Three killed in Russia's Belgorod region by Ukrainian drone as Zelenskyy says US raised NATO-for-land question
A Ukrainian drone strike on Saturday killed a mother, a father and their 24-month-old daughter at their home in Proletarsky, a settlement in Russia's Belgorod region about 20 km (12 miles) from the Ukrainian border, according to Russian authorities. Russia's Ministry of Defence said its forces intercepted 29 Ukrainian drones overnight, several of them over the Moscow region. Ukraine's air force reported that Russia launched 96 drones from Friday evening, of which 81 were shot down or electronically suppressed by early Saturday. It recorded hits at eight locations and falling debris at two others, and a local power supplier reported outages in parts of northeastern Sumy.
The attack came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in remarks to reporters that were embargoed until Saturday, said US negotiators had asked during this week's Abu Dhabi talks whether Ukraine would withdraw its troops from Donbas in exchange for NATO membership. He said it was the first time the question had been put, but that no concrete offer exists. Donbas comprises Donetsk and Luhansk, two eastern regions partly occupied by Russia. Zelenskyy said Ukraine would not pull out its troops, though the issue could go to a referendum if Kyiv received firm security guarantees, funding for its armed forces and money for reconstruction. He also ruled out amending Ukraine's constitution to declare the country neutral, arguing this would not secure lasting security.
Moscow demands that Ukraine leave the areas it still controls and also opposes Kyiv joining NATO. The week's resumed US-mediated direct talks raised hopes of an early end to the war, but beyond renewed prisoner exchanges there appears to be little progress. European representatives are due to join the next round. Zelenskyy called the EU and NATO Europe's "only real security" and warned that Moscow's push to review the continent's security order is dangerous because such moves lead to wars or escalation.
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