President Donald Trump declared his readiness to impose sanctions on Russia after it carried out its most extensive air assault against Ukraine since the conflict began, engulfing Kyiv’s government headquarters in flames and causing at least five deaths, including an infant.
An additional 44 individuals sustained injuries in the attack, which the Ukrainian Defense Department reported involved over 800 Shahed-type drones; 9 Iskander-K cruise missiles; and 4 Iskander-M ballistic missiles. These munitions struck residential buildings and set fire to the structure where the Cabinet of Ministers holds its meetings.
This incident marked the second major Russian drone and missile attack to target Kyiv within a two-week period, occurring less than a month after Trump’s crucial peace discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
Trump has faced escalating pressure to penalize Russia for its continuous aggression against Ukraine, even as the president has consistently assigned blame for the ongoing conflict to both sides and to Europe.
When questioned by reporters on Sunday about his willingness to implement a second round of sanctions against Russia following the attack, Trump simply stated: “I am.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously urged Trump to punish Putin for the devastating assaults.
“Such killings now, when genuine diplomatic engagement could have commenced long ago, represent a deliberate crime and a perpetuation of the war,” Zelensky posted on X, calling on his allies to assist in fortifying Ukraine’s defenses. “It has been frequently articulated in Washington that sanctions would follow a refusal to talk… The global community has the power to compel the Kremlin’s perpetrators to cease the bloodshed – all that is required is political resolve.”
Zelensky further mentioned that he had conferred with French President Emmanuel Macron about enhancing Ukraine’s air defense systems.
The assault is anticipated to heighten demands on Trump to levy sanctions against Russia, aligning with his commitment to do so if Putin does not agree to a ceasefire.
Soon after the talks in Alaska, Trump indicated he was working to facilitate a meeting between Putin and Zelensky. However, Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov stated that.
In recent days, Trump has continued to assert that negotiations between Zelensky and Putin remain feasible despite an intensification of Russian attacks.
“I’ve been observing it, I’ve been witnessing it, and I’ve been discussing it with President Putin and President Zelenskyy,” he noted. “Something is going to happen, but they are not prepared yet. But something will occur. We are going to ensure it gets done.”
Timur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, reported via Telegram that over 90 rescuers, more than 160 police officers, and upwards of 200 utility workers were active Sunday at the attack site in Kyiv’s Svyatoshyn district. This marks the first occasion since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that its strikes have impacted and damaged the government headquarters in the city center, which is located close to Zelensky’s office.
Reports from Zelensky and indicated that individuals were injured or killed in other regions of the country that also came under attack last night, including Kryvyi Rih, Dnipro, Kremenchuk, and Odesa.
The attack also comes just days after a conference of Ukraine’s allies in Paris, with over 30 countries participating in discussions for security assurances for Kyiv. Steve Witkoff, a senior U.S. official and United States Special Envoy to the Middle East, attended the meeting where Zelensky conveyed “special thanks” to Trump for “all his endeavors to conclude this war and for America’s willingness to provide support to Ukraine on its part.”
During the gathering, European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, accused Russia of impeding peace negotiations.
“If Moscow doesn’t wish to adhere to these conditions, we will be forced to take further measures with the U.S.,” Macron declared. “The fundamental point here is that there are no limitations on Ukraine’s defense.”
