After two days of Russia’s heavy bombardment of Ukrainians cities and the worst air raid on Kyiv over weekend, Donald Trump has remained silent over Kremlin’s actions, raising questions whether US has disengaged from peace talks between the two countries.
Russia launched up to 300 UAVs and 70 missiles, including ballistic missiles, against Ukraine on Saturday. Ukraine reported downing 45 Russian cruise missiles and neutralizing 266 out of 298 drones. Following the drone attack, Russia launched its largest air raid in three years, targeting capital Kyiv and killing twelve people. In the period of just over a week since first direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in March, the violence has continued with no sign of ceasefire. Donald Trump has failed to deliver his pre-election pledge to end the war as soon as possible, while Russia has rejected US-proposed thirty-day cease-fire multiple times. Compounding these concerns is Donald Trump’s silence in the face of Russian aggression, raising question whether the White House has abandoned its role as a negotiator between Kyiv and Moscow.
Addressing this concerns and following Russia’s deadly Sunday air strike on Kyiv, Zelenskiy called on the United States and European countries to scale up pressure on Russia.
“Without truly strong pressure on the Russian leadership, this brutality cannot be stopped. Sanctions will certainly help. Determination matters now – the determination of the United States, of European countries, and of all those around the world who seek peace. The world knows all the weaknesses of the Russian economy,” Zelenskiy on Telegram after twelve people were killed and sixty others injured in fresh Russian attack on Kyiv on Sunday.
Describing the Russian attack as an act of “terrorism” and “deliberate” targeting of civilians and residential areas, Zelenskiy said “Russia is dragging out this war and continues to kill every day. The world may go on a weekend break, but the war continues, regardless of weekends and weekdays.”
