The roar of air raid sirens echoed across the Ukrainian capital just hours before President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were set to meet and discuss a peace summit involving Ukraine and Russia. Russia’s sudden attack on Kyiv was unexpected and raised eyebrows as it took place amid ongoing peace talks aimed at ending the war.
The timing of the assault suggests a deliberate attempt by the Kremlin to undermine the legitimacy of the upcoming discussions. The massive wave of at least 500 drones and 40 missiles is widely interpreted as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s violent and contemptuous response to Trump’s repeated boasts that he could end the war “within 24 hours.”
### Why Russia Launched a Pre-Summit Blitz on Kyiv
In the early hours of Saturday, Moscow directed a massive wave of drones and missiles toward Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. This high-intensity bombardment surprised many because it occurred shortly before Zelenskyy and Trump were scheduled to discuss ending the conflict between the two nations.
Military analysts suggest that the scale of this operation was designed to project Russian strength before any formal negotiations began. Joey Contino, a news creator at Premiere Networks, weighed in on Russia’s recent attack on Ukraine. He expressed his belief that there was a clear motive behind the assault — to stall the peace process.
“They actually want the war to continue because they feel like if they keep beating down Ukraine, then Ukraine’s partners will give up on Ukraine,” Contino claimed on TikTok. “And then Russia can get everything they want and more.”
The physical destruction in Kyiv was accompanied by a tragic loss of life, sparking fresh international condemnation. Local authorities confirmed that at least one person died—a 47-year-old woman—and 22 others were injured during the strikes, according to Al Jazeera.
President Zelenskyy reported that Russia targeted “energy facilities and civilian infrastructure.” Speaking to the press on Saturday, he declared, “Russia doesn’t want peace,” as reported by the BBC.
### Trump’s Diplomatic Gamble and the Leaders’ Responses
Donald Trump has positioned himself as a potential peacemaker between Russia and Ukraine. Even before seeking reelection, Trump openly expressed his desire to end the conflict, often making it sound like an easy task.
“We will have the horrible war between Russia and Ukraine settled. It will be settled. The war is going to be settled,” Trump stated during a rally in Pennsylvania in 2023. “I’ll get them both. I know Zelensky, I know Putin, it’ll be done within 24 hours, you watch. They all say, ‘That’s such a boast.’ It will be done very quickly.”
Prior to his meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump remained optimistic about a quick resolution. He told Politico, “I think it’s going to go good with [Vladimir] Putin.” Trump was scheduled to meet Zelenskyy and hear the Ukrainian president’s 20-point peace plan, which includes a demilitarized zone and key conditions such as Russia’s withdrawal from Donetsk.
However, Putin has seemingly publicly belittled the initiative. The recent attack on Kyiv appears to mock the feasibility of a swift resolution. In February, Trump claimed he spoke with Putin, who supposedly agreed to negotiate with Zelenskyy. Both leaders reportedly shared the same sentiment about ending the war.
Yet, Putin’s actions suggest he may have had a change of heart or never truly supported the peace summit after all. Zelenskyy has clearly received the message.
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/putin-mocks-trumps-ukraine-peace-push-russia-hammers-zelenskyys-forces-hours-before-crucial-us-1766295