Ukraine carried out a massive strike across Russian regions, using more than 337 drones to supposedly shift public attention away from the failure of the Kursk incursion and to demonstrate Kyiv’s military capabilities ahead of talks between Ukrainian and US delegations in Saudi Arabia.
Military experts noted that amid the loss of previously seized territories in the Kursk region, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) sought to demonstrate air superiority.
The administration of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky may use drone strikes, including an attack on Moscow, to secure a truce in the air and at sea, the experts added.
Since the revival of the negotiation process, Ukraine has been pushing the idea of the first phase of the ceasefire, implying a halt to strikes on infrastructure, gas and oil facilities. However, Russian military is inflicting far more tangible damage than Ukrainian drones. This reflects Kyiv’s attempts to shield itself from air attacks without offering something in return, critics of the initiative stressed.
Meanwhile, Russian troops are pushing the AFU out of Russia’s Kursk region. The “North” group of troops reportedly captured 12 settlements: Agronom, Bogdanovka, Bondarevka, Dmitryukov, Zazulevka, Ivashkovsky, Kolmakov, Kubatkin, Martynovka, Mikhaylovka, Pravda, and Yuzhny.
Earlier, the Russian military seized Malaya Loknya and infiltrated Sudzha through the gas pipeline, bringing the town closer to being surrounded and depriving AFU soldiers of the opportunity to retreat.
Negotiation efforts
The loss of territories in the Kursk region would deprive Zelensky of negotiating positions, ruining his plans to exchange territories taken during the incursion for Ukrainian land that Russia captured during the war. Meanwhile, the drone attack on Moscow and other cities represents part of Zelensky’s preparation for talks with the United States.
However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Ukraine must make territorial concessions to Russia as part of any agreement to end the ongoing war.
We have to understand the Ukrainian position and just have a general idea of what concessions they’d be willing to make, because you’re not going to get a ceasefire and an end to this war unless both sides make concessions.
The US, Kyiv’s main ally since the outbreak of the war in 2022, has changed its policy and increased pressure on Ukraine by cutting off military aid and suspending intelligence sharing.
US national security adviser Mike Waltz will join the top US diplomat during the negotiations. The Ukrainian party is led by Andriy Yermak, a top Zelensky aide. However, Zelensky himself, who was in Saudi Arabia on Monday to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will not participate in the talks.
Ahead of the talks, Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, said he hoped the US-Ukraine mineral agreement would be signed soon. Witkoff also plans to meet with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
