In Novopavlivka, Ukraine, Mykola Havrylov stood next to a bombed milling plant and expressed his powerlessness as the U.S. and Russian officials negotiated to end the three-year conflict approaching his village in southeastern Ukraine. The fighting between Russian and Ukrainian troops looms just eight miles away from Novopavlivka, situated in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Residents like Havrylov are worried about Ukraine's exclusion from the recent U.S.-Russia talks.
While the local population yearns for the war to cease, there is apprehension that any agreement between the U.S. and Russia might coerce Ukraine into relinquishing territory, leaving them susceptible to further Russian advancements. Havrylov, the former village head in Novopavlivka, lamented, "It's a very negative trend, but I have no influence over it."
As the U.S. administration seeks a swift resolution to Russia's invasion, pledging to involve Kyiv in negotiations, discussions on ending the conflict cannot bypass Ukraine. The White House announced additional talks with Russia after an initial meeting in Saudi Arabia diverging from previous strategies that aimed to isolate Russian President Vladimir Putin with the support of U.S. allies.
Kyiv insists on robust security assurances, including Western peacekeepers, emphasizing that Russia lacks interest in peace and is primarily seeking a ceasefire to regroup and strike again. On the battleground, Ukrainian forces are grappling to resist the advancing Russian troops in the Donbas region. Russian airstrikes near Novopavlivka have intensified, amplifying fear among residents.
The once peaceful streets now witness the scars of guided bombs, serving as thoroughfares for Ukrainian armored vehicles. The atmosphere reverberates with helicopters and the incessant sounds of explosions and gunfire. Yurii Bilyk, a school director, shared his distress, pointing towards the wreckage of his severely damaged school, remarking, "It's heartbreaking to witness this, knowing that the front line is now so close."
European officials have expressed dismay over the Trump administration's actions regarding Ukraine. During an emergency meeting in Paris, they advocated for increased defense spending but differed on deploying peacekeepers to Ukraine. Havrylov expressed disappointment at the lack of swift military and diplomatic support from Ukraine's Western allies as the Russian forces encroach closer.
"I don't understand it, and I believe I am not alone in this sentiment," he concluded.