Russia’s Record Drone Assault on Ukraine Overshadows Trump’s Peace Talks with Putin

Russia unleashed a record-breaking drone assault on Ukraine, launching 273 drones and decoys targeting Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk regions, just hours before President Donald Trump’s scheduled call with Vladimir Putin. Ukraine’s air force reported intercepting 88 drones, with 128 others likely jammed electronically. This barrage, the largest since Russia’s 2022 invasion, claimed the life of a 28-year-old woman and injured three others, including a 4-year-old child, in Kyiv.

Trump’s diplomatic push comes as he announced plans to speak with Putin and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to address the war’s staggering toll—over 5,000 soldiers killed weekly. Trump emphasized stopping the “bloodbath” and fostering trade, expressing hope for a ceasefire to end a conflict he called preventable. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio also met Zelenskyy in Rome, discussing peace talks, sanctions, and defense cooperation.

The timing of Russia’s attack raises questions about Putin’s intentions, as Zelenskyy stressed the need for a “full and unconditional ceasefire” and stronger pressure on Russia. Meanwhile, world leaders, including Zelenskyy, gathered in Rome for Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural mass, adding a symbolic backdrop to the diplomatic flurry.