Massive Assault on Kyiv Region Kills One Ahead of Ceasefire Talks
In what Ukraine has called the largest drone strike since the war began, Russia launched a wave of 273 drones targeting multiple regions, including the capital Kyiv. The attack comes just hours before a scheduled phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, who is pressing for a 30-day ceasefire.
Ukrainian officials confirmed that one woman was killed and at least three others injured — including a young child — in Saturday night’s barrage. The previous record drone attack occurred on 23 February 2025, when 267 drones were launched to mark the third anniversary of the invasion.
The strikes targeted not just Kyiv but also the Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions, according to Ukraine’s air force. A total of 88 drones were intercepted, while 128 were said to have gone astray without impact.
Putin-Trump Call to Follow Turkey Peace Talks
The escalation follows face-to-face talks in Istanbul on Friday between Russian and Ukrainian representatives—the first such encounter in more than three years. While the negotiations yielded a new prisoner exchange deal, little progress was made on ending the war.
President Trump, who has been lobbying hard for a temporary truce, is expected to speak with Putin Monday morning following a virtual meeting with leaders of Germany, the UK, France, and Poland. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed the European meeting was to present a unified stance before the US-Russia call.
“Saturday night’s attacks show Russia has no interest in peace. For Putin, these negotiations are merely for show,” said Andriy Yermak, a senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Drone Warfare Escalation & Nuclear Concerns
Ukraine’s intelligence agency has also raised alarms, suggesting Russia may be preparing for a “training and combat” launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in an attempt to intimidate ahead of diplomatic talks. Russia has not responded to the claim.
Ukrainian officials view the record drone strike as a show of strength and a message that Moscow is not ready to de-escalate — despite mounting international pressure and a coalition push for ceasefire agreements.
Ukraine Air Force confirms largest drone attack
Ceasefire Conditions Clash
President Trump’s 30-day ceasefire plan has been met with mixed responses. Ukraine has publicly agreed to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, but Russia demands major concessions before pausing the fighting.
Among Russia’s demands: Ukraine must renounce its NATO membership ambitions, reduce its military, and declare neutrality — terms that Zelensky has rejected as surrender. Putin insists any deal must include “the root causes” of the conflict, referring to what Moscow views as NATO’s eastward expansion.
Zelensky Meets Pope and US VP
While the attack unfolded, President Zelensky was in Rome, where he had a private audience with newly-inaugurated Pope Leo at the Vatican. He also met briefly with US Vice President JD Vance.
According to Zelensky, discussions focused on Russia’s low-level presence at the Istanbul talks, the urgency of sanctions, and how international support could push for a legitimate path to peace.
Territorial Stakes Remain High
As of now, Russia controls approximately 20% of Ukraine’s territory, including the Crimean peninsula annexed in 2014 and swaths of southern and eastern Ukraine. While frontlines remain active, neither side has made major territorial gains in recent weeks.
Both sides now appear to be using diplomatic engagements as strategic posturing, with Ukraine leveraging international sympathy and Russia using military shows of force to shape terms of engagement.
Conclusion
As the Putin-Trump call approaches, Saturday night’s drone attack serves as a grim reminder of the war’s intensity and the enormous gap between diplomatic hopes and battlefield reality. Whether any breakthrough is possible remains to be seen, but Ukraine is warning the world: Putin is not ready to stop the war.
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According to the , Ukraine described the attack as a deliberate escalation ahead of diplomacy.
