Zelenskyy calls for firm peace signals

Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Saturday that the recent humanitarian pause in Oleshky proves Russia can de-escalate when pressured. Speaking in Istanbul with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Zelenskyy argued that strong decisions are necessary to bring about peace. He insisted that Russia must receive consistent signals that there is no alternative to peace and that Western support for Ukraine will not wane.

The Ukrainian president noted that the humanitarian operation in the Kherson region over the past few days clearly demonstrates that de-escalation is possible. He emphasized that this progress occurred when Russia was placed in a position requiring it to take steps toward reducing hostilities. Zelenskyy and Erdoğan also discussed the possibility of trilateral talks involving the United States in early November. They explored other options, including ways to involve Turkey and the rest of Europe in the peace process.

In the United States, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there is growing interest in a limited ceasefire in the Black Sea. The goal is to ensure uninterrupted energy and grain shipments for both Russia and Ukraine. Rubio explained that the US is reviewing proposals from Turkey and India to restart grain shipments. This effort comes as Washington continues to push for a broader negotiated settlement. He described the current situation as a threat to global food and energy security.

Rubio made these remarks in Atlanta following a two-day G20 foreign ministers meeting. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attended the meeting despite objections from European and Canadian leaders. Rubio noted that while there is interest in partial deals to stop attacks on shipping, there is not yet full momentum. He urged both sides to act responsibly to protect civilian vessels in the Black Sea.

In Ukraine, evacuees from Oleshky reunited with family members after crossing into Ukrainian-held territory on Saturday. The US-brokered localized ceasefire allowed residents to leave the Russian-occupied area. Some evacuees, wrapped in Ukrainian flags, stepped off buses at the border. Valera, a 29-year-old former resident, told Agence France-Presse that some residents had to eat grass and dogs to survive. He described the situation as brutal and terrifying, with piles of bodies on the roads.

The truce in the southern Kherson region is expected to last until Sunday evening. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military announced it had hit a major missile fuel producer in Russia’s Rostov region. The overnight attack targeted Kombinat Kamensky, a state-owned chemical and defense enterprise in Kamensk-Shakhtinsky. Ukrainian drones and Neptune coastal missiles caused a fire that damaged four production facilities, according to the Ukrainian general staff.