Ukraine suffers heaviest assault after Trump criticises Putin

[ad_1] President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine has been hit by the largest ever aerial assault from Russia - 728 drones and 13 cruise or ballistic missiles hit cities across the nation in a number of waves.

Zelensky condemned the "telling assault", including: "It comes exactly at a time when so many efforts have been made to realize peace, to determine a ceasefire, and but solely Russia continues to rebuff all of them."

The in a single day strike got here after President Donald Trump mentioned the US would ship extra weapons to Kyiv - a reversal of final week's suspension which US media mentioned Trump had not recognized about.

On Tuesday, the US chief expressed rising frustration at Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"We get numerous bullshit thrown at us by Putin, if you wish to know the reality," Trump informed reporters. "He is very good to us on a regular basis, but it surely seems to be meaningless."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned Moscow was "fairly calm about this. Trump's means of speaking is mostly fairly harsh, the phrases he makes use of."

The 2 leaders have been in common contact however this has up to now didn't translate into tangible steps in direction of a ceasefire in Ukraine - one thing Trump as soon as mentioned he would be capable to obtain in a day.

Final week, following a telephone name with the Russian president, Trump mentioned he was "very sad".

"He needs to go all the way in which, simply hold killing folks, it is no good," Trump mentioned of Putin.

The criticism got here even because the Trump administration introduced a suspension of navy help to Ukraine, reportedly authorised by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Elbridge Colby, the under-secretary of defence for coverage.

Requested by reporters on Tuesday who had taken the choice, Trump - sitting proper subsequent to Hegseth - replied: "I do not know. Why do not you inform me?"

The reversal of the choice might now imply that 10 Patriot missiles could also be despatched to Ukraine, in response to US outlet Axios.

Kyiv depends on the interceptors to attempt to counter Russia's missile and drone assaults, which proceed to develop in depth and frequency.

Though the east of the nation and Kyiv come below fireplace frequently, no nook of Ukraine has been spared by Russian strikes.

Town of Lutsk - which lies 90km (56 miles) from the Polish border and is a transit hub for navy and humanitarian help - suffered the brunt of Tuesday's in a single day assault.

Explosions have been additionally reported within the western cities of Lviv and Rivne.

Two rounds of ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine befell earlier this yr however no different conferences have up to now been scheduled - and neither Moscow nor Kyiv seem optimistic that diplomacy will clear up the battle, which was sparked by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.