Kremlin Aide States Putin Would Accept Call From Zelensky Amid Escalating Strikes

A Kremlin aide stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin would answer a call from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky if one were initiated, as Russia and Ukraine continue to exchange missile and drone strikes. Yuri Ushakov, a Kremlin aide, told the Interfax news agency that Putin has "never refused talks" and would indeed answer if Zelensky reached out. Ushakov also suggested that Zelensky is welcome to visit Moscow for direct discussions.

This development follows a week in which the Finnish president acted as an intermediary, conveying Zelensky's willingness to engage in talks. Ushakov proposed that future negotiations to end the conflict should be conducted in a trilateral format involving Russia, Ukraine, and the United States. He noted that working contacts already exist with the Americans, making a trilateral format a logical starting point for negotiations.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has continued to target Russian energy infrastructure. One of Russia's largest oil refineries, the Kstovo facility in the Nizhny Novgorod region, was reportedly struck by a Ukrainian drone overnight, causing significant damage and a large fire. Gleb Nikitin, the governor of Nizhny Novgorod, described the incident as a "massive drone attack." Ukrainian media identified the Kstovo facility as a major producer of fuel and lubricants. President Zelensky also stated that Ukrainian strikes had successfully hit the Kamesky plant in Russia's Rostov region. Russia has accused Ukraine of resuming attacks on its oil refineries and gas-chemical complexes after a brief pause.

In retaliation for Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, Kyiv has repeatedly targeted Russian oil and gas sites since February 2022. The United States, under President Donald Trump, had reportedly pressured Kyiv to halt such attacks, citing concerns over rising diesel prices.

On the other side, Russia has continued its attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure. President Zelensky reported that hundreds of thousands of households in Ukraine lost power following overnight Russian strikes targeting infrastructure in four regions. He described the intensity of the strikes as "very high," with Russians aiming to exploit a deficit in ballistic missile interceptors.

In an unconventional tactic, Ukraine reportedly launched kamikaze drones from weather balloons on Saturday in an effort to disrupt air traffic around Moscow's airports. War channels in Russia revealed this method, intended to fly drones at high altitudes before launching them to maximize damage and disrupt operations at the Moscow aviation hub. Reports indicated widespread flight delays and cancellations across Russia, with disruptions noted at Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Novosibirsk, and Pulkovo airports, causing frustration among passengers awaiting flights.