Russia Launches Large Drone Attack on Ukraine Ahead of Trump-Putin Call

Ukraine says Russia launched its largest drone attack since the invasion began, targeting several regions including Kyiv, killing one woman and injuring at least three others, including a four-year-old child. The attack came ahead of a scheduled call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, with Trump urging a ceasefire. Russia and Ukraine had held talks in Turkey on Friday, agreeing a prisoner swap but making little else progress. Ukraine's air force reported 273 drones were launched, with 88 intercepted and 128 going astray.

Donald Trump said he will speak to Vladimir Putin by phone on Monday to discuss stopping the "bloodbath" and ending the war in Ukraine, and then speak to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Nato leaders. Putin had reiterated his demand for a peace deal that "eliminates the causes" of the crisis and "guarantees Russia's security". Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed preparations for the call, saying "the conversation is in the works". Trump had previously suggested a face-to-face meeting with Putin was needed to make progress on ending the war.

Russian drone strikes continued in Ukraine, killing nine people, as the Vatican renewed its offer to help the two sides reach a peace agreement. The strikes came after Moscow and Kyiv held their first direct peace talks in years in Istanbul, which failed to yield a ceasefire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack as "deliberate killing of civilians" and lamented the missed opportunity from the peace talks. The Vatican Secretary of State repeated the Vatican's offer to serve as a venue for direct talks, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed potential ways the Vatican could help facilitate peace negotiations.

President Trump stated that he plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin "as soon as we can" to discuss the ongoing Ukraine war, after Putin skipped peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey. Trump believes a meeting between him and Putin is crucial to breaking the deadlock, saying "I don't believe anything's going to happen... until he and I get together." The talks in Turkey continued without Putin, with a lower-level Russian delegation participating, and resulted in an agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war on each side. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed concern that Russia is not interested in a negotiated resolution, and warned of a "strong reaction" if the talks fail to make progress.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with top US officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in Rome ahead of a high-stakes phone call between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. Zelenskyy emphasized the need for "real diplomacy" and reaffirmed Ukraine's commitment to a ceasefire, while also stressing the need for sanctions against Russia. Rubio believes that in-person talks between Trump and Putin are necessary to move forward, and that the US is trying to achieve peace while also being mindful of the need for urgency. Meanwhile, Russia launched a large drone barrage against Ukraine, its largest since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, as Zelenskyy met with European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Pope Leo XIV, who offered the Vatican as a platform for direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.

Russia launched its heaviest drone attack on Ukraine since the start of the war in 2022, firing 273 exploding drones across the Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk regions. Ukraine's air force reported that 88 drones were intercepted and 128 were "lost" due to electronic jamming. The attack resulted in one death and several injuries in Kyiv, with significant damage to business premises and homes. The attack comes ahead of a planned phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss ending the war.

US President Donald Trump is set to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin about a ceasefire in Ukraine, after Russia launched its largest drone attack since the start of the war, killing a woman and injuring several others. Trump will also speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO members, and has expressed hope for a productive day and a ceasefire. The call comes after Ukraine and Russia held talks in Istanbul, where they agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners but failed to agree on a ceasefire. European leaders, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, had spoken to Trump to discuss the upcoming call and emphasized the need for an unconditional ceasefire.

Donald Trump's credibility is being tested by two challenges: passing a spending bill through the House of Representatives and achieving peace in Ukraine. The spending bill, which includes tax cuts, increased defense spending, and funding for mass deportation plans, is facing opposition from moderate Republicans due to steep cuts to Medicaid and food assistance. Trump's peace plan for Ukraine has so far delivered little, and a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday will test Trump's sincerity and credibility in the negotiations. Trump's claim that he can influence Putin has been questioned, and his administration's deferential treatment of Russia has raised concerns. The spending bill's prospects are uncertain, and its passage could be complicated by the implications of its provisions, including increased national debt and changes to Medicaid.

The current frontline in the Russia-Ukraine war is not on the battlefield, but rather in influencing US President Donald Trump's opinion. Both Moscow and Kyiv are vying to sway Trump's views, with a phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin expected to take place. European officials are also trying to speak to Trump ahead of the call, concerned that his view may be shaped by whom he speaks to last. Trump's opinion is seen as crucial, as he believes he has the personal authority and skills to settle the war, and his leverage could potentially impact the conflict's outcome. However, neither Russia nor Ukraine is willing to accept the other's minimum terms, making a peaceful resolution challenging.

Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei launched a tirade against America and Israel after President Donald Trump's Middle East visit, calling Trump a liar and calling for the destruction of Israel, which he referred to as a "cancerous tumor." Khamenei also criticized Sunni Arab countries allied with the US, accusing America of promoting their dependency on Washington and using its resources to attack the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. Trump had previously criticized Iran's regime as the main force of instability in the Middle East during his trip to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, and expressed his desire for a deal with Iran to stop its nuclear weapons program.

Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran's nuclear enrichment will continue regardless of whether a deal is reached with the US, describing mastering enrichment technology as a "hard-earned and homegrown scientific achievement." Araghchi's comments come after President Donald Trump announced that the US had given Iran a proposal for a nuclear deal, warning that Iranian officials must move quickly or "something bad is going to happen." The US and Iran have held four rounds of talks since Trump took office, with the International Atomic Energy Agency reporting a significant increase in Iran's stockpile of 60% enriched uranium.

President Trump's Middle East trip presented Israel with a historic opportunity to advance its interests, despite not visiting the country. Experts say Trump's policies aligned closely with Israeli priorities, including condemning Hamas attacks, calling for Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords, and warning Iran over its nuclear ambitions. Trump's administration showed continued support for Israel, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressing the "deep U.S. commitment" to Israel's security. Israeli officials and experts expressed concerns that Israel missed opportunities to advance its interests, such as using its influence to secure U.S. arms deals with Saudi Arabia and American consent to lifting sanctions on Syria.