KYIV – Russia launched extra strike drones into Ukraine in a single day on Saturday than in every other single assault of the conflict, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Sunday, in the future earlier than the three-year anniversary of Moscow’s full-scale invasion.
Writing on social media, Zelenskyy stated 267 strike drones had been despatched in what he referred to as “the most important assault since Iranian drones started hitting Ukrainian cities and villages.” Ukraine’s air pressure stated 138 drones had been shot down over 13 Ukrainian areas, with 119 extra misplaced en path to their targets.
Three ballistic missiles had additionally been fired, the air pressure stated. One particular person was killed in a missile strike on the town of Kryvyi Rih, based on the pinnacle of the Kryvyi Rih navy administration.
The assault got here as leaders in Kyiv and throughout Europe are in search of to navigate speedy adjustments in U.S. international coverage underneath President Donald Trump, who in a matter of days has upended years of firm support for Ukraine, resulting in fears that he would be a part of with Moscow to pressure a settlement to the conflict with out involving Ukraine and its European backers.
Ukraine fears Trump’s coverage shift towards Putin
Trump’s engagement with Russian officers and his settlement to reopen diplomatic ties and financial cooperation with Moscow marked a dramatic about-face in U.S. coverage which had beforehand sought to isolate Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, over the conflict.
Zelenskyy has expressed fears that Trump pushing a fast decision would lead to misplaced territory for Ukraine and vulnerability to future Russian aggression, although U.S. officers have asserted that the Ukrainian chief can be concerned if and when peace talks truly begin.
Trump, nonetheless, prompted alarm and anger in Ukraine when this week he urged that Kyiv had began the conflict, and that Zelenskyy was performing as a “dictator” because the nation has not held elections in accordance with Ukrainian laws prohibiting them throughout martial regulation.
Russia’s deputy international minister on Saturday stated preparations were underway for a Trump-Putin assembly, an additional signal that the Russian chief’s isolation, at the very least for the Trump administration, was starting to thaw.
Reacting to the most recent Russian assaults, nonetheless, Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine’s Minister of International Affairs, stated that the in a single day strikes in opposition to civilian and navy targets “demonstrates that avoiding calling Russia an aggressor doesn’t change the truth that it’s one.”
“Nobody ought to belief Putin’s phrases. Have a look at his actions as an alternative,” Sybiha stated in a press release on social media.
Putin praises troopers combating in Ukraine
Zelenskyy and different officers will take part in a discussion board in Kyiv on Sunday the place they are going to focus on the state of the nation a day earlier than the conflict reaches its three-year mark. Zelenskyy will conclude the discussion board with a information convention.
The discussion board comes at a delicate second for Kyiv as Trump’s administration pushes Ukraine’s leaders to comply with a deal that will enable the U.S. to entry Ukrainian uncommon earth minerals, a proposal Zelenskyy earlier declined to simply accept as a result of it lacked particular safety ensures.
“We should do our utmost to convey an enduring and simply peace to Ukraine,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media on Sunday. “That is doable with the unity of all companions — we want the energy of all of Europe, the energy of America, the energy of all who need a dependable peace.”
In the meantime, Putin in a particular televised message Sunday praised Russian troopers combating in Ukraine for defending “their place of origin, the nationwide pursuits and the way forward for Russia.”
Putin’s speech marked Russia’s Defender of the Fatherland Day, which falls a day earlier than the anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine. He used the vacation greeting to pledge larger social assist for navy personnel and new weapons and gear for Russian forces.
“At present, because the world is altering impetuously, our strategic course for strengthening and growing the Armed Forces stays unchanged,” he stated, including that Russia would proceed to develop its armed forces “because the important a part of Russia’s safety that ensures its sovereign current and future.”
European leaders put together for talks with Trump
The U.Okay. on Sunday stated it might announce new sanctions on Russia because it tries to stiffen Western assist for Ukraine.
The sanctions package deal coming Monday would be the largest imposed by Britain because the early days of the conflict, International Secretary David Lammy stated, including that they might be geared toward “eroding (Russia’s) navy machine and lowering revenues fueling the fires of destruction in Ukraine.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron will make tag-team visits to Washington this week as Europe makes an attempt to steer Trump to not abandon Ukraine in pursuit of a peace deal.
Starmer informed a Labour Celebration gathering in Scotland on Sunday: “There could be no dialogue about Ukraine with out Ukraine and the individuals of Ukraine should have a long-term safe future.”
___
Comply with AP’s protection of the conflict in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Copyright 2025 The Related Press. All rights reserved. This materials will not be printed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed with out permission.
