MIAMI:&nbsp;Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday called on the United States to put more pressure on Russia to end the war, as diplomats converged on Miami for fresh talks. Zelensky also said that Washington had proposed the first face-to-face negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in half a year, but later expressed skepticism that would help. Zelensky said that only the United States was capable of persuading Russia to end the war, and he called on Washington to increase pressure on Moscow to make that happen. &quot;America must clearly say: if not diplomacy, then there will be full pressure...Putin does not yet feel the kind of pressure that should exist,&quot; he said, stressing the need for more arms supplies to Ukraine and sanctions on the entire Russian economy. The Ukrainian leader&#39;s comments in Kyiv came as Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev arrived in Miami where Ukrainian and European teams have also gathered for the negotiations, mediated by US special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump&#39;s son-in-law Jared Kushner. &quot;Discussions are being held constructively,&quot; Dmitriev told reporters, according to Russian state media, adding that &quot;they started and continue today, and will also continue tomorrow.&quot; Trump&#39;s envoys have pushed a peace plan in which the United States would offer security guarantees to Ukraine, but Kyiv would likely be expected to surrender some territory, a prospect resented by many Ukrainians. However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday promised not to force Ukraine into any agreement, saying &quot;there&#39;s no peace deal unless Ukraine agrees to it.&quot; He added that he may join Saturday&#39;s talks in Miami, his hometown. Earlier Saturday, Zelensky had revealed Washington had proposed negotiations that would include Ukraine, the United States and Russia. He added that Europeans could be present and it would be &quot;logical to hold such a joint meeting.&quot; But he subsequently told journalists, &quot;I am not sure that anything new could come of it.&quot; The last time Ukrainian and Russian envoys held official direct talks was in July in Istanbul, which led to prisoner swaps but little else. Russian and European involvement in Miami marks a step forward from before, when the Americans held separate negotiations with each side in different locations. However, it is unlikely Dmitriev would hold direct talks with European negotiators as relations between the two sides remain strained. Moscow, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022, argues that Europe&#39;s involvement in the talks only hinders any peace process. - Russia presses on -The Florida talks come after President Vladimir Putin vowed to press ahead with his military offensive in Ukraine, hailing Moscow&#39;s battlefield gains in an annual news conference on Friday. Russia announced on Saturday it had captured two villages in Ukraine&#39;s Sumy and Donetsk regions, further grinding through the country&#39;s east in costly battles. Putin however suggested that Russia could pause its devastating strikes on the country to allow Ukraine to hold a presidential ballot -- a prospect which Zelensky rejected. Meanwhile, the death toll in Ukraine&#39;s Black Sea Odesa region from an overnight Russian ballistic missile strike on port infrastructure rose to eight, with almost three dozen people wounded.A civilian bus was struck in the attack, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said. Intensified Russian strikes have wrought havoc on the coastline region in recent weeks, hitting bridges and cutting electricity and heating for hundreds of thousands in freezing temperatures. Moscow earlier said it would expand strikes on Ukrainian ports as retaliation for targeting its sanctions-busting oil tankers. On Saturday, Ukraine claimed to have destroyed two Russian fighter jets at an airfield in occupied Crimea, according to the security service SBU. Kyiv&#39;s army said it struck a Russian oil rig in the Caspian Sea as well as a patrol ship nearby. Putin described Russia&#39;s initial invasion as a &quot;special military operation&quot; to demilitarize the country and prevent the expansion of NATO. Kyiv and its European allies say the war, the largest and deadliest on European soil since World War II, is an unprovoked and illegal land grab that has resulted in a tidal wave of violence and destruction.

Europe

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged the United States to increase pressure on Russia to end the war, as diplomats met in Miami for talks amid intensified fighting and skepticism over negotiations

Zelensky says US must pile pressure on Russia to end war

MIAMI: &nbsp;Superstar Lionel Messi scored two superb goals and created another as Inter Miami beat DC United 3-2 on Saturday to inch closer to an MLS Cup playoff berth.&nbsp;Amid indications this week from sources close to the club that Messi is poised to sign a contract extension that would keep him in Miami at least through next year, the eight-time Ballon d&#39;Or winner showed just why the club and Major League Soccer are so keen to see him stay.&nbsp;The 38-year-old now has 22 goals in 22 matches played this season. With his seventh double of the MLS season, he moved to the top of the league scoring list, passing England&#39;s Sam Surridge, who has 21 for Nashville.&nbsp;Miami dominated from the outset on a rainy night at their Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, against a team already eliminated from playoff contention.&nbsp;They took the lead in the 35th minute when Messi produced a well-judged through ball forward to Tadeo Allende, who beat United goalkeeper Luis Barraza with his first touch and smoothly fired into the right corner of the net.&nbsp;Christian Benteke headed the visitors&#39; level in the 52nd minute.&nbsp;Messi forced a pair of quick saves from Barraza before he fired Inter back into the lead in the 66th minute, collecting a pass from Jordi Alba in the box and turning to slot a left-footed shot past Barraza.&nbsp;Two minutes after coming on as a substitute in the 69th minute, Argentine Mateo Silvetti was fouled in the box by Barraza.&nbsp;The referee pointed to the spot, and the 19-year-old stepped up to take the kick, but he smashed the attempt off the crossbar.&nbsp;But Messi pushed Miami&#39;s lead to 3-1 with a bit of trademark magic in the 85th, picking up a pass just outside the area and eluding his defender to loft a shot out of the reach of Barraza.&nbsp;It proved invaluable, as Jacob Murrell struck for DC United in the seventh minute of stoppage time to trim the deficit to one.&nbsp;Miami climbed one spot to fifth in the Eastern Conference with 52 points but will have to wait to secure their playoff berth after New York Red Bulls produced a 2-0 victory over Montreal.&nbsp;New York City FC clinched their ninth playoff spot in 11 seasons with a 2-0 victory over playoff-bound Charlotte.&nbsp;Alonso Martinez converted two penalties, and Matt Freese saved a Wilfried Zaha spot kick as City stretched their unbeaten run to three matches.&nbsp;Philadelphia Union maintained their grip on first place in the East and bolstered their bid for the Supporters&#39; Shield, awarded to the top team overall, with a 1-0 victory over New England.&nbsp;Bruno Damiani broke the scoreless deadlock in the 71st minute with a crisp finish from a perfectly placed pass from Frankie Westfield.&nbsp;Orlando denied Nashville&#39;s chance to clinch a playoff berth with a 3-2 victory.&nbsp;Martin Ojeda scored two goals and Duncan McGuire added another for Orlando, who are also in pursuit of a post-season spot. Hany Mukhtar and Jacob Shaffelburg scored for Nashville.

Lionel Messi, Inter Miami, MLS, DC United

Football

The win takes Inter Miami one step closer to an MLS Cup playoff berth.

Articles tagged with "Miami"

Zelensky says US must pile pressure on Russia to end war

Messi brace lifts Miami in 3-2 MLS win over DC United