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Ukraine war briefing: France, Germany and UK make push in Moscow for peace talks

Ukraine war briefing: France, Germany and UK make push in Moscow for peace talks
NEWS SUMMARY
British, French, and German ambassadors urged direct Russia-Ukraine talks at Russia's foreign ministry on Thursday, conveying conclusions from a UK summit supporting President Zelenskyy's call for dialogue. Meanwhile, Ukrainian drone strikes have critically damaged supply routes to Crimea, including the Chonhar Bridge, causing fuel shortages and halting military cargo traffic by 71% over two weeks.
Full BriefGenerated 62d ago
What Happened
On Thursday, the British, French and German ambassadors to Russia met with Russian foreign ministry officials in Moscow to convey the E3 leaders' call for direct peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv, following a London meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Russian side accused the three countries of a 'destructive' policy aimed at continuing the war. Concurrently, Ukrainian drone forces intensified strikes along the R-280 corridor—the 'highway of death'—which is a vital Russian supply route from Rostov-on-Don through occupied territories to Crimea. Commander Robert Brovdi reported a 71% drop in military cargo traffic over the past two weeks. The Chonhar Bridge, linking occupied Kherson to Crimea, sustained 'critical' damage and was closed after drone attacks. In Crimea, fuel stations in Sevastopol and Yevpatoriya ran out of petrol; Moscow-installed Sevastopol governor Mikhail Razvozhaev confirmed that Ukrainian strikes had disrupted fuel deliveries by road, rail and sea barge, and rationing was in effect. Ukrainian forces also hit the town of Armiansk, destroying fuel and ammunition trucks, and sparked a fire at the Afipsky oil refinery in southern Russia. A separate Russian drone strike on a railway depot in Konotop, Sumy region, killed one worker and injured four. Russia's deputy prime minister called for a forecasting system to manage fuel shortages, which were officially confirmed in Crimea and two Siberian regions.
Key Actors
  • ·
    E3 ambassadors (UK, France, Germany)(Diplomatic representatives)Urged Moscow to hold direct talks with Kyiv following the E3–Zelenskyy summit.
  • ·
    Russian Foreign Ministry(Russian diplomatic body)Rejected the E3 appeal, accused the three countries of a 'destructive' policy and of waging war against Russia via Ukraine.
  • ·
    Ukrainian Drone Forces (Commander Robert Brovdi)(Ukrainian military drone unit)Conducted a 'middle strike campaign' that cut Russian military cargo traffic along the R-280 by 71% in two weeks, damaging bridges and destroying trucks.
  • ·
    Mikhail Razvozhaev (Moscow-installed Sevastopol governor)(Russian-appointed governor of Sevastopol)Confirmed fuel shortages and rationing in Crimea, citing Ukrainian drone strikes on supply routes.
Why It Matters
The E3 diplomatic push, though rebuffed by Moscow, signals European powers attempting to reshape negotiations as US-led talks stall and Russia prefers a Trump-brokered framework. Simultaneously, Ukraine's systematic interdiction of the R-280 corridor and Chonhar Bridge is degrading Russian logistics in southern occupied territories, causing acute fuel crises in Crimea and exposing vulnerabilities in Russia's overland supply chain to the peninsula. This dual pressure—diplomatic and kinetic—could alter the operational tempo and political calculus ahead of expected summer offensives.
Watch For
Whether the E3 initiative gains traction despite Kremlin hostility, especially if European leaders press a parallel track; further Ukrainian drone strikes on the Chonhar Bridge and R-280, including any permanent severing of the Crimea land bridge; official Russian acknowledgement of wider fuel shortages and their impact on military logistics; and potential Russian countermeasures to protect convoys, such as deploying additional air defences or shifting to maritime supply routes.
Generated 62d ago · Based on full article
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This page aggregates and summarizes reporting from The Guardian Europe. The Conflict Pulse does not author original reporting. Read the original source for full coverage.
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