Russia has increased its military attacks on Ukraine, launching 145 drones and six missiles shortly after a phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The assaults were initiated from six locations in western Russia, with 45 drones unleashed on the Kyiv area. Ukrainian officials reported that while the attacks hit civilian infrastructure, nobody was hurt.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy interpreted the attacks as a rejection of Trump’s proposed 30-day ceasefire, stating, “Putin essentially rejected the proposal for a total ceasefire.” Citizens were angered, with many feeling that Trump’s intervention had emboldened Ukraine’s enemies. Larysa Kozhedub, a manicurist who had lost her nephew in combat, stated, “Putin shows that Trump is nothing but his lap dog.”
Despite the strains, analysts urged restraint. Volodymyr Fesenko, head of the Penta think tank, stated that the lengthy conversation involving Trump and Putin did not damage Ukraine’s interests. Trump did not yield to Russian pressure to have the United States stop military aid or pressure Ukraine to cancel mobilization.
In this mobilization, Ukraine has managed to recapture several towns in eastern regions, as setbacks were suffered in Russia’s Kursk region. It has been warned by experts that the acceptance of a suspension of strikes in the Black Sea could be a political defeat for Ukraine.
In a twist, Trump and Putin discussed parts of Kyiv’s peace plan, including a stop to air and sea attacks. However, the psychological effect remains massive, with Ukrainians in fear of air raid sirens.
As things develop, both nations are still undergoing complex negotiations that could have an impact on the future of the conflict and regional stability.
