The administration of Donald Trump has leaned towards a negotiated solution between the presidents of Russia, Vladimir Putin, and Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenski, after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth clarified that the United States will not support Ukraine's integration into NATO. Additionally, the deployment of U.S. troops to help maintain a ceasefire in the conflict with Russia was rejected.
In a speech addressed to NATO members, Hegseth mentioned that Trump will demand more concessions from Ukraine than his predecessor, Joe Biden, requested. President Putin even highlighted Trump's campaign slogan, 'COMMON SENSE.'
Regarding Zelenski's accusation of a supposed Russian attack on the Chernobyl nuclear plant, the Kremlin vehemently denied it. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russian forces did not carry out such an action, suggesting that it was a provocation by Kiev.
For her part, Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, described this allegation as a provocation tactic ahead of the Munich Security Conference. She also recalled that last year Kiev accused Moscow of attacking a children's hospital before that same event.
Volodymyr Zelenski reported that a Russian drone with explosives hit a protective structure in Chernobyl, without raising radiation levels, according to his statement. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed the incident and pointed out the risks to nuclear safety posed by this attack and the increasing military activity at the Zaporizhia plant.
In his interaction with Putin, Trump revealed that both leaders have agreed to engage in talks to end the war in Ukraine. The former president expressed his desire to stop the deaths occurring in this conflict and plans to inform Zelenski about the progress in those negotiations.
