Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed doubt about Ukraine’s commitment to peace following a deadly bomb attack in Western Russia. The attack, which occurred on Saturday, resulted in the deaths of seven people and injured 115 others. Putin labeled this incident as a “terrorist” act aimed at sabotaging ongoing peace discussions.
The attack targeted a highway bridge that spans a railway line used for passenger trains. In a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump, Putin indicated that he felt compelled to respond to Ukraine’s recent drone attacks. These attacks reportedly struck deep in Siberia, targeting Russia’s nuclear-capable bomber fleet.
Yuri Ushakov, a foreign policy advisor to Putin, stated that during his call with Trump, Putin acknowledged that ceasefire talks had been productive, despite what he described as Ukraine’s efforts to disrupt them. In a separate report, two unnamed U.S. officials revealed that Ukraine’s drone strike in Siberia impacted around 20 Russian warplanes, with about half of them reportedly destroyed. This figure is lower than the estimate provided by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Keith Kellogg, Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, warned that the risk of escalating conflict is increasing following Ukraine’s drone strike over the weekend. In response to the ongoing tensions, Zelenskyy has proposed a ceasefire until a meeting can be arranged with Putin. He believes this approach could gain support from international partners.
In a related development, Pope Leo reached out to Putin, urging him to take steps towards ending the war in Ukraine. This marked the first phone call between the Pope and the Russian leader, highlighting international concern over the ongoing conflict.