KYIV, Ukraine (FN) — Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russian air bases as Moscow continues heavy strikes on Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure, a surge in fighting that comes amid a new round of U.S.-backed peace talks and ahead of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s planned trip to the United States for a meeting with President Donald Trump on Sunday.
Ukrainian security services have carried out a series of long‑range drone strikes and sabotage operations targeting Russian combat aircraft and airfields deep inside Russian territory, including in western Russia and occupied Crimea. Ukrainian officials say the goal is to reduce Russia’s ability to launch the large‑scale missile and drone barrages that have battered Kyiv and other cities in recent days, killing civilians and damaging residential buildings.
The stepped‑up Ukrainian operations come as Russia has launched hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles in overnight attacks this week, including a barrage early Saturday that killed at least two people in Kyiv and one in the nearby city of Bila Tserkva, according to Ukrainian officials.
Peace talks continue, with Zelensky heading to the U.S.
The escalation on the battlefield coincides with renewed diplomatic efforts. Zelensky said Friday that he will travel to Florida on Sunday for high‑level talks with Trump, where the two leaders are expected to discuss security guarantees and the nearly completed 20‑point peace framework under negotiation with U.S. mediators.
Zelensky has described the draft plan as “90% ready,” though major issues — including territorial control and long‑term security arrangements — remain unresolved. U.S. officials are expected to relay additional Russian feedback during the upcoming meeting.
Putin warns Europeans as pressure builds
Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued fresh warnings to European governments as the peace process inches forward, signaling that Moscow will not accept terms that undermine its territorial claims. European leaders were already scheduled to speak with Zelenskyy this weekend as part of the broader diplomatic push, even as Russian strikes intensified around Kyiv.
Car bomb kills Russian general
The tensions were further heightened by the killing of a Russian general in a car bomb earlier this week, an attack Russian officials blamed on Ukrainian operatives. Kyiv has not publicly commented. The incident has fueled Kremlin accusations that Ukraine is expanding covert operations inside Russia as part of its broader strategy to pressure Moscow militarily while negotiations continue.
Ukraine targets Russian aircraft on the ground
Ukrainian intelligence officials say hitting Russian aircraft before they can launch strikes is one of the few ways to reduce the scale of attacks on Ukrainian cities. Recent operations have reportedly damaged or destroyed multiple Russian aircraft, including fighter jets at the Lipetsk airfield in western Russia, though the extent of the damage has not been independently verified.
Analysts say the operations demonstrate Ukraine’s growing ability to strike far beyond the front lines, challenging Russia’s assumption that bases hundreds of miles from Ukraine are secure.
A war fought on two fronts: battlefield and negotiating table
The simultaneous escalation of attacks and diplomacy underscores the fragile nature of the peace process. While Trump has urged Kyiv to consider concessions to halt the war, Russian strikes risk undermining U.S. support if Washington concludes Moscow is not negotiating in good faith.
For now, both sides appear to be fighting intensely even as negotiators search for a breakthrough.
