Russia and Ukraine exchange drone attacks amid peace talks maneuvers

[ad_1] LONDON -- Russia and Ukraine exchanged giant waves of assault drones in a single day into Sunday as the 2 combatants maneuvered forward of Friday's deliberate summit in Alaska between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Ukraine's air drive mentioned Russia launched 100 drones into the nation in a single day, of which 70 had been shot down or in any other case suppressed. Thirty drones impacted throughout 12 areas, it mentioned in a press release posted to Telegram.

Russia's Protection Ministry mentioned its troops shot down a minimum of 126 Ukrainian drones in a single day.

Momentary restrictions on flights had been launched at airports within the southwest of the nation in Vladikavkaz, Grozny, Saratov and Kaluga, Russia's federal air company Rosaviatsiya mentioned, through the assaults.

In Saratov, regional Gov. Roman Busargin mentioned one particular person was killed and a number of other injured by a drone that fell close to a residential constructing. An industrial facility was additionally broken, Busargin mentioned.

This screengrab exhibits smoke and hearth rising from an industrial facility, which, in response to the governor of Russia's Saratov area, was broken in a Ukrainian drone assault, in Saratov, Russia, on August 10, 2025.

Social Media/by way of Reuters

Ukraine seems to have been ramping up its drone strikes in latest days. Up to now in August, Russia's Protection Ministry has reported downing 1,117 Ukrainian drones -- a median of round 117 per day, marking a notable enhance on July's every day common of 97 drones downed.

For Ukrainian defenders, August has so far been quieter than July. Kyiv has reported going through 749 drones and 11 missiles to date this month, a median of roughly 75 drones and one missile every day.

July noticed Russia set a brand new document variety of aerial assaults, launching a complete of 6,443 drones and missiles into Ukraine throughout the month, with a every day common of round 201 drones and 6 missiles per day.

Whereas long-range strikes and grinding frontline fight continues, each Kyiv and Moscow are additionally maneuvering on the diplomatic entrance.

Since Trump introduced that he would meet with Putin in Alaska on Friday, Ukrainian officers have gone on a diplomatic offensive to bolster the Western coalition in help of its peace calls for.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and different Ukrainian officers have insisted that any negotiations should embrace Ukraine. Kyiv will even not formally cede any territory, settle for limitations on its armed forces, or jettison its ambitions to affix NATO and the European Union, Zelenskyy has mentioned.

Putin, although, is demanding that Ukraine cede a number of areas -- not all of that are managed by Russian troops -- within the south and east of the nation, settle for curbs on the dimensions and class of its navy and be completely excluded from NATO.

Russia's calls for, Zelenskyy has mentioned, represent an try to "partition Ukraine."

Talking from the White Home on Friday, Trump prompt a settlement may embrace "some swapping of territories." Zelenskyy swiftly rejected the proposal, saying Ukraine "is not going to give Russia any awards for what it has achieved" and that "Ukrainians is not going to give their land to the occupier."

"Our positions had been clear: a dependable, lasting peace is just attainable with Ukraine on the negotiating desk, with full respect for our sovereignty and with out recognizing the occupation," Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy's influential chief of workers, mentioned in a Saturday assertion after collaborating in talks with Vice President JD Vance within the U.Ok.

Folks have a look at a destroyed Russian fight drone at an exhibition in central Kyiv, Ukraine, on August 8, 2025.

Gleb Garanich/Reuters

French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk had been among the many European leaders to signal a joint assertion expressing their help for Kyiv in any peace negotiations.

"We welcome President Trump's work to cease the killing in Ukraine, finish the Russian Federation's battle of aggression and obtain simply and lasting peace and safety for Ukraine," the assertion learn.

"We're satisfied that solely an method that mixes energetic diplomacy, help to Ukraine and strain on the Russian Federation to finish their unlawful battle can succeed," it added.

"Significant negotiations can solely happen within the context of a ceasefire or discount of hostilities," the joint assertion mentioned. "The trail to peace in Ukraine can't be determined with out Ukraine. We stay dedicated to the precept that worldwide borders should not be modified by drive. The present line of contact needs to be the start line of negotiations."