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In a stark escalation of hostilities, Russia launched 273 drones on Ukraine Sunday morning, marking the most extensive drone offensive since the war began in 2022. The coordinated strikes killed one woman and injured three others, including a four-year-old child, according to Ukrainian officials.
The assault came just a day before U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to speak separately with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump has proposed a 30-day ceasefire and threatened tougher sanctions should Moscow refuse to engage sincerely.
Ukraine's air force confirmed that 88 drones were intercepted, while another 128 veered off course. Yet the impact was devastating in Obukhiv, west of Kyiv, where Natalia Piven, 44, recounted narrowly surviving the first wave of drones before her home was obliterated. "I could clearly hear the drone flying right towards my house," she told Reuters.
The attack followed Friday's direct talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Turkey—the first such meeting in over three years. Although a 1,000-prisoner swap was agreed, negotiations collapsed when Russia demanded conditions Kyiv deemed unacceptable, including halting military aid and surrendering contested territories.
Ukrainian intelligence warned Moscow may escalate further, citing signs of a potential intercontinental ballistic missile launch—a claim that has yet to be confirmed by Russia. "This is not diplomacy. This is intimidation," said Andriy Yermak, a senior aide to Zelensky.
International pressure is mounting. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated Sunday that he and the leaders of France, the UK, and Poland would hold a joint call with Trump before his scheduled discussion with Putin. The group, dubbed the "coalition of the willing," recently visited Kyiv to advocate for a ceasefire.
Despite the diplomatic push, Russia's demands remain firm. Moscow insists that Ukraine demilitarize, adopt neutral status, and abandon its NATO aspirations—terms Ukraine has rejected as capitulation. Currently, Russia controls approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea.
Zelensky, attending Pope Leo's inauguration in Rome on Sunday, met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He called the talks "productive" and reaffirmed Ukraine's openness to peace under fair conditions. "Ukraine is ready for real diplomacy," Zelensky said, emphasizing the need for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire.
As Monday's high-stakes calls approach, Ukraine and its allies brace for further developments. "President Trump has made it very clear," said U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. "If Putin won't negotiate in good faith, the U.S. will respond, with consequences."
