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Zelenskyy Accuses US ‘Silence’ of Encouraging Putin After Deadly Russian Airstrikes
KYIV – Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticized the United States for its perceived lack of response to recent Russian attacks, claiming that this “silence” emboldens president Vladimir Putin. The accusation follows a massive aerial assault by Moscow, the largest since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.
The overnight attack involved Russia launching 367 drones and missiles, resulting in at least 12 deaths, including three children, and numerous injuries across Ukraine. The strikes occurred a day after a heavy assault on the capital, Kyiv.
Former US President Donald Trump addressed the situation on Sunday, stating, “I’m not happy with what Putin is doing. He’s killing a lot of people.”
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia launched 298 drones and 69 cruise and ballistic missiles starting at 20:40 local time on Saturday. Thay claimed to have intercepted 45 cruise missiles and 266 UAVs, with 22 regions affected. Zelenskyy noted that rescue operations where underway in over 30 cities and villages.
Despite international pressure, Russia has continued its aerial campaign, showing no signs of ceasing its offensive or adhering to ceasefire demands.
Zelenskyy directly addressed Trump,who had previously suggested that Putin was interested in ending the war,stating,”The world may go on vacation,but the war continues,despite weekends and weekdays.”
“This cannot be ignored. America’s silence, and the silence of others in the world, only encourages Putin,” he added.
Zelenskyy cautioned that russia’s “brutality cannot be stopped” without “strong pressure on the Russian leadership.”
Trump’s initial response to the strikes came at an airport in Morristown, New Jersey. “I’m not happy with Putin.I don’t know what’s wrong with him. What the hell happened to him?” Trump said,without elaborating on potential responses.
Prior to Trump’s comments, Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, posted on X a photo of smoke over Kyiv, stating, “This is Kyiv. The indiscriminate killing of women and children at night in their homes is a clear violation of the 1977 Geneva peace Protocols designed to protect innocents. These attacks are shameful. Stop the killing. Ceasefire now.”
The 1977 protocols are amendments to the Geneva Convention, which outlines internationally agreed-upon rules of conduct in war.
Among the deceased were three siblings from the Zhytomyr region, identified by Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa as eight-year-old stanislav, Tamara, 12, and Roman, 17.
Ukraine deputy foreign ministerZelenskyy’s reference to “American silence” likely pertains to the US’s reluctance to impose further sanctions on Moscow. He argues that Russia’s war efforts are not being sufficiently hampered, and the Kremlin lacks sufficient incentive to engage in meaningful ceasefire discussions.
While Trump has expressed a preference for incentivizing Moscow to agree to a ceasefire, progress towards a pause in fighting has been minimal, despite the US president’s growing frustration.
Despite Kyiv’s European allies preparing additional sanctions against Russia, the US has indicated it will either continue to mediate peace talks or withdraw if progress remains elusive.
Given Moscow’s continued demands for peace, Putin’s absence from recent ceasefire negotiations in Turkey, and the recent heavy aerial bombardments, it remains unclear what actions would prompt the White House to adopt a more stringent stance.
Escalating Conflict and International Response
Russia’s defence ministry reported inflicting damage on military airfields, ammunition depots, and electric warfare stations, claiming impact across 142 areas.
Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko stated that 13 regions were attacked, resulting in over 60 injuries, damage to 80 residential buildings, and 27 recorded fires. He described it as a “combined, ruthless strike aimed at civilians.”
Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv region, reported that two women, aged 85 and 56, were killed in Kupiansk after a house was struck.
In the Kyiv region, four people were killed and 16 injured, including three children, according to DSNS.
Background: The Ongoing Conflict
Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow currently controls approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, which was annexed in 2014.
The recent attack surpassed the previous largest drone attack, which occurred a week prior, when 273 drones were launched on the central kyiv region and Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions in the east.
Russia has increased its drone manufacturing rate and is enhancing Shahed drones with more explosives and improved technology to evade detection.
Ukrainian officials reported that the regions hit by strikes included Kyiv and its surrounding region, and also Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, Ternopil, Dnipro, MYAPILSK, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Sumy, and Poltava.
In Kyiv, local officials reported 11 injuries, multiple fires, and damage to residential buildings, including a dormitory.
The strikes coincided with the capital’s annual Kyiv Day holiday.
