloodshed and averting future invasions.

Russia rebuffed overtures with a ferocious overnight barrage of 653 drones and 51 missiles, devastating energy facilities across eight regions, obliterating Fastiv's main railway station southwest of Kyiv, and triggering widespread blackouts, even as nuclear plants curtailed output.

Ukrainian defenses intercepted 585 drones and 30 missiles, yet the onslaught wounded civilians and drew sharp rebukes from Zelenskyy as militarily senseless targeting of civilian lifelines.

Moscow claimed retaliation against military-industrial and port assets.

European leaders rallied in solidarity, with French President Emmanuel Macron pledging full backing post-Zelenskyy call and confirming Monday London summit attendance alongside UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to assess US mediation and security guarantees.

Starmer underscored Ukraine's self-determination, while Putin dismissed any peacekeeping force as illegitimate targets. Witkoff's Friday statement stressed Russia's de-escalation imperative for lasting peace.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar