Zelensky Claims No Early Warning on Russian Strikes Amid Trump Tensions
Ukraine's president says allies failed to provide advance notice of attacks that killed one, as he clashes with Donald Trump over war efforts.
Ukraine did not receive early warning from allies regarding the latest Russian attacks on Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed. The strikes, which targeted energy facilities in the Ukrainian capital overnight, resulted in one fatality and two injuries. A medical facility and a non-residential building sustained damage during the early morning assault.
This attack was part of a broader campaign that has seen Russia launch nearly 2,700 attack drones, 1,700 aerial bombs, and 66 missiles, many of them ballistic, against Ukraine in the past week, according to Zelensky. He stated that the primary targets are energy facilities, with the apparent aim of causing widespread blackouts. Zelensky also noted that Russia has not made reciprocal steps in response to sanctions relief or agreements, and has accused Russia of breaking a "energy ceasefire" 76 times.
The comments come as Zelensky engaged in discussions with top U.S. envoys, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, over the weekend, aiming to de-escalate tensions. These talks occurred while both Ukraine and Russia intensified strikes on each other's energy infrastructure.
Concurrently, former President Donald Trump claimed he was making "great progress" in negotiating peace between Russia and Ukraine. However, Trump also stated that Zelensky "doesn't care" about ending the war and suggested he never did, while criticizing Ukrainian attacks on Russian diesel refineries, which he argued were hurting global diesel markets, including the U.S.
Zelensky countered that "a lot depends" on the U.S. stance in the conflict and expressed readiness to work constructively. He emphasized the expectation of a similar approach from European and American partners.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's military launched drones on Saint Petersburg late Sunday, igniting an oil refinery fire and hospitalizing five individuals. Moscow has stated that these Ukrainian attacks will not alter its war objectives, with President Putin reiterating intentions to seize the remainder of eastern Ukraine.