Berlin [Germany] / Kiev [Ukraine], May 19: Ahead of anticipated talks between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, the leaders of Britain, France and Germany are seeking a conversation with Trump to coordinate their positions, sources told dpa.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are looking to speak to Trump on Sunday, sources close to the chancellor in Berlin said.
At the Vatican, on the sidelines of Pope Leo XIV's inauguration, Merz held discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, focusing on diplomatic efforts to end Russia's war against Ukraine.
A separate meeting between Merz and US Vice President JD Vance, who also attended the inaugural Mass, did not take place.
Starmer, Macron and Merz have held two recent phone calls with Trump to align their Ukraine strategies. On both occasions, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk joined the discussions. However, he is not expected to participate in this latest round of talks.
German government sources told DPA that the three leaders have requested to talk to Trump on Sunday evening in Europe. Trump, in a post on his Truth Social network on Saturday, said he will speak with Putin by phone at 10am (1400 GMT) on Monday and will speak with Zelensky and some NATO members after that.
Meanwhile, Ukraine endured the largest Russian drone assault since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, according to a tally given on Sunday by the war-torn country's military.
The air force said a total of 273 unmanned aerial vehicles were launched by Russia overnight. According to Ukrainian media, that surpasses the previous record of 267 drones reported on February 23.
One woman was killed in the capital, Kiev, and three others were injured, including a 4-year-old child, authorities said. The regions of Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk were also targeted in the overnight attacks.
Ukraine said they downed 88 drones, while another 128 failed to reach their targets. The military did not disclose details on potential damage or specific impact sites, in line with usual protocol. The figures could not be independently verified.
The assault came just days after Russia and Ukraine held their first direct peace talks since 2022 in Istanbul, although Zelensky and Putin did not take part.
Despite agreeing to a prisoner exchange and further negotiations on a ceasefire, Moscow has rejected calls from Ukraine, the United States and European allies for a halt to hostilities before a broader agreement is reached.
Moscow's latest wave of attacks is widely seen as a response to mounting threats of tougher sanctions from the United States and the European Union.
Source: Qatar Tribune
