Russian strikes batter Ukraine as Zelenskyy accuses Putin of stalling peace talks
Russia has launched another massive night attack across Ukraine while President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of drawing peace negotiations and pushed new meetings with the American and European allies.
The latest strikes killed at least two people and injured dozens of others on Friday evening, according to Ukrainian officials, while the Air Force nations reported that 582 drones and missiles were drawn across the country, the vast majority intercepted.
“Eight people were hospitalized, including two children, a 10 -year -old boy, and a 16 -year -old girl, Ivan Fedorov, governor of the Zaporizhzhya region of Ukraine,” said on Saturday morning.
The assault followed the massive attack on Thursday against the capital kyiv, which, according to Zelenskyy, had killed at least 25 people – including four children – injured tens more, and reduces power to 60,000 inhabitants.
The capital authorities said on Friday an official day of mourning.
The latest bombings are among the most intense to strike Ukraine during the war and a half, emphasizing both the climbing of Russia tactics and the paralysis of international mediation despite weeks of negotiations and diplomacy.
President Donald Trump welcomed his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska for a Whirlwind summit two weeks ago aimed at breaking the war. European leaders then traveled to the oval office to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine.
Trump has since pushed to organize a summit between Zelenskyy and Putin, but peace talks stalled in the middle of heavy bombings of Ukraine by Russia which dragged its feet during a meeting.
Zelenskyy accused Moscow Friday of blocking by insisting that the lower level officials complete the front basics between Putin and Zelenskyy.
This reasoning, he told journalists in kyiv, is “artificial … because they want to show in the United States that they are constructive, but they are not constructive”.
Zelenskyy said he hoped to meet next week with Trump and European leaders to relaunch peace efforts.
Trump, frustrated by Putin’s delays on direct talks with Zelenskyy, said a week ago that he expected to decide on the next steps in two weeks if direct talks are not scheduled.
On Friday, during an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, the United States warned Russia to head for peace and meet Ukraine or to face possible sanctions. The meeting was called after the attack on Russian missiles and Russian drones against Kyiv.
Ukraine has accepted an American proposal for a ceasefire and a summit between Zelensky and Vladimir Putin, but Moscow has raised objections.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration approved on Thursday a package of weapons of $ 825 million, including prolonged missiles to strengthen the defenses of Ukraine.
The State Department said on Thursday that it had notified the sales congress and that Ukraine would use the funding of NATO allies in addition to US foreign military financing to pay the equipment.
