Russia launched its largest drone attack on Ukraine since the war began, just one day before a planned discussion between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin about a potential ceasefire. The attack destroyed homes and killed at least one woman.
Ukraine’s intelligence service stated that Moscow might also fire an intercontinental ballistic missile later on Sunday to scare the West. Moscow has not responded to this accusation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, trying to repair ties with the US after a difficult visit to Washington in February, met US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Rome during Pope Leo’s inauguration. Zelenskiy described the meeting as “good” and shared pictures of smiling US and Ukrainian officials. According to Ukrainian media, the meeting lasted 40 minutes.
“I reaffirmed that Ukraine is ready to be engaged in real diplomacy and underscored the importance of a full and unconditional ceasefire as soon as possible,” Zelenskiy said. He also met the new pope.
Drone Assault Sets Stage for Tense Talks
Ukraine and Russia held direct talks for the first time in over three years on Friday under pressure from Trump to reach a ceasefire. They agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners each, but could not agree on a truce. A Ukrainian delegate said Russia’s conditions were “non-starters.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Poland would talk with Trump before his conversation with Putin. These leaders visited Kyiv last week and are urging Trump to support more sanctions on Russia.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that stronger sanctions would depend on Trump. “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,” he said.
Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 273 drones by 8 a.m. Sunday, breaking the previous record. In Obukhiv, west of Kyiv, Natalia Piven said her home was destroyed. A 28-year-old neighbour was killed, and a child was among the injured. “I could clearly hear the drone flying right towards my house,” she told Reuters.