Ukarine drone strikes forces Russia to shut airports (Social Media)
International News: Over the weekend, Ukraine conducted a large-scale drone attack on Russia, causing major Moscow airports to briefly close. According to Russia's aviation control, over 140 flights were cancelled, and over 130 had to be rerouted. According to the Russian defence ministry, more than 230 drones have been intercepted since Saturday morning, including 27 flying over the city. The Kaluga region, southwest of Moscow, was also affected, with 45 drones downed, causing Kaluga International Airport to temporarily close.
Russia's Association of Tour Operators reported that airports in Moscow were closed ten times in 24 hours because of relentless Ukrainian drone strikes. By Sunday, airport operations were back to normal.
While Ukraine targeted Russian infrastructure with drones, Russia launched air attacks across Ukraine, killing at least three people, regional officials claimed. Two people died in Donetsk, while a 78-year-old lady was killed in Sumy after residential buildings caught fire. Ukraine's air force said it shot down 18 out of 57 Russian drones overnight. Another seven drones lost their radar signals after being disrupted. Strikes also occurred in Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia.
In a televised interview, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said President Vladimir Putin is still open to peace talks with Ukraine but emphasised that Russia's aims must be accomplished. “President Putin has repeatedly spoken of his desire to bring the Ukrainian settlement to a peaceful conclusion as soon as possible. This is a long process; it requires effort, and it is not easy,” Peskov said.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed a new round of discussions to revive negotiations that halted last month. He emphasised his desire to meet Putin face-to-face, stating, “A meeting at the leadership level is needed to truly ensure peace.” Previous attempts at peace talks failed to achieve a ceasefire but resulted in prisoner exchanges.
Ukraine received backing from US President Donald Trump, who announced that "top-of-the-line weapons" would be delivered to Ukraine by NATO countries. He also warned Russia that it has 50 days to strike an agreement or face steep penalties. Trump told the BBC that he was "disappointed" with Putin but "not done". Responding to Trump, Peskov stated on Sunday, “Everyone has grown accustomed to his rather harsh and straightforward rhetoric. At the same time, he reaffirms his intention to continue doing everything possible to facilitate a peaceful settlement.”
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