KYIV: Russia launched on Sunday (Might 18) its largest drone assault on Ukraine for the reason that begin of the warfare, destroying houses and killing not less than one lady a day earlier than US President Donald Trump is because of discuss a proposed ceasefire with Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
Ukraine’s intelligence service mentioned it additionally believed Moscow meant to fireplace an intercontinental ballistic missile in a while Sunday as an try and intimidate the West. There was no instant response from Moscow to the accusation.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, straining to revive ties with Washington after a disastrous February White Home go to, met Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Rome on Sunday on the sidelines of Pope Leo’s inauguration.
Zelenskyy mentioned the assembly was “good” and launched footage of Ukrainian and US officers sitting exterior at a spherical desk and smiling. Ukrainian media mentioned the assembly lasted 40 minutes.
“I reaffirmed that Ukraine is able to be engaged in actual diplomacy and underscored the significance of a full and unconditional ceasefire as quickly as potential,” mentioned Zelenskyy, who additionally met the brand new pope.
Ukraine and Russia held their first face-to-face talks in additional than three years on Friday, beneath stress from Trump to comply with a ceasefire in a warfare he has pledged to deliver to a fast finish. The foes agreed to swap 1,000 prisoners every however did not agree a truce, after Moscow offered situations {that a} member of Ukraine’s delegation known as “non-starters”.
The leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Poland deliberate to talk to Trump earlier than the US and Russian presidents communicate on Monday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz mentioned. The 4 European leaders collectively visited Kyiv final week and have been calling for Trump to again new sanctions on Russia.
Requested if it was time to impose more durable sanctions on Russia, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent mentioned that was as much as Trump.
“I feel we’ll see what occurs when either side get to the desk,” he advised NBC Information’ Meet the Press programme.
“President Trump has made it very clear, that if President Putin doesn’t negotiate in good religion, that the USA won’t hesitate to up the Russia sanctions together with our European companions.”
After an evening of air alerts, Ukraine’s air pressure mentioned that as of 8am on Sunday, Russia had launched 273 drones at Ukrainian cities, greater than the earlier report Moscow had set in February on the warfare’s third anniversary.
