Russia has launched another significant drone and missile assault on Kiev overnight, leading to renewed criticism from President Trump regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions, as Ukrainian officials reported Thursday morning.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on the social media platform X that the latest strike involved 18 missiles and nearly 400 drone attacks over a span of more than 10 hours. Tragically, he noted that two individuals lost their lives and over a dozen sustained injuries.
“This clearly escalates Russia’s campaign of fear: hundreds of ‘shaheds’ each night, relentless strikes, massive assaults on our cities,” he expressed. “Such Russian aggression warrants a strong and decisive response. That’s precisely what we are prepared to offer.”
Zelensky indicated plans to engage in discussions with allies about intercepting more drones and securing additional funding from their respective countries. He also called for stricter sanctions against Moscow.
“Sanctions need to be implemented swiftly, and pressure on Russia must be intense enough for them to genuinely feel the repercussions of their aggression,” he stated. “We require immediate action from our partners in terms of investing in weapons production and cutting-edge technology.”
This recent attack from Russia follows a similar raid in Kiev the previous day.
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) mentioned this week his intention to seek a vote on a new sanctions package targeting Russia, which would impose hefty tariffs on Russia and nations purchasing gas, uranium, and oil. The proposal has garnered support from over 80 co-sponsors in the Senate.
The president expressed disappointment following his recent conversation with Putin, describing Russian leaders as dishonest in their efforts to resolve the conflict with Ukraine. Trump had campaigned last year on the premise of facilitating a peace agreement among the adversaries.
“We face a lot of nonsense—if I’m being honest—coming from Putin,” he said during a Cabinet meeting. “He’s always been cordial with us, but it seems to have been in vain.”
Last week, the Pentagon halted the transfer of weapons to Ukraine while assessing US weapon stockpiles; however, it’s anticipated that this block will be lifted at Trump’s directive.
