Russia Hits Ukraine With Large Air Barrage Hours After Trump-Putin Call – The New York Times
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Russia launches largest drone and missile attack on Ukraine after Trump-Putin call
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the air alerts had begun echoing out across the country as reports of the presidents’ call emerged. 23 people were wounded in the Russian barrage that the air force said included 539 Russian drones of various types and 11 missiles. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga wrote on social media after the attack: “Putin clearly shows his complete disregard for everyone who has called for an end to the war” US announced this week that it was reducing some deliveries of military aid to Ukraine, in what EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said was a clear signal that the bloc needed to “step up”
AFP journalists in the capital heard drones buzzing over Kyiv and explosions ringing out as Ukrainian air defence systems fended off the attack.
President Donald Trump said he had made no progress with Vladimir Putin on ending the war in a call, as the Kremlin insisted Russia would pursue its war aims.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the air alerts had begun echoing out across the country as reports of the presidents’ call emerged.
“Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror,” Zelensky said on social media.
“All of this is clear evidence that without truly large-scale pressure, Russia will not change its dumb, destructive behaviour,” he added, urging the United States in particular to ramp up pressure on Moscow.
He said that 23 people were wounded in the Russian barrage that the air force said included 539 Russian drones of various types and 11 missiles.
A representative of Ukraine’s air force told Ukrainian media that the attack was the largest of the Russian invasion.
– ‘Complete disregard’ –
Overnight Russia attacks have escalated over recent weeks. An AFP tally shows Moscow launched a record number of drones and missiles at Ukraine in June, as direct peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow appeared to stall.
“Putin clearly shows his complete disregard for the United States and everyone who has called for an end to the war,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga wrote on social media after the attack.
In Kyiv, AFP journalists saw dozens of residents of the capital taking shelter in a metro station.
Russian attacks escalated as concerns mount in Kyiv over continued delivery of US military aid, which is key to Ukraine’s ability to fend off the drone and missile barrages.
The US announced this week that it was reducing some deliveries of military aid to Ukraine, in what EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said was a clear signal that the bloc needed to “step up”.
Trump’s view of the call with Putin was unusually bleak. After most of his previous five calls with Putin since returning to power in January he has given optimistic reports of progress towards a deal.
But he has shown increasing frustration with Putin after an early pivot towards the Russian leader.
Ukraine has also ramped up its drone strikes in Russia, where a woman was killed when a Ukrainian drone crashed into an apartment building, the region’s acting governor said.
Ukraine-Russia war live: Trump told Putin is ‘mocking’ peace efforts as minister urges US to restore weapons
Moscow’s forces launched a record 539 drones and 11 missiles at Ukraine. City authorities said at least 23 people were injured and heavy damage was sustained to railway infrastructure, buildings and cars. Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski called for Washington to fully restore the supply of weapons to Ukraine, after it partially halted transfers over concerns regarding its remaining stockpiles in the US.
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A Polish minister has told Donald Trump that Vladimir Putin is “mocking” his efforts towards peace, following a huge Russian air attack on Kyiv.
Moscow’s forces launched a record 539 drones and 11 missiles at Ukraine overnight, the Ukraine air force said. City authorities said at least 23 people were injured and heavy damage was sustained to railway infrastructure, buildings and cars.
The Polish consulate was among the buildings damaged, Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski said on X.
“President Trump, Putin is mocking your peace efforts,” he told the US president directly.
Mr Sikorski also called for Washington to fully restore the supply of weapons to Ukraine, after it partially halted transfers over concerns regarding its remaining stockpiles in the US.
“Please restore supplies of anti-aircraft ammunition to Ukraine and impose tough new sanctions on the aggressor,” Mr Sikorski said.
The strikes came just hours after Donald Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin held a phone call, which the US president said resulted in “no progress at all” towards peace in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Dutch and German intelligence agencies both said on Friday Russia has made “widespread” use of chemical weapons in Ukraine.
‘Uh, stop calling’: Expert warns Putin launches missiles after Trump phones
Beth Sanner, a former deputy director of national intelligence, appeared on CNN’s “The Source with Kaitlan Collins” on Thursday night. Sanner: “If I were in Ukraine, I’d be like, ‘Uh, stop calling President Putin because it rains missiles down on us” The remarks came after CNN’s Jim Sciutto reported that Kyiv was enduring a sustained Russian attack on Thursday.
Appearing on CNN’s “The Source with Kaitlan Collins,” Beth Sanner, a former deputy director of national intelligence, didn’t mince words as she analyzed the timing of Russia’s latest assault on Ukraine – just hours after Trump himself publicly confirmed his call with Putin.
“If you look back at every time that he said, ‘Stop, Vladimir’ or made a call, he strikes – Putin strikes again within the next day,” Sanner said. “I get why this administration wants to keep the dialogue open, but Putin responds every time with a finger.”
She then warned: “At some point, I mean, if I were in Ukraine, I’d be like, ‘Uh, stop calling President Putin because it rains missiles down on us.'”
The remarks came after CNN’s Jim Sciutto reported that Kyiv was enduring a sustained Russian attack on Thursday, with at least 13 sites struck by missiles and drones – including residential neighborhoods. At least eight people were reported injured as air raid sirens continued to sound.
