Last night, Ukrainian forces carried out massive drone attacks on Russian Federation territory. Drones targeted railway infrastructure in Volgograd Oblast, forcing some trains to halt. There were also strikes against a military facility in Slovyansk in the Kuban region and an oil refinery, with Russian sources reporting a fire after the attack.
Major intrigue came from Crimea, where air raid alerts and reports of missile impacts were noted in the occupied peninsula. In parallel, significant political developments occurred: following a visit to the Kremlin by Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, preparations for a possible Trump-Putin meeting in the coming weeks were reported. Whether President Zelensky of Ukraine will participate remains uncertain.
No location has yet been agreed, but Putin’s aide Ushakov confirmed that a meeting is being prepared. President Zelensky remarked that Russia may now be more open to discussing a ceasefire, but stressed the risk of deception in negotiation details.
Meanwhile, the US imposed new tariffs on India for buying Russian oil, and is considering secondary sanctions, possibly against China as well. The US Secretary of State said that territorial issues, including Crimea, will be central to any talks.
The military and political situation remains tense: Russia is seeking to destabilize Ukraine, and its own economy is under pressure from the protracted war and sanctions. Ukrainian forces continue to employ drones for strikes on the Russian military, with support from citizens and charities.
The future of any agreements remains uncertain. The Ukrainian side cautions not to have illusions—the war will end only with the victory of either Ukraine or Russia. Continued support for the armed forces remains key to a strong negotiating position.
