Resident Vadym Tsybenko, aged 22, stands beside his home and that of his neighbors, both severely damaged by a Russian drone strike during the assault on Ukraine, just outside of Kyiv, on May 18. [REUTERS/YONHAP]
On Sunday, Russia carried out its biggest drone assault on Ukraine since the conflict began, resulting in destroyed houses and the death of at least one woman. This occurred just a day before U.S. President Donald Trump was scheduled to talk with Russian leader Vladimir Putin about a potential ceasefire.
Ukraine's intelligence agency claimed that they thought Russia planned to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile later that same day as part of an effort to scare Western nations. However, Moscow had not yet responded to this allegation at the time.
President Volodymyr Zelensky, working to rebuild relations with Washington following a challenging meeting at the White House in February, had discussions with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Rome over the weekend during the events surrounding Pope Leo’s installation ceremony.
Zelensky described the encounter as "positive" and shared images of both Ukrainian and American officials seated outdoors around a circular table, all with smiles. According to local Ukrainian press reports, the discussion went on for approximately 40 minutes.
“I confirmed that Ukraine is prepared for genuine diplomatic engagement and emphasized the crucial need for an immediate and complete cease-fire without conditions,” stated Zelensky, who additionally had a meeting with the newly appointed pope.
Ukraine and Russia conducted their initial direct discussions in over three years on Friday, pressured by Trump to reach an agreement for a cessation of hostilities which he promised to swiftly conclude. Although they consented to exchange 1,000 detainees apiece, the parties did not manage to settle on a truce as Moscow put forth terms deemed unpalatable by a representative from Ukraine’s team.
Leaders from Britain, France, Germany, and Poland aimed to address Trump prior to the meeting between the U.S. and Russian presidents on Monday, as stated by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. These four European leaders made a collective trip to Kyiv recently and have urged Trump to support additional sanctions against Russia.
When asked whether it was time to implement stricter sanctions against Russia, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the decision rested with Trump.
"I think we will see what happens when both sides get to the table," he told NBC News' "Meet the Press" program.
President Trump has emphasized strongly that should President Putin fail to engage constructively in negotiations, the United States, alongside our European allies, will not shy away from increasing sanctions against Russia.
Following a night filled with air sirens, Ukraine’s air force reported that by 8 a.m. on Sunday, Russia had dispatched 273 unmanned aerial vehicles towards Ukrainian urban areas, surpassing the earlier high established by Moscow back in February during the conflict’s three-year mark.
A cat strides across the rubble of a home severely damaged by a Russian drone assault, as part of Russia’s ongoing attacks on Ukraine, near Kyiv, on May 18. [REUTERS/YONHAP]
I was able to hear the drone.
At the remnants of her family house in the Obukhiv area located west of Kyiv, Natalia Piven, who is 44 years old, shared how she and her son hurriedly took cover in a basement following an air-raid alert, narrowly escaping harm when a series of drone attacks commenced.
They subsequently rushed to a bomb shelter located within a kindergarten as additional waves of drones approached the village. The family’s home was entirely demolished. Next door, a 28-year-old woman lost her life. According to Ukrainian officials, three others sustained injuries, among them being a four-year-old child.
"I can't seem to shake this off. I just can't. I distinctly heard the drone heading directly towards my home," Piven stated to Reuters.
Trump has shifted U.S. rhetoric from supporting Ukraine toward accepting some of Moscow's narrative about the war that Putin launched in 2022. But Kyiv and its European allies are working hard to persuade Trump that it is Moscow that is holding up a truce now.
Zelensky stated he would agree to Trump’s offer of a ceasefire lasting at least 30 days without any preconditions. However, Moscow indicated they might entertain a ceasefire if certain terms were fulfilled, such as ceasing weapons deliveries to Kyiv.
The agreement also states that all peace negotiations should tackle the “underlying issues” of the conflict. This includes addressing Russia’s conditions for Ukraine to surrender land, disarm, and adopt a neutral stance. However, Kyiv argues that complying with these terms would equate to giving up entirely and render it vulnerable without defenses.
Reuters
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