(Kyiv) US President Donald Trump, “very unhappy” from his latest telephone call with Vladimir Putin, spoke of the possibility of new sanctions against Russia on Friday in the absence of progress towards the end of the war in Ukraine.
For its part, the Kremlin estimated that it was “not possible” for the moment to “reach” its objectives in Ukraine by the diplomatic route, thus implying a continuation of the fights and attacks in front of an opponent in difficulty on the front.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he agreed with Donald Trump on the need to “strengthen the protection” of his country, after the most important Russian drone attack since the start of the invasion in February 2022.
“This is a very difficult situation. I told you that I was very unhappy with my conversation with President Putin. He wants to go to the end, just continue to kill people, it’s not good, “Trump said to the press on Air Force on Friday, the day after the two men who did not allow progress.
PHOTO JACQUELYN MARTIN, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Donald Trump addressed journalists on board Air Force One on Friday.
The American president hinted that he could be ready to tighten the sanctions against Moscow, after having avoided resorting to it since his return to the White House in January, hoping to persuade his Russian counterpart to end the war.
“We are talking a lot about sanctions,” said Trump about his conversations with Vladimir Putin. “He understands that it could happen.”
Donald Trump added that he had also had a “very strategic call” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, when concerns grow in Kyiv regarding American military aid deliveries.
Zelensky spoke of an “in -depth” discussion during which the two leaders agreed to work to “strengthen” Ukraine air defenses, after the largest drone and missile attack suffered by Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion on Friday.
Donald Trump said that he also discussed the sending of Patriot air defense systems in Ukraine during a separate call with the German Chancellor Friedrich on Friday, even if he had not yet decided to provide this key equipment. Mr. Merz “believes that they must be protected,” Trump said in reference to Ukraine.
New strikes
This series of exchanges of the American president intervenes at a time when the cities of Ukraine continue to undergo the Russian strikes in the face of the lack of anti -aircraft defense systems to effectively cover the whole territory.
During the night from Friday to Saturday, Russian drone strikes and artillery fire in several regions of the country left at least two dead and thirty injured, according to local authorities.
The previous night, Russia had sent 550 machines, including 539 drones and missiles, especially against Kyiv. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, it was the “greater number” of drones ever used in a single attack by Russia since 2022.
