“Russia Launches Drone Strikes on Ukraine Shortly After Trump Announces Talks with Putin”

Hours before President Donald Trump’s scheduled phone call with Vladimir Putin to discuss ending the ongoing war, Russia conducted its most extensive drone attack on Ukraine to date. 

According to the Ukrainian air force, Russia launched a total of 273 drones and decoys towards Ukraine’s Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk regions. Out of these, 88 were successfully intercepted, while 128 were lost, likely due to electronic jamming. 

This drone onslaught marked the largest scale attack since Russia initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, as reported by Yuriy Ihnat, head of the air force’s communications department to the Associated Press. 

It came after Trump said he would be “speaking, by telephone, to President Vladimir Putin of Russia on Monday, at 10:00 a.m.” regarding the war in Ukraine. 

Residents stand next to houses heavily damaged by a Russian drone strike, outside of Kyiv on Sunday, May 18. (Reuters/Valentyn Ogirenko)

Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio also met with Zelenskyy in Rome Sunday for ongoing peace talks. 

“During our talks we discussed negotiations in Istanbul to where the Russians sent a low-level delegation of non-decision-makers. I reaffirmed that Ukraine is ready to be engaged in real diplomacy and underscored the importance of a full and unconditional ceasefire as soon as possible,” Zelenskyy shared on X regarding the meeting.  

“We have also touched upon the need for sanctions against Russia, bilateral trade, defense cooperation, battlefield situation and upcoming prisoners exchange. Pressure is needed against Russia until they are eager to stop the war. And, of course, we talked about our joint steps to achieve a just and durable peace,” he continued.  

Ukraine’s air force said Russia’s drone attack on Sunday, May 18, was the largest one they have launched since Putin’s forces invaded the country in early 2022. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)

World leaders converged in Rome this weekend for Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural mass at the Vatican on Sunday, with Vance leading the U.S. delegation. Zelenskyy also attended the mass. 

Fox News’ Emma Colton and the Associated Press contributed to this report.