European Leaders In Kyiv Commemorate 3 Years Of Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine, US Officials Do Not Appear Their Nostrils

JAKARTA - Ukraine hosted European leaders on Monday to commemorate three years of war with Russia. Meanwhile, top US officials were not present in a clear illustration of President Donald Trump's tendency towards Moscow since returning to power.

Still recovering from Trump who denounced President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as a "dictator" and accused him of starting a war, Kyiv said it was in the final stages of approving a deal with Washington to provide access to its mineral wealth.

"We hope that US and UA leaders can sign and support this agreement in Washington as soon as possible to demonstrate our commitment over the coming decades," Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna wrote on X.

The deal was at the heart of Kyiv's efforts to gain US support, but officials clashed over his words amid the war of extraordinary words between Trump and Zelenskyy, who said the US leader lived in a "disinformation bubble".

Zelenskyy declined to sign an earlier draft asking Washington to ask for $500 billion of natural wealth, and protested against Kyiv not receiving such much US assistance.

Ukraine says the draft does not provide the security guarantees Ukraine needs.

Beyond the ridicule, US officials opened direct talks with Russia in Saudi Arabia last week, without involving Kyiv and Europe in a stunning change in war policy.

Zelenskyy welcomed a number of European leaders and other leaders at the summit in Kyiv to commemorate the start of Europe's biggest conflict since World War Two in 2022.

This year should be a real and lasting year of peace. Putin will not give us this peace, and he will also not give it to us in return for anything. We must win peace with strength, wisdom and unity with our cooperation," he said.

Those present included European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa and Canadian leaders, Denmark, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Norway, Spain, and Sweden.

Leaders of Albania, England, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Japan, Moldova, Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland and Turkey spoke via video link.

There are no signs of a US representative.

In this struggle to survive, it's not just Ukraine's fate at stake. This is European destiny," von der Leyen wrote on X.

European leaders were around Zelenskyy in a speech, calling on countries on the continent to increase support for Kyiv, while some spoke of the urgent need to increase defense spending.

"We have to improve as Europeans, we have to accelerate it. My guess is, we have a few months to make all the decisions needed. Otherwise, we will be late," said Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen at the summit.

Washington insists it will not send troops as security guarantees Kyiv coveted if a peace agreement is reached, burdening European countries that are likely to be struggling without US support.

European leaders present paid their respects to Ukrainian soldiers who died in the war, standing still in front of a memorial made of flags in the city center square of Kyiv.

The airstrike sirens were heard as they met to hold talks, although no missile strikes had occurred.

Thousands of Ukrainians have been killed and more than six million people have lived as refugees abroad since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion by land, sea, and air.

Military losses are a major disaster, although they remain a closely guarded secret. Western society estimates based on intelligence reports vary widely, but most say hundreds of thousands of people have been killed or injured on both sides.

Kyiv residents talk about disobedience and fatigue.

"For 300 years they (Russia) couldn't destroy us they tried, but didn't work," said Yevheniia Bondini.

While another resident, Inna Zaitseva said: "This is our country, this is our land, our territory. We want the war to end as soon as possible, because we have no power anymore."

This tragedy has touched many families in every corner of Ukraine, where military funerals are commonplace in major cities and remote villages.

People are exhausted by airstrike sirens that can't sleep at night.

Russia launched 185 drones against Ukraine overnight but caused no significant damage, the Ukrainian air force said. Kyiv said it had attacked Russia's Ryazan refinery, continuing its operations to weaken its enemy's oil infrastructure.