Russia bombards Ukraine in extensive missile and drone attack hours after Trump-Putin phone call

Russia targeted the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and other cities on Friday in the largest missile and drone attack so far in the war, just hours after Vladimir Putin’s phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Ukrainian authorities reported little damage except for some residential buildings in five neighborhoods, the New York Times reported from Kyiv.

Russia has increased its missile and drone attacks on besieged Ukraine in recent months as a U.S.-negotiated ceasefire between the two countries remains elusive. The attack this week will likely set a new record for the largest missile and drone strikes, per Ukrainian officials. 

Putin has escalated pressure on Ukraine as President Trump has attempted to facilitate peace negotiations between the two countries. These talks have made little progress. Though Ukraine accepted a U.S.-proposed ceasefire in March, Russia refused to consider the framework.

After the phone call between the Americana and Russian presidents just before the attack, Trump lamented that he “didn’t make any progress with him at all.” 

In addition to attacks from the air, Russian forces are ramping up their ground war in the country as its invasion stretches into its fourth summer. 

In his phone call with the American president, Putin said Russia’s goals remain the same: forcing the West to end its support for Ukraine and bringing the country into Moscow’s sphere of influence. 

“Our president said that Russia will achieve its goals, that is, the elimination of the well-known root causes that led to the current state of affairs,” said Putin advisor Yuri Ushakov about the call, according to state news agency TASS. “Russia will not back down from these goals.”