European ambassadors urge Russia-Ukraine talks as fighting intensifies

European ambassadors in Moscow have urged for direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, aligning with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's proposal to end the protracted conflict. The diplomatic push occurred after the ambassadors met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galouzine.

This initiative follows support for Zelensky's call for direct dialogue from France, Great Britain, and Germany during a recent summit in London. The three nations, key supporters of Kyiv, conveyed the summit's conclusions to Moscow, emphasizing their backing for direct talks. However, Russia's Foreign Ministry stated that the ambassadors were informed of their countries' "destructive policy" toward Ukraine, accusing them of prolonging the war.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's navy reported launching Neptune missiles at a Russian military facility in Sevastopol, Crimea. The strike reportedly destroyed storage sites for weapons and military equipment belonging to Russia's Black Sea Fleet. This action represents a significant escalation in military operations.

Adding to the escalating tensions, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant experienced a complete loss of external electricity supply overnight. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced that a strike on a backup power station across the Dnieper River caused the outage. This incident raises serious concerns about the safety of the occupied facility, which had been undergoing repairs on its main power line.