On Thursday, officials reported that Russia initiated an unusual drone and missile attack on western Ukraine, hitting targets that included an American-owned electronics factory, further compounding the uncertainty surrounding U.S.-led endeavors to resolve the three-year-old conflict.
The aerial assault on a region of Ukraine that has so far been largely spared from such concentrated attacks is one of the largest Russia has launched this year. This event comes amidst Moscow’s opposition to certain elements of proposed solutions that could halt the fighting, which has been ongoing since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Last week, President Donald Trump engaged in discussions regarding the war with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This was before he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders at the White House on Monday.
President Trump, in the previous month, has expressed skepticism regarding Putin’s dedication to ending the war, stating that the Russian leader “talks nice and then he bombs everybody.” Trump, in a recent social media post, censured his predecessor, Joe Biden, for not supplying Ukraine with more weapons it required to “fight back.”
Russia has launched nearly 1,000 long-range drones and missiles at Ukraine since Monday’s White House discussions, as per Ukrainian counts. Across Europe, countries are deliberating on how they can deploy their military assets to deter any postwar Russian aggression on Ukraine.
Yet, the Kremlin has made it clear that it will not accept the placement of any troops from NATO countries. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on Wednesday that establishing security arrangements for Ukraine without Moscow’s involvement would be futile.
However, Lavrov indicated on Thursday that Putin is prepared to meet with Zelenskyy to talk about peace terms, but only after key concerns have been addressed by high-ranking officials. This could potentially result in a prolonged negotiation process since the two parties remain significantly at odds.
Ukrainian and European leaders have charged Putin with delaying peace efforts, hoping that his larger army, which has been making gradual progress, can seize more Ukrainian territory.
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According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched 574 drones and 40 ballistic and cruise missiles overnight, with the majority targeting western parts of the country. This is where a large portion of the military aid provided by Ukraine’s Western allies is believed to be delivered and stored.
Zelenskyy condemned the attack amidst the pursuit of peace, remarking that it was carried out “as if nothing were changing at all.” An American electronics factory near the Hungarian border was hit, causing injuries and property damage.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed the strikes targeted “enterprises of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex,” denying targeting civilian areas of Ukraine. Yet, in the western city of Lviv, numerous residential and administrative buildings were damaged, resulting in casualties.
Against this backdrop, Zelenskyy urged the international community to respond with heightened pressure on Moscow, including stricter sanctions and tariffs. He indicated that plans for security guarantees will become clearer by the end of next week and expects to be prepared for direct talks with Putin for the first time since the full-scale invasion.
The ongoing violence in Ukraine serves as a stark reminder of the need for diplomatic solutions and the importance of international cooperation in times of conflict. As developments continue to unfold, we remain committed to bringing you the latest updates.