On Sunday, Russia launched its largest drone attack on Ukraine since the war began, killing at least one woman and destroying homes just one day before US President Donald Trump is set to discuss a proposed ceasefire with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ukraine’s intelligence agency claimed that Russia might also launch an intercontinental ballistic missile later the same day in a move meant to intimidate Western countries. Russia has not responded to this accusation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, trying to repair relations with the US after a failed visit to the White House in February, met with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Rome. The meeting happened on the sidelines of the inauguration of Pope Leo. Zelensky said the meeting went well and shared photos showing both sides smiling around a round table. According to Ukrainian media, the meeting lasted about 40 minutes.
“I reaffirmed that Ukraine is ready to engage in real diplomacy and emphasized the need for a full and unconditional ceasefire as soon as possible,” Zelensky said. He also met with the new pope.
Ukraine and Russia held direct talks on Friday — their first in over three years — under pressure from Trump to agree to a ceasefire in the war he has promised to end quickly. While they agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners each, no truce was reached. Ukraine rejected Russia’s conditions as unacceptable.
European leaders — from Britain, France, Germany, and Poland — plan to speak with Trump before his call with Putin on Monday. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said they want Trump to support new sanctions against Russia.
When asked about tougher sanctions, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that decision rests with President Trump. “We’ll see what happens when both sides are at the table,” Bessent said on NBC’s Meet the Press. “President Trump has made it clear that if Putin does not negotiate in good faith, the US will not hesitate to increase sanctions along with our European allies.”
Ukraine’s air force reported that by 8 a.m. on Sunday, Russia had launched 273 drones across Ukrainian cities — the most ever in a single attack, breaking the previous record from February.
“I could hear the drone”
In the Obukhiv region west of Kyiv, Natalia Piven, 44, described how she and her son survived the attack. After taking shelter in a cellar during the first wave of drones, they ran to a nearby kindergarten’s bomb shelter just before a second wave hit. Their home was completely destroyed.
A 28-year-old woman living next door was killed. Authorities reported three more people injured, including a four-year-old child.
“I can’t get over it. I clearly heard the drone flying straight toward my house,” Piven told Reuters.
Trump has changed the US stance on the war, moving from strong support for Ukraine to partially accepting parts of Russia’s narrative. Still, Kyiv and its European allies are trying to convince him that it is Moscow, not Ukraine, blocking a ceasefire.
Zelensky has agreed to Trump’s proposal for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. However, Russia insists on conditions — including halting arms shipments to Ukraine and addressing what it calls the “root causes” of the war. These include demands that Ukraine give up territory, disarm, and adopt a neutral status. Kyiv says these demands would amount to surrender and leave the country vulnerable.
