In a dramatic escalation of hostilities, Russia launched its largest drone assault on Ukraine since the war began, targeting major cities and residential areas just one day before a high-stakes ceasefire discussion between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to Ukraine’s air force, a staggering 273 Iranian-made drones were launched overnight into various Ukrainian regions. The barrage caused extensive damage, destroying homes and infrastructure. In the Obukhiv district near Kyiv, a 28-year-old woman was killed and at least three others, including a four-year-old child, were injured. One survivor, Natalia Piven, recounted hiding with her son in a cellar as drones buzzed overhead. “I could hear it heading straight for my house,” she said, standing amidst the wreckage.
The attack came amid renewed diplomatic efforts to negotiate a ceasefire. On Friday, Russia and Ukraine held their first face-to-face peace talks in over three years. While they agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners each, a truce remained elusive. Kyiv rejected Moscow’s demands, which included halting arms supplies, territorial concessions, and adopting a neutral stance—conditions Ukraine sees as unacceptable and dangerous.
As tension builds, Ukraine’s intelligence agency suspects that Moscow may also be preparing to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile—a move interpreted as a clear signal of intimidation toward the West. Russia has not officially responded to the allegation.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been working to rebuild strained ties with Washington. On Sunday, he met U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Rome, on the sidelines of Pope Leo’s inauguration. The 40-minute meeting was described as positive, with Zelenskiy reaffirming Ukraine’s readiness for “real diplomacy” and calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.
Zelenskiy also met with Pope Leo after attending the pontiff’s inaugural mass at the Vatican. He expressed hope that international spiritual and political leaders could help press Moscow toward peace.
The upcoming Trump-Putin call on Monday is seen as pivotal. Trump, who has shifted the U.S. position closer to accepting some of Moscow’s narrative, has pledged to quickly end the war.
However, Zelenskiy and key European leaders are lobbying him to recognize that Russia remains the main obstacle to peace. On Sunday, leaders from the UK, France, Germany, and Poland held a joint call with Trump, emphasizing the need for tougher sanctions on Moscow should it refuse a ceasefire.
Trump’s proposed ceasefire involves a 30-day pause in fighting, with no preconditions. While Ukraine has expressed willingness to accept this, the Kremlin insists on its conditions being met before halting attacks—positions that Kyiv sees as surrender.
Saturday also saw another deadly drone strike by Russia, this time on a civilian shuttle bus in the Sumy region, killing nine people. Zelenskiy condemned the attack as a deliberate act of terror and once again urged the global community to increase pressure on Moscow.
As Monday’s Trump-Putin call approaches, all eyes are on whether diplomacy can finally put a pause to one of the most devastating conflicts in recent history—or if the war will continue to escalate.
