Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that U.S. diplomats are expected to travel to both Kyiv and Moscow in the coming days as the United States seeks to reinvigorate efforts to end Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. While Zelensky mentioned that preliminary meeting dates have been set, he did not provide specifics. He stressed the importance of continued U.S. involvement in the conflict. Former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed a desire to end the war and reduce the losses on both sides. He also suggested that European nations should reimburse the U.S. for military aid sent to Ukraine, while hinting at a possible pause in U.S. weapons sales to some allies. On Thursday, Russian drones struck a Coca-Cola plant located outside Kyiv, according to Zelensky. He noted that the attack was a deliberate message to the United States, as the plant is American-owned. The facility sustained damage but no injuries were reported. Firefighters were seen at the scene, and the company is working with local authorities to assess the extent of the damage. In a separate development, Norwegian authorities seized a Russian cruise ship in the Arctic on behalf of Ukraine’s energy company, Naftogaz. The ship, named the Professor Molchanov, was seized in Barentsburg, a Russian-operated town on Norway’s Svalbard archipelago, as part of an effort to enforce a $4.22 billion compensation claim related to assets Russia seized during its 2014 annexation of Crimea. Russia condemned the move as an act of piracy and said it had summoned Norway’s ambassador to protest. Naftogaz’s acting CEO said Russia cannot avoid responsibility by ignoring an international arbitration ruling. Norway clarified that the seizure was a private matter between Naftogaz and Russia, not involving the government. Germany once had close ties with Russia, including a major energy partnership through the Nord Stream gas pipeline. Former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder had even expressed confidence in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intentions in 2004. However, relations have since deteriorated. Russia’s Security Council deputy chairman, Dmitry Medvedev, recently warned Germany of potential military retaliation in response to Berlin’s claim that Russia was behind a failed drone attack at Leipzig Airport. The drone was found near a Ukrainian cargo plane but did not detonate. Ukraine and Poland are reportedly considering a joint bid to host the men’s FIFA World Cup in the 2040s, according to Politico. Ukraine’s sports minister, Matvii Bidnyi, said Kyiv is interested in exploring a co-hosting arrangement with Poland for the next available World Cup slot. Poland is also reportedly considering the possibility, according to a government official. Ukraine has experience co-hosting international football events with Poland, such as the 2012 European Championship. Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested there is a possibility of reaching a peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine. He said several countries, including the U.S. and China, are willing to support a peace deal, but he emphasized that the resolution must be reached directly between Russia and Ukraine. In response to Germany’s decision to close Russian cultural centers in Berlin, Russia announced it would shut its own cultural centers in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg. Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, stated that Germany should have anticipated that closing the Russian House in Berlin would end its cultural presence in Russia. A Ukrainian drone strike caused a fire at an oil depot in the Russian Black Sea port city of Sochi, according to local authorities. Videos showed a large fire and plume of smoke rising from the depot, with residents filming the scene from a nearby high-rise building. The incident highlights the ongoing escalation of attacks between the two sides, with each targeting critical infrastructure in the other’s territory.