Drone strikes continued to rock both Ukraine and Russia overnight, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accuse Russian President Vladimir Putin of manipulating peace talks. Zelenskyy, in a Telegram message, highlighted the escalating intensity and scale of the Russian attacks, stating that there’s no military logic behind them, only a clear political choice to continue the war.
He directly called for stronger sanctions from the United States, Europe, and other peace-seeking nations, arguing that these measures would force Russia to cease fire and show respect. Zelenskyy’s statement emphasized Putin’s alleged manipulation of diplomacy, asserting that Putin is “simply playing games” and that this behavior needs to change.
The Ukrainian president’s comments come amidst months of stalled U.S.-brokered peace talks, which haven’t yielded a lasting ceasefire or a concrete framework for a peace agreement. President Donald Trump’s administration has shown growing frustration, with Trump publicly labeling Putin as “absolutely crazy” and criticizing Zelenskyy for his public statements.
Kyiv is advocating for a 30-day ceasefire to facilitate peace negotiations, a proposal that Russia has thus far rejected. While Putin informed Trump of a forthcoming memorandum outlining Russia’s negotiating position, both Kyiv and its European allies suspect the Kremlin of deliberately delaying the process.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, confirmed that the memorandum is still under development, promising its delivery to Kyiv upon completion. However, Zelenskyy expressed skepticism about this timeframe, noting the ongoing attacks and Russia’s preparations for new offensives.
The conflicting statements highlight the deep distrust between the parties. Ukraine continues to urge the Trump administration to impose harsher sanctions on Russia to pressure them into serious negotiations. Despite Trump’s threats, these requests remain unanswered.
Overnight drone attacks continued from both sides. Ukraine’s air force reported shooting down 43 out of 60 incoming Russian drones, while Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have intercepted 99 Ukrainian drones. These ongoing attacks underscore the volatile situation and the urgency of finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
