Ukraine Endures Fiercest Russian Aerial Assault as Trump Slams Putin

Ukraine faced its most intense aerial bombardment from Russia overnight, with 728 drones and 13 cruise or ballistic missiles striking cities across the country in multiple waves, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. The attack, described as the largest of its kind, targeted regions including Kyiv, Lutsk, Lviv, and Rivne, with Lutsk—a key hub for military and humanitarian aid near the Polish border—bearing the brunt of the strikes. Firefighters battled blazes sparked by explosions in the Kyiv region.

Zelensky condemned the assault, stating, "This attack comes at a time when so many efforts have been made to achieve peace and establish a ceasefire, yet Russia continues to rebuff them all." The barrage followed a US decision to resume military aid to Ukraine, reversing a brief suspension last week that President Donald Trump claimed he was unaware of. Axios reports that 10 Patriot missile interceptors may now be sent to Kyiv to counter Russia’s escalating missile and drone attacks.

Speaking to reporters, Trump expressed frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying, “We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth. He’s very nice to us all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.” Despite regular contact between the two leaders, no progress has been made toward a ceasefire, a goal Trump once claimed he could achieve in a day. Last week, he described Putin as “very unhappy” and criticised his intent to “keep killing people.” The Kremlin, however, remained unfazed. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded, “We’re pretty calm about this. Trump’s way of talking is generally quite harsh.” Peskov also claimed Russian forces were “moving forward” in eastern Ukraine, where their summer offensive continues to meet stern resistance. Trump also hinted at supporting a sanctions bill proposed by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, which would impose 500% tariffs on countries trading with Russia. While Trump has threatened sanctions since taking office in January, none have been implemented, with the president previously noting their high cost and expressing hope for a Russia-Ukraine deal. On the ground, Russian authorities reported a Ukrainian drone attack on the Kursk border region, which killed three people, including a five-year-old boy, and injured seven others. Meanwhile, Zelensky is in Rome for the Ukraine Recovery Conference, meeting Pope Leo, US envoy Keith Kellogg, and European leaders, including German Chancellor Friederich Merz, who pledged air defence support, stating that diplomatic efforts to resolve the war had been exhausted. As Russia’s invasion, launched in February 2022, grinds on, no further ceasefire talks are scheduled, and both sides remain pessimistic about a diplomatic resolution.