Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has highlighted a recent ceasefire in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky as evidence that steps toward de-escalation with Russia remain possible. Speaking at a news conference in Istanbul alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Saturday, Zelenskyy emphasized that the humanitarian operation in the Kherson region demonstrated that Russia could be compelled to engage in de-escalation when pressured. He called for firm decisions to achieve peace and insisted that support for Ukraine would persist, underlining the importance of maintaining international pressure on Russia.
The two leaders also discussed prospects for trilateral talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States in early November, alongside exploring broader involvement from Turkey and European nations. Erdoğan underscored the unacceptable nature of attacks on civilian vessels in the Black Sea, urging both Moscow and Kyiv to act responsibly to ensure safe navigation. Talks aimed at restoring maritime security would continue, he said, while Zelenskyy criticized Russia for complicating the situation in the region.
In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reported growing international interest in brokering a limited ceasefire in the Black Sea to allow uninterrupted energy and grain shipments from Russia and Ukraine. Rubio noted that proposals from Turkey and India were under review as part of efforts to restart grain exports amid ongoing conflict. While the United States continues to advocate for a comprehensive negotiated settlement, he said there was increasing momentum toward partial agreements to halt attacks on commercial shipping, emphasizing the global implications for food and energy security. Rubio’s remarks followed a two-day G20 foreign ministers’ meeting that included Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov despite objections from some Western nations.
Meanwhile, evacuees from Oleshky crossed into Ukrainian-controlled territory on Saturday under the local ceasefire arrangement brokered by the United States. Many were reunited with family members after enduring severe hardships, with some residents reporting extreme scarcity of food during the occupation. A 29-year-old former resident described living conditions so dire that people resorted to eating grass and dogs. The humanitarian truce in the Kherson region was set to continue until Sunday evening.
Separately, Russian authorities reported a drone strike on an “industrial enterprise” in the Kstovo district east of Moscow overnight Sunday, following Ukrainian claims of attacking a major oil refinery. Gleb Nikitin, governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region, confirmed significant damage to the facility but indicated that preliminary reports suggested no casualties. Ukrainian media identified the target as the Kstovo oil refinery, known for producing fuels and lubricants. On Saturday, Ukraine’s general staff also claimed it struck a missile fuel production facility in Russia’s Rostov region, causing a fire and damaging several production units.