Putin is ‘mocking' Trump
The top Polish diplomat took to X on Friday to respond to a series of overnight Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian drone production facilities, an airfield and an oil refinery, which Moscow said was a response to 'terrorist attacks by the Kiev regime.' .
'President Trump, Putin is mocking your peace efforts. Please restore supplies of anti-aircraft ammunition to Ukraine and impose tough new sanctions on the aggressor,' Sikorski wrote, complaining that a Russian strike had damaged the Polish embassy compound in Kiev.
Ukraine's military reported that Russia launched over 330 drones in what was described as the largest single drone offensive to date. With the addition of missile strikes, the total number of projectiles reached approximately 550, Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yury Ignat estimated.
Moscow says it never targets non-military targets and attributes collateral damage to Ukrainian air defenses and Kiev's alleged propensity to station military assets in civilian areas.
The US has paused certain weapons deliveries to Ukraine to preserve its own strategic reserves. Trump clarified on Thursday that there was no complete freeze on military aid while announcing that he and Putin had held a phone call, which the US president characterized as disappointing.
Kiev and its Western backers, including Poland, continue to press Washington to expand sanctions on Russia, boost military support for Ukraine, while hoping Trump will continue to pick up the considerable financial burden arming Ukraine places on the US budget.
One of their key demands is that Moscow agree to an unconditional ceasefire lasting at least a month.
Russia has rejected that proposal, describing it as an attempt to allow Ukrainian forces to regroup.
During peace talks in Istanbul last month, Moscow proposed a conditional truce offering two possible frameworks: one requiring Ukrainian troop withdrawal from all Russian territories; and the other, mandating a halt to Ukrainian mobilization and suspension of Western military aid. Both were rejected.
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