Russia focused Ukraine with its largest single drone assault but simply hours forward of President Donald Trump’s telephone name with Vladimir Putin about ending the warfare.
Russia on Sunday fired a complete of 273 exploding drones and decoys concentrating on Ukraine’s Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk areas, in response to Ukraine’s air power. Of these, 88 had been intercepted and 128 misplaced, doubtless being electronically jammed.
The barrage was the most important drone assault because the begin of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Yuriy Ihnat, head of the air power’s communications division, instructed the Related Press.
It got here after Trump mentioned he can be “talking, by phone, to President Vladimir Putin of Russia on Monday, at 10:00 a.m.” concerning the warfare in Ukraine.
PRESIDENT TRUMP DISHES ON ‘GREAT’ PHONE CALL WITH RUSSIA’S VLADIMIR PUTIN
Firefighters work at a constructing hit by a Russian drone strike exterior of Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sunday Might 18. (Reuters/Valentyn Ogirenko)
“The topics of the decision will probably be, stopping the ‘massacre’ that’s killing, on common, greater than 5,000 Russian and Ukrainian troopers per week, and commerce,” Trump wrote on Reality Social on Saturday. “I’ll then be talking to President Zelenskyy of Ukraine after which, with President Zelenskyy, numerous members of NATO.”
“Hopefully it is going to be a productive day, a ceasefire will happen, and this very violent warfare, a warfare that ought to have by no means occurred, will finish,” Trump added. “God bless us all!!!”
Firefighters put out a fireplace following Russia’s drone assault within the Kyiv area on Sunday, Might 18. (Ukrainian Emergency Service through AP)
The earlier largest identified single drone assault from Russia towards Ukraine was on the eve of the warfare’s third anniversary, when Russia pounded Ukraine with 267 drones.
Kyiv regional Gov. Mykola Kalashnyk mentioned a 28-year-old girl was killed in Sunday’s drone assault, and three different individuals, together with a 4-year-old youngster, had been wounded, the AP reported.
MASSIVE RUSSIAN DRONE ATTACK KILLS 7 IN UKRAINE AHEAD OF US PEACE TALKS
Residents stand subsequent to homes closely broken by a Russian drone strike, exterior of Kyiv on Sunday, Might 18. (Reuters/Valentyn Ogirenko)
Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio additionally met with Zelenskyy in Rome Sunday for ongoing peace talks.
“Throughout our talks we mentioned negotiations in Istanbul to the place the Russians despatched a low-level delegation of non-decision-makers. I reaffirmed that Ukraine is able to be engaged in actual diplomacy and underscored the significance of a full and unconditional ceasefire as quickly as potential,” Zelenskyy shared on X concerning the assembly.
“We now have additionally touched upon the necessity for sanctions towards Russia, bilateral commerce, protection cooperation, battlefield state of affairs and upcoming prisoners trade. Stress is required towards Russia till they’re desirous to cease the warfare. And, in fact, we talked about our joint steps to attain a simply and sturdy peace,” he continued.
Ukraine’s air power mentioned Russia’s drone assault on Sunday, Might 18, was the most important one they’ve launched since Putin’s forces invaded the nation in early 2022. (Ukrainian Emergency Service through AP)
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World leaders converged in Rome this weekend for Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural mass on the Vatican on Sunday, with Vance main the U.S. delegation. Zelenskyy additionally attended the mass.
Fox Information’ Emma Colton and the Related Press contributed to this report.
