Russia carried out the most powerful shelling since the beginning of the full-scale war - hundreds of drones and missiles damaged a government building in Kyiv and took the lives of civilians. In response, Ukraine is strengthening its defense and financing weapons procurement programs. Meanwhile, the US and EU are agreeing on new sanctions and talking about economic pressure as the main tool against the Kremlin.
Massive Russian attack damaged a government building in Kyiv
On Sunday night, Russia carried out the biggest attack on Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale war, launching 810 drones and 13 missiles. The air force reported that it managed to shoot down 747 drones and four missiles, but some of the strikes reached their targets. In the capital, the cabinet building was damaged, in which a fire of about 800 square meters broke out. The attack on the country killed four people, including a mother with a three-month-old baby, and injured 44 others.
President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that it was the largest air attack by the Russian Federation since February 2022, and called on partners to tighten sanctions and help Ukraine strengthen its air defenses. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer strongly condemned the strikes, calling them an act of terror. At the same time, the Russian Defense Ministry stated that the targets were exclusively military facilities, denying that the strikes targeted government buildings. Zelensky stressed that the world has the power to stop the Kremlin if it shows the political will.
US Treasury: Economic pressure could force Putin to negotiate
US Treasury Secretary Scott Besant said that tightening sanctions and introducing secondary tariffs against countries that buy Russian oil could bring the Russian economy to a standstill and force Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table. In an interview with NBC he emphasized that it is the joint actions of the US and the EU that can ensure the effectiveness of this pressure. According to the official, there is currently a “race” between the resilience of Ukrainian forces on the front and the resilience of the Russian economy.
Donald Trump’s administration, as Besant noted, is ready to increase pressure, although it has so far refrained from new sanctions against Russia and China. Instead, Washington has increased tariffs on imports from India, another major buyer of Russian energy resources. Trump himself, who predicted a quick end to the war after his election, is now facing disappointment due to the prolonged confrontation.
Zelensky: Ukraine to increase contributions to PURL program
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, that Ukraine is working to increase funding for the PURL program, which purchases American weapons. According to him, the amount of contributions has now exceeded $2 billion, but Kyiv seeks to further increase this figure. Zelensky called the program “very necessary” and said that preparations are also underway for a new meeting in the Ramstein format.
The head of state emphasized that one of the main tasks for the near future is to strengthen air defense, as Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities continue daily. He gave examples of attacks on Zaporizhia, Kherson and other communities, which once again confirm the constant danger. Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine is adding forces in response to each new threat and will continue to work to increase support from allies.
US and EU coordinate new sanctions against Russia
The European Commission has sent its special representative for sanctions enforcement, David O’Sullivan, to Washington for consultations with the US on increasing economic pressure on Russia. The decision was made after a telephone conversation between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, several European leaders and US President Donald Trump. European Commission spokeswoman Anita Hipper stressed that the sanctions have proven their effectiveness and need to be expanded.
The discussion is aimed at maintaining a united front between the European Union and the US in order to force Putin to negotiate. The EU emphasizes that economic pressure remains one of the few levers of influence on the Russian military machine. Earlier, Von der Leyen also spoke about coordinating actions with US Vice President J.D. Vance. Thus, Brussels and Washington confirm their readiness to continue to act together to prevent a decrease in the effectiveness of the sanctions regime.
US may monitor buffer zone in Ukraine
According to NBC News, the US is considering the possibility of remotely monitoring a buffer zone that could be created in Ukraine as part of future security guarantees. This is a large demilitarized area inside the country, the borders of which have not yet been determined. The surveillance is planned to be provided using drones, satellites and other intelligence tools without the deployment of US troops.
The channel's sources clarified that the physical presence in the zone could be provided by the armed forces of non-NATO countries, such as Saudi Arabia or Bangladesh. This option is possible only if Moscow agrees, as well as if agreements are reached between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin. Donald Trump's participation as one of the guarantors of security is also envisaged. Currently, all these plans are at the stage of preliminary discussions and will depend on the results of potential peace talks.
Author: Danylo Pievchev