Ukrainian authorities say Russian drone and missile strikes during the night and into daylight hours Tuesday killed at least 22 people and wounded more than 80 others. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday criticized Moscow for launching the attacks after Russia announced a temporary unilateral ceasefire for later this week. Russia's Defense Ministry declared a ceasefire for Friday and Saturday. But it warned of retaliation if Kyiv disrupts Victory Day festivities. Ukrainian forces have also continued their attacks on Russian areas by targeting oil facilities. Russia said that it destroyed 289 Ukrainian drones overnight across 18 regions. Both sides remain deeply mistrustful of each other which is complicating ceasefire efforts.
Ukrainian forces have struck an oil terminal in the Russian Black Sea city of Tuapse, according to Ukraine's General Staff. This marks the fourth attack on the region's oil infrastructure in just over two weeks. Local officials in Russia said a Ukrainian drone attack sparked a blaze, but no casualties were reported. Meanwhile, Russian attacks continue to hit Ukraine. On Friday, Russia attacked the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil with over 50 drones, wounding at least 10 people. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia continues to target energy and civilian infrastructure with drone strikes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says a Ukrainian delegation is set to meet on Thursday with U.S. President Donald Trump's envoys ahead of another round of trilateral talks with Russia. Zelenskyy told reporters on Wednesday that Ukraine's negotiator Rustem Umerov will hold talks with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Geneva. A round of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran is expected to be held on the same day in the Swiss city.
By AAMER MADHANI, ISOBEL KOSHIW and KONSTANTIN TOROPIN Associated Press
President Donald Trump says his plan to end the war in Ukraine has been "fine-tuned." He said Tuesday that he is sending envoy Steve Witkoff to meet with the Russian president and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to meet with Ukrainian officials. Trump suggested he might meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy once negotiations progress. Talks have been ongoing, with U.S. and Ukrainian officials meeting in Geneva. French President Emmanuel Macron says peace efforts are at a crucial juncture. Meanwhile, Russia launched attacks on Kyiv, and Ukraine responded with drone strikes on Russia. European leaders warn the road to peace will be long.
Ukraine has launched long-range drone and missile attacks on key Russian targets. Authorities said Monday that these included an ammunition plant, an oil terminal in Crimea and a weapons depot. The strikes are part of Ukraine's strategy to pressure Russia's military logistics. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the country is using domestically produced weapons and aims to expand these capabilities with foreign funding. Ukraine's defense industry is growing with plans to export surplus weapons by the end of the year. The country hopes to provide at least half of its front-line weapons needs with domestically produced arms.
A Russian rocket attack targeted the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy, killing at least four people and wounding 25. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced Tuesday's assault, saying it underscored that Moscow has no intentions of halting the 3-year-old war. The attack came a day after direct peace talks in Istanbul made no progress on ending the fighting. Local authorities said the barrage of rockets struck apartment buildings and a medical facility in the center of Sumy. Meanwhile, Ukraine's secret services said they struck inside Russia again, two days after a spectacular Ukrainian drone attack on air bases deep inside the country.
