Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has blamed American “silence” for encouraging Russian President Vladimir Putin, following a major overnight air assault on Ukraine.
In a Sunday morning update, Zelensky said Russia launched “nearly 300 attack drones” and “almost 70 missiles,” killing at least 12 people. “Russia is dragging out this war and continues to kill every day,” he said on X. “Silence of America, silence of others around the world only encourage Putin.”
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry said it had destroyed 95 Ukrainian drones between May 24 and 25.
Former U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg called for a cease-fire, writing, “Stop the killing. Cease-fire now.”
Despite the attacks, Russia and Ukraine completed the third part of a prisoner swap on Sunday, releasing 1,000 soldiers each. Talks were held May 16 in Turkey, though both presidents were absent.
On May 19, Trump spoke with Putin for two hours, then with Zelensky. Zelensky later said, “The world can now see whether its leaders are truly capable of securing a cease-fire.”