The southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa was engulfed in flames late Thursday after experiencing a devastating large-scale Russian drone attack. This assault occurred just hours after US President Donald Trump expressed his optimism about ending the ongoing war, coinciding with a scheduled resumption of peace talks set for Monday.
President Trump, who has recently engaged in separate phone calls with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky regarding a potential partial ceasefire, conveyed a hopeful sentiment about reaching an end to the war. “We’re doing pretty well in that regard,” Trump stated on Thursday, indicating a positive outlook for the upcoming discussions.
Delegations from Russia and the United States are slated to resume talks aimed at resolving the conflict on Monday in Saudi Arabia, according to officials from both countries. Following an earlier round of negotiations in February, President Zelensky confirmed that a Ukrainian team will also participate in the talks, pressing Putin to “stop making unnecessary demands that only prolong the war.”
In a striking turn of events, just hours after Trump's remarks, Russia initiated a “massive” drone attack on Odesa, targeting civilian infrastructures and injuring at least three individuals, including a minor, as reported by local officials. Among the affected structures were a high-rise residential building and a shopping center, as detailed by local governor Oleh Kiper.
Videos circulating on social media depict flames engulfing civilian infrastructure and thick plumes of smoke rising over the city. While CNN has yet to verify the authenticity of the videos, the impact of the attack is undeniable. Notably, Czech President Peter Pavel was in Odesa on an official visit during the time of the drone strikes, as stated by Ukrainian official Dmytro Kuleba.
In addition to the attack on Odesa, Russian assaults resulted in injuries to at least five individuals near the southern city of Zaporizhzhia on Thursday, according to local governor Ivan Fedorov. Furthermore, nearly 200 drones targeted the Kirovohrad region in central Ukraine overnight, wounding ten people, including four children, and damaging homes, a church, and critical infrastructure, as reported by Zelensky.
“Russian strikes on Ukraine do not stop, despite their propaganda claims. Every day and every night, nearly a hundred or more drones are launched, along with ongoing missile attacks,” Zelensky stated on X. He emphasized that each strike reveals Russia's true stance towards peace.
In the days leading up to the drone attack, both Ukraine and Russia have engaged in aerial assaults following the Kremlin's agreement to temporarily halt attacks on energy infrastructure. However, a broader ceasefire that the US is advocating has yet to be finalized. Overnight, Ukraine successfully struck a military airfield deep within Russian territory, resulting in a significant explosion that destroyed nearby houses. The Ukrainian military confirmed the attack on Engels airbase, located over 465 miles from the Ukrainian border, stating that it targeted the airbase due to its use by the Russian air force for missile strikes against Ukraine.
President Zelensky accused Putin of violating his pledge, asserting that Russia launched 150 drones, including strikes on energy facilities. He has expressed readiness to pause attacks on Russian energy and civilian infrastructure, stating that his team will prepare a list of civilian targets for a potential future agreement. “Ukraine unconditionally agrees to a ceasefire, but is waiting for the aggressor to agree,” Zelensky remarked during a press conference in Norway.
Putin announced the pause on energy infrastructure attacks after a lengthy call with Trump, with a Kremlin readout indicating that the Russian president responded positively to the initiative. However, the Kremlin has outlined stringent conditions for a broader ceasefire, including halting all foreign military aid to Kyiv and ceasing any Ukrainian mobilization or rearming during that period.
On Thursday, Zelensky reached out to European leaders, reaffirming their support for Ukraine and urging Western leaders to translate their verbal support into actionable commitments. “The stronger they are on the battlefield, the stronger they are behind the negotiation table,” said Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat.
The upcoming meetings in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, are aimed at clarifying the deal reached by Trump and Putin, as well as discussing other areas of negotiation towards a full ceasefire. Notably, the talks will not involve Cabinet-level US officials, as stated by the State Department.
This article has been updated with additional information as the situation continues to evolve.
