President Donald Trump said he was prepared to impose a "second phase" of sanctions on Russia after Moscow launched what Ukrainian officials described as the largest air attack of the war, a barrage that damaged Kyiv’s Cabinet of Ministers building and killed four people, including a mother and her baby.
Ukrainian officials said the strike, on Sept. 7, included 810 drones and 13 missiles. Ukraine’s air force reported it neutralized 747 drones and four of the missiles. The attack also damaged residential buildings and infrastructure across the capital, and rescue workers responded to fires and rubble in several districts.
Asked whether he was ready to move forward with further penalties on Russia, Trump told reporters, "Yeah, I am." He also said he planned to speak with President Vladimir Putin "over the next couple of days," without detailing what he hoped to achieve in that conversation.
"Look, we're going to get it done," Trump said when pressed about efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict. "I am not thrilled with what's happening there. I believe we're going to get it settled. But I am not happy with them. I'm not happy with anything having to do with that war."
The strike followed a recent move by Putin suggesting he would meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy only if Zelenskyy traveled to Moscow — a proposal Ukraine and Western officials dismissed as unsafe and not indicative of good-faith negotiations. Putin has also said in recent weeks that Western troops on Ukrainian soil would be "legitimate targets," remarks that drew criticism from NATO and Kyiv.
Trump said European leaders would be traveling to Washington this week to discuss next steps for ending the war, but he did not identify the leaders or say whether Zelenskyy would be among the visitors. He declined to provide details on the scope or timing of additional sanctions beyond saying he was ready to act.
On the battlefield, Ukraine reported advances. On Monday, Kyiv’s military said it had recaptured the strategically important town of Zarichne in Donetsk, a region Moscow-controlled forces were assessed to occupy roughly three-quarters of last month. Zarichne lies near Luhansk, which has been nearly fully occupied by Russian forces, and near transport routes linking key cities in Donetsk. Ukrainian officials also said they made advances near Pokrovsk in western Donetsk, where Russian forces have concentrated operations this summer.
The strikes and the reported Ukrainian counteractions underscored the intensity of combat even as diplomacy has flickered. Putin in recent weeks outlined terms that would effectively freeze front lines in areas such as Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia and called for Ukrainian withdrawals from other contested territories, positions Kyiv has rejected.
Ukrainian authorities and international partners have emphasized the humanitarian toll of strikes on population centers and critical infrastructure, while Western governments weigh further penalties aimed at degrading Russia’s military capabilities and economic resilience. Reuters contributed to reporting on the military developments.
Diplomatic interlocutors said details of any new U.S. sanctions would depend on consultations with allies and assessments of the attack’s scope, but officials offered few public specifics. The situation remained fluid as calls and meetings among world leaders were expected in the coming days.