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Ukraine reports over 100 Russian drones launched despite ceasefire proposals

13:36

Ukraine has claimed that Russia launched a wave of over 100 drones overnight, disregarding attempts by Kyiv and its allies to convince Moscow to initiate a 30-day ceasefire. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, 55 of the 108 drones fired by Russia since Sunday night (11 p.m. local time) were shot down. The remaining drones included 30 decoys that failed to cause any damage. These attacks affected various regions across Ukraine, including the east, north, south, and central parts of the country.

One person was injured, and residential buildings were damaged in the southern Odesa region. Railway infrastructure in the eastern Donetsk region was also targeted, with one train driver reported wounded. The Ukrainian national railway operator, Ukrzaliznytsia, criticized Russia for ignoring ceasefire calls and continuing its assaults on vital infrastructure.

During a visit to Kyiv on Saturday, European leaders from France, Germany, Poland, and the UK urged Russia to accept an unconditional ceasefire starting on Monday to facilitate peace negotiations. The proposal, which was backed by the United States, was met with skepticism from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who instead suggested direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15, while criticizing Western "ultimatums."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed willingness to meet Putin in Turkey, but insisted that the ceasefire should be in place first. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump suggested Ukraine should immediately agree to Putin's direct talks offer.

Despite these developments, European leaders remained cautious. French President Emmanuel Macron warned that Putin’s proposal seemed to be an attempt to "buy time" rather than a genuine move toward peace. European ministers are expected to gather in the UK on Monday for crucial talks on countering Russian aggression, with new sanctions likely to be announced.

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