Trump, while speaking to reporters, described his call with Putin as “pretty long,” and added they discussed Iran and the war in Ukraine – but admitted, “I didn’t make any progress with them today at all.”
Sanner’s warning on Thursday comes amid criticism of the Trump administration’s decision to pause U.S. weapons shipments to Ukraine, including critical air defense systems.
Watch the clip below via CNN or at the link here:
Russia hits Ukraine with largest barrage of war after Putin-Trump call
Russia launched its largest-ever drone and missile attack on Ukraine overnight today just hours after a telephone call between the US and Russian presidents ended without any breakthrough. “Nothing like this attack had ever happened before. There have never been so many explosions,” he said, adding: “Peaceful people live here. That’s all” “Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror,” Zelensky said on social media. “All of this is clear evidence that without truly large-scale pressure, Russia will not change its dumb, destructive behaviour,” he added. “So in those seconds, you just hold your breath and wait to see what happens next,” she said. “That’s all,” he replied. “There’s nothing like that,” she added. ‘”Nothing like that” is “never like that.” ‘”That’s not what I’m saying,” she replied.
Russia launched its largest-ever drone and missile attack on Ukraine overnight today just hours after a telephone call between the US and Russian presidents ended without any breakthrough.
AFP journalists in Kyiv heard drones buzzing over the capital and explosions ringing out throughout the night as Ukrainian air defence systems fended off the attack.
US President Donald Trump said he had made no progress in discussions with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on ending the war.
The Kremlin said Russia would pursue the aims of its invasion, now dragging through its fourth year.
Tymur, a Kyiv resident who said he had experienced previous Russian attacks, told AFP that the assault in the early hours of Friday was different.
“Nothing like this attack had ever happened before. There have never been so many explosions,” he said, adding: “Peaceful people live here. That’s all.”‘
War and terror’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said air alerts had begun echoing out across the country as reports of the presidents’ call emerged.
“Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror,” Zelensky said on social media.
“All of this is clear evidence that without truly large-scale pressure, Russia will not change its dumb, destructive behaviour.”
He urged the United States in particular to increase pressure on Moscow.
A senior Ukrainian official told AFP that Trump and Zelensky were planning to speak by telephone later on Friday.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said an embassy building had been damaged in the attack but that staff were unharmed.
“President Trump: Putin is mocking your peace efforts,” he added in the social media post.
Germany’s foreign ministry meanwhile said that the timing of the attack, just after the call between Putin and Trump, showed that Moscow “continues to rely on brute force”.
“Ukraine needs more to defend itself, not less,” the ministry said on social media.
Zelensky said 23 people were wounded in the barrage, which the air force said comprised 539 drones and 11 missiles.
A representative of Ukraine’s air force told Ukrainian media that the attack was the largest of the Russian invasion, launched in February 2022.
‘Complete disregard’
Overnight Russia attacks have escalated over recent weeks.
An AFP tally found Moscow launched a record number of drones and missiles at Ukraine in June, when direct peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow appeared to stall.
“Putin clearly shows his complete disregard for the United States and everyone who has called for an end to the war,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga wrote on social media after the attack.
In Kyiv, AFP journalists saw dozens of residents of the capital taking shelter in a metro station.
Yuliia Golovnina, who said she shelters at the metro regularly, described to AFP the worry that comes with hearing an explosion during an attack.
“Will there be another one? Will something collapse on you?” the 47-year-old said.
“So in those seconds, you just hold your breath and wait to see what happens next,” she added.
Russian attacks have escalated as concerns mount in Kyiv over whether the US will continue delivering military aid, which is key to Ukraine’s ability to fend off the drone and missile barrages.
The US announced this week it was reducing some of its aid deliveries.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said this was a clear signal that the 27-nation European Union needed to “step up”.
Trump’s view of the call with Putin was unusually bleak.
After most of his previous five calls with Putin since returning to power in January he has given optimistic reports of progress towards a deal.
But he has shown increasing frustration with Putin after an early pivot towards the Russian leader.
Ukraine has also ramped up its drone strikes in Russia, where a woman was killed when a Ukrainian drone crashed into an apartment building, the acting regional governor in Rostov said.
Ukraine war latest: Putin ‘mocking Trump’s peace efforts’, Poland says – as Zelenskyy slams ‘cynical’ Russian attack
U.S. has been holding up shipments of weapons to Ukraine. The move was driven by concerns that the weapons were running low. President Obama is expected to ask for more time to send the weapons. The delay could be permanent, says Professor Michael Clarke.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be “desperately” appealing to Donald Trump to resume US weapons shipments to Kyiv when they speak today, military analyst Professor Michael Clarke says.
The pause was driven by Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby over concerns that certain weapons stockpiles in the US were running low.
But Clarke says many of the weapons due to be sent to Ukraine are currently held up in Poland, where they were “ready to go” before the new US directive.
And he says Washington “obviously can’t be short” of Patriot missiles if the US is prepared to sell them to Germany (see 11.58 post).
Clarke says Colby is running an “underlying agenda” and believes that the pause could well turn permanent.
“He has been a friend of Russia as far as Ukraine goes, and I think Colby is clear that they’re not going to send anything else,” Clarke says.
“Now, we’ll see if Trump relents on that. And Zelenskyy this afternoon when he calls him desperately will be appealing to him to at least let this last bit go through.”