Nearly 300 attack drones and nearly 70 missiles — including ballistic missiles — were launched at Ukraine overnight, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced via his official X (formerly Twitter) account.
The large-scale air assault came despite a significant diplomatic development: Ukraine and Russia on Friday commenced what has been described as the largest prisoner-of-war exchange since President Vladimir Putin initiated the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump applauded the exchange, posting on Truth Social: “Congratulations to both sides on this negotiation. This could lead to something big???” However, at the time of his post, the exchange had not yet taken place, drawing criticism that Trump had prematurely claimed credit. One Ukrainian official, speaking to POLITICO anonymously, said, “[Trump] wanted to be the first to break the news about it.”
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov expressed appreciation for Trump’s engagement, as Ukraine continues efforts to keep the U.S. administration engaged in brokering peace.
Last week, Trump and Putin reportedly held a two-hour phone call to discuss a U.S.-backed proposal for a 30-day ceasefire. Trump characterized the conversation as “very successful,” although Putin has only tentatively agreed to consider a nonbinding “memorandum” outlining possible conditions for peace.
In response to the latest barrage of missile and drone attacks, Zelenskyy on Sunday condemned Russia’s continued aggression and called on Ukraine’s international partners to increase diplomatic and economic pressure on Moscow in pursuit of a resolution to the war.
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