Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged to extend stress on Russia as Moscow ramped up assaults on Ukraine in a single day amid international efforts to cease the devastating struggle.
“Final evening, the Russian military set one among its insane anti-records. They focused civilian infrastructure amenities, residential buildings, and our folks,” Zelenskyy stated Thursday in a put up on X.
Russia launched 574 strike drones and 40 missiles in opposition to Ukraine on Wednesday evening, killing at the very least one individual and injuring 18, Ukrainian authorities stated. Moscow focused cities removed from the entrance line, together with Mukachevo, Lviv and Lutsk, with harm reported in different cities together with the capital of Kyiv.
One of many missile assaults reportedly hit an American electronics producer website in Mukachevo, which has round 800 folks on its evening shift, an worker of the corporate informed The Kyiv Impartial.
“It was an everyday civilian enterprise, supported by American funding, producing on a regular basis objects like espresso machines. And but, it was additionally a goal for the Russians. That is very telling,” Zelenskyy stated in his social media put up.
“The Russians carried out this assault as if nothing has modified in any respect, as if there are not any international efforts to cease this struggle. This requires a response. There’s nonetheless no sign from Moscow that they really intend to have interaction in substantive negotiations and finish this struggle. Strain is required. Sturdy sanctions, sturdy tariffs,” added Zelenskyy.
Final evening, the Russian military set one among its insane anti-records. They focused civilian infrastructure amenities, residential buildings, and our folks.
A number of cruise missiles had been lobbed in opposition to an American-owned enterprise in Zakarpattia. It was an everyday civilian enterprise,… pic.twitter.com/CQLSQls4Oq— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 21, 2025
The huge assault comes after every week of intensified peace efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump and European leaders. Regardless of the diplomatic exertions, together with Trump’s Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin final Friday, an precise ceasefire, not to mention peace, appears a distant prospect.
The Kremlin chief hasn’t backed down from his maximalist calls for to finish the Russian invasion: for Ukraine to develop into a impartial state, quit further land within the jap a part of the nation, drastically cut back its army, and abandon its aspiration to hitch NATO. Putin has additionally not confirmed direct talks with Zelenskyy, which Trump stated he started arranging.
Russian Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday made clear that Moscow is just not shifting on what if considers acceptable safety ensures for Ukraine, which is that each Russia and China could have a say, an unthinkable state of affairs for Ukraine and its allies.
Ukraine sees as an final safety assure in opposition to one other Russian assault membership in NATO and the EU, which Moscow opposes.
Trump personally informed Zelenskyy and European leaders throughout their Monday assembly in Washington that Kyiv could have “Article 5-like” NATO protections, however omitted any specifics. He insisted there could be no U.S. troops on the bottom in Ukraine and the safety could be largely offered by European allies.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance doubled downed on that declare on Wednesday when he stated that European governments must pay “a lion’s share” of prices for Ukraine’s safety ensures.
“It doesn’t matter what kind this takes, the Europeans are going to must take the lion’s share of the burden. It’s their continent, its their safety, and the president has been very clear — they’re going to must step up right here,” stated Vance in an interview with Fox Information.