Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday said that he wanted to eliminate the causes that triggered the war with Ukraine and keep Russia safe.Moscow’s goal is to “eliminate the causes that triggered this crisis, create the conditions for a lasting peace and guarantee Russia’s security”, Putin told Russian state television.He stated that Russian forces, controlling approximately 20 percent of Ukraine, possessed adequate resources to achieve these aims. This statement came when Russia launched a record number of drones at the Ukraine overnight, killing one woman, as confirmed by Kyiv regional Gov. Mykola Kalashnyk.The incident took place two days following the first direct diplomatic discussions between Ukrainian and Russian representatives in over three years, which ended without a ceasefire agreement.Ukrainian air defence reported that Russia deployed “273 Shahed attack drones and various types of imitator drones”, successfully neutralising 88 whilst 128 failed to reach their targets without causing damage.Ukraine’s deputy prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko confirmed this was an unprecedented drone deployment, asserting Russia’s intention to target civilians.Russian military authorities claimed they had intercepted 25 Ukrainian drones during the overnight period and Sunday morning.US President Donald Trump, who previously asserted he could resolve the conflict rapidly during his re-election campaign, announced plans for a Monday telephone conversation with Putin.Ukrainian officials strongly denounced Russia’s overnight drone operations.Zelenskyy’s senior advisor, Andriy Yermak, dismissed the Istanbul negotiations as superficial, stating Putin’s preference for continued conflict.
