### Kyiv Faces Massive Drone Strikes Amid Stalled Peace Talks

#### The city of Kyiv experienced severe drone strikes, resulting in casualties, shortly after a call between US President Trump and Russian President Putin ended with no agreement on a ceasefire.

Kyiv has come under intense aerial assault from Russian forces, resulting in one fatality and 26 injuries due to strikes that targeted nearly every district in the city. Overnight, officials reported an unprecedented barrage, with Ukraine claiming Russia launched a record 539 drones and 11 missiles. The onslaught followed a disappointing diplomatic exchange between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which Trump expressed dismay over the continued hostilities in Ukraine.

The nighttime attacks unleashed a cloud of dark smoke over Kyiv, accompanied by the sounds of air defense systems engaging numerous drones and explosions reverberating throughout the city. According to Ukraine’s air force, 72 of the drones breached defense mechanisms, marking a disturbing escalation from the previous week’s figures. The intensity of the violence prompted air raid alerts to resonate for over eight hours, underscoring Kyiv’s vulnerability as a principal target.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the strikes as particularly "significant and cynical," characterizing the night as arduous and sleepless while stressing the implications of its timing, directly following the Trump-Putin call. He urged international allies, especially the United States, to ramp up sanctions against Moscow and increase military support to Ukraine.

Following the attacks, Zelensky engaged in a phone call with Trump about the supply of US arms, describing the dialogue as crucial amidst a backdrop of halting key military shipments from Washington. Ukrainian officials have alerted that the suspension of weapon deliveries, especially air defense systems, jeopardizes the country’s capacity to defend itself against the rising threats posed by Russian operations.

In addition to the devastation in Kyiv, Russian strikes were reported in the Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Chernihiv regions, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. The Russian defense ministry justified the bombings as a counter to what they termed “terrorist acts” carried out by the Ukrainian government. Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone strike reportedly resulted in civilian casualties in Russia's Rostov region.

Friday's aerial strikes are part of a broader pattern of Russian military escalation as ceasefire efforts have largely stagnated. Despite comments from Trump indicating disappointment in Putin’s commitment to peace, the Kremlin maintains its strategy aimed at reasserting influence over Ukraine, a move reinforced by Putin’s assertive declarations about territorial claims.

International reactions remain critical, with NATO Secretary-General expressing hope that the US would adjust its arms policy to better support Ukraine, while Germany reportedly pursues additional air defense systems to provide. The protracted confrontation, now entering its third year since Russia’s full-scale invasion commenced in February 2022, continues to evolve amid complex geopolitical dynamics and shifting military strategies.