Russia carried out a second drone strike on Kyiv in less than one week in response to Kyiv drone strikes, which destroyed some of Russia’s top-of-the-line bombers and fighter jets. Moscow has intensified its attacks on Kyiv, which is responding to previous attacks carried out by Ukrainian forces deep inside Russia by using a civilian truck to launch the drone assault.
Earlier talks to end the conflict in Istanbul ended within an hour, as both sides shared ceasefire memorandums filled with terms and conditions that Ukraine said were unacceptable.
Apart from an agreement to exchange prisoners, progress has stalled without making meaningful progress.
The Russian side has demanded a conditional ceasefire, with a broader vision to extend it into a full-fledged unconditional ceasefire after Ukraine fulfils the terms of the conditional ceasefire. "Russia destroyed energy infrastructure in Odesa and Kyiv with drone strikes. The strikes have also caused massive damage to civilian infrastructure,” said Ukrainian officials.
Russia's Ukraine war of 2022 triggered the biggest European conflict since World War II, forcing millions to flee their homes and decimating much of eastern and southern Ukraine.
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Despite efforts by US President Donald Trump to reach a ceasefire agreement, a second round of peace talks in Turkey is at a standstill.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, according to US Senator Tommy Tuberville, knows he will not win the war against Russia, adding, “He is in no condition to dictate terms of ceasefire.”
He warned that the Russia-Ukraine conflict is likely on the verge of “spilling over to neighbouring nations and potentially forcing US military involvement.”
He slammed Zelensky for his trickery, saying there is “no doubt” Zelensky is trying to lure NATO into the conflict, Tuberville said, adding that the Ukrainian leader understands “he can’t win this war on his own” and “knows he is losing.”
The senator also called Zelensky a "dictator" who has “created all the problems” and does not want to hold elections. "He knew if he had an election, he would have been voted out,” the senator said. Instead, Zelensky is looking for ways to escalate the conflict, Tuberville said.
US president Donald Trump is also frustrated with Zelensky for launching drone strikes on Russian air bases, which he said was going to give Putin a chance to “bomb the hell out of them.”
Russia has condemned Ukraine’s drone strikes and acts of sabotage on Russian territory, claiming they undermine efforts to find a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.
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