“Diplomacy Followed by Destruction”: Ukraine Hints at Putin’s Message to Trump

Tensions between Russia and Ukraine surged again this week after Kyiv was hit by a record-breaking aerial assault, just hours after a phone call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

Ukrainian officials accused the Russian president of deliberately launching the strike to “publicly humiliate” U.S. president, casting a shadow over any hopes of diplomatic progress.

The overnight attack, described by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a “deliberate act of terror,” lasted seven hours.

It also marked one of the most intense bombardments since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.

More than 550 drones and ballistic missiles were deployed in a synchronized wave that left swathes of Kyiv in chaos.

The timing, Zelenskyy noted, appeared to be no coincidence: it followed directly after Trump and Putin’s lengthy phone conversation.

During this time, the two leaders reportedly discussed the ongoing conflict.

“This is how Moscow interprets diplomacy,” Zelenskyy said grimly.

Families spent the terrifying night sheltering in basements, metro stations, and underground garages as the skies over the capital echoed with explosions, sirens, and machine-gun fire.

The Ukrainian air force confirmed that while the majority of projectiles were intercepted, 72 managed to hit their targets.

At least one person was killed and more than 20 were injured.

Fires broke out across multiple districts, and thick black smoke blanketed the skyline by morning.

The damage extended beyond homes and infrastructure, Kyiv’s main rail station was forced to close part of its concourse, and many services were delayed.

Residents described the attack as chaotic and relentless.

“It felt like a cruel game of roulette,” said Yaroslava Savchenko, a local teacher.

“There were so many drones, I stopped counting and started praying.”

The attack sparked international condemnation and raised questions about Trump’s call with Putin.

Following their conversation, Trump admitted that no progress had been made toward a ceasefire.

“I’m not happy about that. I didn’t get anywhere with him today,” he told reporters.

Putin had reportedly maintained his hardline stance, demanding Ukraine’s capitulation.

For Ukrainian officials, the strike was a brutal response meant to discredit American diplomacy.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelenskyy, said Putin uses such interactions to demonstrate his dominance and disregard for peace.

“Each time Washington talks to him, Kyiv is showered with missiles.

“It’s a show of ruthlessness,” he said.

Compounding the crisis is the Pentagon’s recent decision to pause certain weapons shipments to Ukraine, including vital interceptor missiles for its Patriot air defense systems.

Ukrainian leaders say this pause has left their cities dangerously exposed and encouraged Moscow to escalate attacks.

Zelenskyy urged the West to take immediate and decisive action, calling for tougher sanctions and a renewed flow of military aid.

“The Kremlin is watching the world’s reaction – and so are others,” he warned.

The scale of the destruction has forced Ukrainians to reckon not just with war’s physical toll but also its psychological weight.

“There’s no point in renovating your home or buying a new car,” said Artur Katroshenko, a Kyiv resident.

“It can all be destroyed overnight. But we won’t give in.”

Meanwhile, Kyiv’s mayor Vitali Klitschko reported fires and damage in six of the city’s ten districts, with drone debris hitting warehouses, hospitals, and apartment blocks.

Across the river in Holosiivskyi and Solomianskyi districts, multiple buildings caught fire as falling wreckage ignited vehicles and rooftops.

As Kyiv counted the cost of the assault, Ukraine launched a retaliatory drone strike deep into Russian territory.

Explosions were reported in several locations near Moscow and in the southern Rostov region, where at least one person was killed.

Russian officials urged citizens to remain indoors and avoid filming military responses.

Global voices have echoed Ukraine’s calls for support. Poland’s foreign minister Radek Sikorski publicly appealed to Trump, saying: “President Trump, Putin is mocking your peace efforts. Please restore anti-aircraft supplies to Ukraine.”

Former NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen warned that Russia perceives “weakness from the West” and will continue bombing civilians until it faces meaningful resistance.

In Kyiv and beyond, the message is clear: the stakes are rising, and the need for international resolve has never been more urgent.

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