WORLDWIDE:
One woman was killed and at least three others injured, including a four-year-old child, after Ukraine said Russia launched its largest drone attack since the start of the full-scale invasion.
The striking multiple regions overnight — just hours ahead of planned ceasefire talks between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ukrainian officials said 88 drones were intercepted while another 128 veered off course without causing damage.
“I could clearly hear the drone flying right towards my house,” said Natalia Piven, 44, standing in the ruins of her family home. “We ran to the kindergarten shelter. Our house is gone.”
The latest assault surpassed Russia’s previous drone strike record of 267 in February, on the third anniversary of the invasion.
Ukrainian intelligence has warned that Russia may conduct a “training and combat” launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile as a show of force. Moscow has not responded to the claim.
Despite international calls for a truce, Moscow shows little sign of easing its offensive. Ukraine’s top presidential aide, Andriy Yermak, called recent negotiations in Istanbul “a pretence,” adding, “Putin wants war.”
On Friday, Ukraine and Russia held their first face-to-face talks in over three years. Under pressure from President Trump to agree to a ceasefire, both sides agreed to swap 1,000 prisoners each but failed to make progress toward a truce.
Ukrainian negotiators rejected Moscow’s demands, which included halting Western arms supplies, territorial concessions, and permanent neutrality. A member of the Ukrainian delegation said the terms were “non-starters.”
President Zelensky said he would accept Trump’s proposal for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. Russia insists no truce can be made without addressing what it calls the “root causes” of the war.
Trump is expected to speak with Putin. Ahead of that call, the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, and Poland will meet virtually with Trump to discuss the situation, according to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The European leaders, who recently visited Kyiv, are pushing for tougher sanctions on Russia if no breakthrough is reached.
Asked whether new sanctions were imminent, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Meet the Press, “President Trump has made it very clear that if President Putin does not negotiate in good faith, the United States will not hesitate to up the Russia sanctions along with our European partners.”
The Kremlin says any lasting peace must include Ukraine abandoning its NATO ambitions, downsizing its military, and ceding disputed territories—conditions Kyiv calls unacceptable and equivalent to surrender.
Russia currently controls about 20% of Ukraine, including Crimea, annexed in 2014.
