In a devastating overnight operation, Russian missiles and drones targeted Kyiv, marking the largest aerial assault on the Ukrainian capital since the onset of the conflict over three years ago. This aggressive strike occurred shortly after a significant hour-long phone conversation between former President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump later described the dialogue as unproductive in terms of reaching a resolution to the ongoing war.
Following the bombardment, Trump engaged in a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who characterized their discussion as both important and beneficial. Throughout the attack, air raid sirens blared continuously across Kyiv for an exhausting eight hours into Friday morning, prompting many families to seek refuge in underground metro stations to escape the violence. Tragically, at least one individual lost their life, and over 20 others sustained injuries across various districts of the capital.
Kyiv officials reported extensive damage from the assault, with apartment buildings, schools, warehouses, and critical railroad infrastructure suffering significant impacts due to the approximately 550 drones and 11 missiles that struck the city. In a statement, Russia's defense ministry claimed that these aerial strikes were a direct response to what they termed the "terrorist acts of the Kyiv regime."
In recent weeks, Russia has significantly escalated its bombing campaigns against Ukraine, coinciding with the breakdown of ceasefire talks between the two nations. President Zelenskyy described the night of the attack as harsh and sleepless, emphasizing that it highlights Russia's unwillingness to end the war and the ongoing terror. He called for increased international pressure on Russia and urged for the provision of more air defense equipment to better protect Ukrainian skies.
Compounding the situation, the Trump administration recently paused shipments of crucial military supplies to Ukraine, including missiles, ammunition, and air defense systems. Ukrainian officials expressed concern that this decision could severely limit their capacity to defend against the intensifying Russian airstrikes and advances on the front lines.
In a Telegram post regarding his call with Trump, Zelenskyy indicated that they discussed the ongoing Russian airstrikes and the need to enhance Ukraine's air defense capabilities. He referred to Trump as being well-informed about the situation in Ukraine and noted their mutual agreement to collaborate on strengthening the protection of Ukraine's airspace. Zelenskyy also mentioned that they had agreed on a future meeting between their teams to discuss direct projects with the United States, particularly concerning drones and related technologies, which he described as essential for Ukraine's security.
This phone call occurred a day after Trump had spoken with Putin about potential pathways to end the war in Ukraine. Trump expressed his disappointment with the conversation, stating, "I didn't make any progress with him today at all," adding that he was not pleased with the outcome. Meanwhile, Kremlin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov relayed that Putin informed Trump of Russia's determination to continue its efforts to achieve its objectives in Ukraine. While Ushakov did not specify what these goals entail, Putin has previously reiterated demands for Ukraine to relinquish territory and to refrain from joining military alliances like NATO.
