Ukraine allegedly launched at least 337 drones into Russia, marking the most significant drone assault of the Moscow-Kyiv conflict, as reported by the Russian Ministry of Defense. This occurred just ahead of scheduled negotiation talks between US and Ukrainian delegations in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on the same day.
Moscow Claims: Ukraine Launches Record-Breaking 337 Drone Attack on Russia
0
Top officials from Ukraine and the United States began talks on Tuesday about ways to end Russia’s three-year war against Kyiv, shortly after Russian air defenses shot down 343 Ukrainian drones in the largest such attack since the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of its neighbor.
Top officials from Ukraine and the United States began talks on Tuesday about ways to end Russia’s three-year war against Kyiv, shortly after Russian air defenses shot down 337 Ukrainian drones in the largest such attack since the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of its neighbor.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that it downed 337 Ukrainian drones, with 91 of them falling in the Moscow region. Two people were killed, 18 were injured, and significant disruptions occurred to air and rail travel.
At the same time in Saudi Arabia, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz held meetings with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine's presidential office.
Andriy Kovalenko, a Ukrainian national security council official tasked with combating disinformation, stated that the drone attack should motivate Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to the proposals Ukraine intends to present in Saudi Arabia.
“The largest drone attack in history was carried out on Moscow and the Moscow region,” said Kovalenko. “This is an additional signal to Putin that he should also be interested in a ceasefire in the air.”
"We have to understand the Ukrainian position and just have a general idea of what concessions they would be willing to make," Rubio told reporters.
On the plane to Saudi Arabia on Monday, Rubio said 'You're not going to get a ceasefire and an end to this war unless both sides make concessions.' During the talks, none of the officials answered media questions. Rubio and Waltz smiled for the cameras, while their Ukrainian counterparts remained expressionless.
Zelenskyy left the White House without signing Trump’s agreement for US access to Ukraine’s mineral wealth. He then traveled to Jeddah, leaving the talks on Tuesday to three top aides.
In a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman before the US-Ukraine talks, Zelenskyy discussed Ukraine’s conditions for a permanent peace deal, including prisoner releases and the return of children Kyiv accuses Moscow of abducting. The Ukrainian leader's office stated, “The two leaders discussed the possible mediation of Saudi Arabia in the release of military and civilian prisoners and the return of deported children.'