Despite a phone call between the Russian and US leaders that initially supported a 30-day ceasefire at energy facilities, Ukraine launched an attack on an oil depot near a Russian village.
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| The two presidents of Russia and the United States had a phone call on March 18 that was considered effective on resolving the conflict in Ukraine. (Source: Shutterstock) |
Reuters news agency quoted an announcement from the government of Russia's Krasnodar region on March 18 saying that Ukraine carried out a drone attack on an oil depot near the village of Kavkazskaya and caused a fire.
The Krasnodar Emergency Services Agency said Russia had repelled the attack, but a fire broke out at the oil depot due to debris falling from the interception.
On the Telegram app, Krasnodar authorities confirmed that no one was injured in the incident. The fire only covered an area of 20 square meters and 30 employees at the oil depot were evacuated. Operations at the facility have now been suspended.
The incident took place in the context of a late night conversation between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on March 18, in which the White House boss proposed that the parties in the conflict in Ukraine refrain from attacking each other's energy facilities for 30 days.
The Kremlin announced that President Putin actively supported this proposal and gave corresponding orders to the military. At the same time, the Russian leader also made a key demand for preventing the escalation of the conflict: countries stop providing aid and sharing intelligence with Ukraine.
After the phone call, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff announced that the US and Russia will continue to have important negotiations on March 23 about the conflict in Ukraine in the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Speaking on Fox News ' Hannity show, Mr. Witkoff said the US delegation will be led by National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Mr. Witkoff emphasized: "The important thing is the details. We will send a working group to Saudi Arabia to clarify the necessary issues."
Meanwhile, in response to the phone call between the Russian and US presidents, European leaders expressed their welcome.
On the evening of March 18, in a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, British Prime Minister Keir Starme welcomed the progress that Mr. Trump had made and emphasized that the negotiations must lead to a "fair and lasting" peace for Ukraine.
Mr Starmer also reaffirmed Britain's "unwavering support" for Ukraine.
At a joint press conference in Berlin with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomed the halt in attacks on energy infrastructure. He stressed that this could be an “important first step” towards a just and lasting peace for Ukraine. The next step must be “a complete ceasefire as quickly as possible.”
The German Chancellor also said that Berlin had discussed in depth with the leaders of France and Ukraine the results of the Russia-US summit phone call. He reaffirmed that Ukraine "can count on support from Germany and Europe", and said that support from the US is indispensable.
Mr. Scholz also stressed the importance of strengthening European defense cooperation, especially in the context of the conflict in Ukraine that continues to cause widespread impacts across the region.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron noted: "The goal must be a measurable and verifiable ceasefire, fully respected... a solid and lasting peace with accompanying guarantees."
Both the German and French leaders affirmed that no decision would be taken without Ukraine's participation.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/ukraine-tan-cong-kho-chua-dau-nga-chau-au-noi-gi-ve-dien-dam-trump-putin-308129.html
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