Drone Attacks Test Ukraine

Russia launches a wave of drones in Ukraine as Donald Trump pressures Moscow to show progress toward ending the war.

Drone Attacks Test Ukraine as Trump Sets Deadline for Moscow Talks

Russia unleashed a series of drone strikes on Ukraine overnight, injuring civilians and damaging buildings across the country. Local media, including the Kyiv Independent and Ukrainian officials, reported damage in several regions, with a strike in the Buchansky district leaving three women injured and a nursery and nearby houses in Bucha damaged.

On the diplomatic front, Donald Trump is pressing Moscow to demonstrate progress toward ending the war while President Zelensky seeks European backing to sustain pressure on Russia. Zelensky responded to Moscow’s refusal to invite him to a meeting with Trump by saying Ukraine is not afraid of meetings and expects the same brave approach from the Russian side. The White House has set a deadline for Friday to show progress or face further sanctions. Trump said it will be up to Putin what happens and added that he is disappointed by the pace of developments. He also remarked that long waits are a shame.

The morning attack underlines how war and diplomacy are intertwined, with civilians paying a high price as leaders negotiate in public. The episode tests Western unity on sanctions and diplomacy, and it raises questions about how much leverage the United States and Europe are willing to invest if talks stall.

Highlights

The next moves will reveal how far diplomacy can bend a war that remains stubbornly unresolved.