Russia launched an overnight missile and kamikaze drone attack on Kyiv, killing at least eight people and injuring dozens, with multiple residential buildings hit in the capital. The assault prompted NATO to scramble fighter jets as a precautionary measure over Poland, which borders Ukraine.
The strikes occurred as former U.S. President Donald Trump issued a warning to NATO members ahead of a summit, demanding they increase defense spending immediately or face consequences. U.S. officials have indicated that many allies are falling behind on their commitment to spend 5% of GDP on defense by 2035.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had indicated that a large-scale strike was imminent, warning citizens to stay safe and heed air raid alerts. The attack targeted various sites in Kyiv and the surrounding region, including residential buildings, a confectionery factory, and the Kyiv Hydroelectric Power Station. Unconfirmed reports mentioned failures of Patriot air defense missiles during the assault.
In response to Kyiv's attacks on Russian infrastructure, Russia's Defense Ministry stated it had targeted military industry facilities, the fuel and energy sector, and airfield infrastructure in Ukraine. Overnight Ukrainian attacks also reportedly hit an oil refinery in Yaroslavl and energy facilities in occupied Crimea and Luhansk.
Trump is scheduled to meet with Zelensky at the NATO summit in Ankara on Wednesday to discuss potential avenues for ending the war in Ukraine. A senior U.S. official noted that the battlefield has been largely static in recent months, and Trump feels a sense of urgency to broker a resolution. Trump also spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin for 90 minutes recently, offering assistance in resolving the conflict.
During the summit, Trump is expected to evaluate allies' defense spending. While the U.K. announced a £15 billion increase in defense spending, it is projected to reach only 2.7% of GDP by 2029. U.S. Ambassador to NATO, Matt Whitaker, highlighted that countries like Poland and the Nordic and Baltic states are leading in defense contributions, but many others are lagging. He emphasized that Trump expects all allies to move toward the 5% target as quickly as possible.
The summit in Turkey is anticipated to see the announcement of defense-related deals worth billions of dollars. European officials expressed hope that Trump's relationships with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will facilitate a smooth summit, though concerns remain about lingering transatlantic tensions and Trump's past criticisms of NATO.