On Sunday, Russia launched the largest drone assault on Ukraine since the start of its full-scale invasion in 2022, resulting in the death of at least one civilian and injuring several others. This attack occurred just a day before U.S. President Donald Trump was scheduled to hold crucial ceasefire discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Moscow deployed a record-breaking 273 drones overnight, targeting multiple cities across Ukraine, including Kyiv and its surrounding areas. This surpassed the previous record for a single-day drone attack set earlier this year in February.
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In the Obukhiv region, located west of Kyiv, residential homes were destroyed as residents recounted the terrifying sounds of drones overhead. Among the casualties was a 28-year-old woman who was killed when her home was struck, while three others, including a four-year-old child, were injured.
Natalia Piven, 44, who survived by taking shelter in a cellar with her son before moving to a local kindergarten’s bomb shelter, described the experience: “I could clearly hear the drone flying right towards my house. I simply cannot get over it.”
Ukrainian officials confirmed extensive damage to civilian infrastructure and condemned the attack as a deliberate attempt to spread terror and increase pressure ahead of upcoming diplomatic talks.
Amid the strikes, there were reports that Moscow might launch an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) later in the day, a move Ukraine’s intelligence agency believes is intended to intimidate Western governments. The Kremlin did not immediately respond to these claims.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy sought to strengthen ties with Washington. On Sunday, he met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Rome during the inauguration of Pope Leo. Zelenskiy described the meeting as “good,” sharing images of the informal gathering, where Ukrainian and American officials discussed matters for about 40 minutes.
“I reaffirmed that Ukraine is ready to engage in genuine diplomacy and stressed the importance of achieving a full and unconditional ceasefire as soon as possible,” Zelenskiy said after also meeting the new pope.
This diplomatic effort follows the first direct talks between Ukraine and Russia in over three years, held on Friday under growing U.S. pressure. The discussions resulted in a major prisoner swap involving 1,000 detainees from each side. However, ceasefire negotiations stalled after Russia presented a list of demands that Ukraine found unacceptable.
A member of the Ukrainian delegation described Russia’s conditions as “non-starters.”
President Trump, who has vowed to end the war swiftly, is scheduled to speak with Putin on Monday. This upcoming conversation has sparked intense diplomatic activity in Europe. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that leaders from France, Britain, Germany, and Poland plan to consult with Trump beforehand to coordinate a united Western response.
European leaders, fresh from a joint visit to Kyiv last week, are pressing Trump to support new sanctions against Russia if Moscow fails to show flexibility in the talks.
When asked about potential additional economic penalties on Russia, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the decision ultimately rests with Trump.
“President Trump has made it clear that if President Putin does not negotiate in good faith, the United States will not hesitate to increase sanctions on Russia alongside our European partners,” Bessent said.
Regarding peace terms, Zelenskiy has indicated his willingness to accept Trump’s proposal for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. However, Russia insists on security guarantees as a condition for any truce, demanding the halt of Western arms supplies to Ukraine, recognition of its territorial claims, and Ukraine’s demilitarization and neutral status.
Kyiv has firmly rejected these demands, arguing they would amount to surrender and leave the country vulnerable to future aggression.
Trump’s stance on the conflict has shifted noticeably from previous U.S. administrations. While earlier advocating strong support for Ukraine, he has recently adopted a position that partially aligns with Russia’s narrative, causing concern among European allies.
Despite the increasing attacks, Zelenskiy remains committed to diplomacy as the only viable solution.
“Ukraine does not fear peace talks. But peace cannot be achieved through threats, drones, and ultimatums,” Zelenskiy stated.
