Does Russia want Europe at the negotiating table? There is an answer from the Kremlin

Jurij Ushakov, an advisor to Putin, discussed potential trilateral talks excluding European countries. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, acknowledged the complexity of the situation, suggesting that European nations should be involved but questioning the purpose of their participation given current attitudes. Ushakov claimed Putin would accept a call from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, despite Zelensky's previous attempts for direct talks being ignored. Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine continue to target each other's energy infrastructure, with Zelensky reporting recent Russian bombings affecting power supply in several regions. Ukraine retaliated by attacking a major Russian refinery, highlighting the ongoing conflict's intensity.