Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of launching “cynical and demonstrative” attacks on civilian targets in a bid to undermine diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the ongoing war. The strikes, which killed at least 10 people in four Ukrainian cities, came just hours before Zelenskyy’s high-stakes meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and several European leaders in Washington.
According to Zelenskyy, seven people, including a young girl, died in a drone strike on Kharkiv, while three others were killed in a bombing in Zaporizhzhia. He said Moscow’s actions were a deliberate attempt to apply pressure and embarrass Ukraine and Europe on the eve of crucial peace discussions.
“Putin will commit demonstrative killings to maintain pressure on Ukraine and Europe, as well as to humiliate diplomatic efforts,” Zelenskyy posted on X, insisting that Ukraine needed a “dignified peace” built on reliable security guarantees.
The timing of the strikes has heightened tensions around the Washington talks, where Trump is expected to push for a peace deal that could involve Ukraine ceding territory to Russia. Reports suggest the U.S. president has ruled out Ukraine joining NATO or reclaiming Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014. Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has floated a plan that would see Russia gain full control of Donetsk and Luhansk, including cities it has so far failed to conquer.
On Sunday night, Trump signaled the significance of the moment, writing on Truth Social: “We have never had so many European leaders here at one time. A great honor for America!!! Let’s see what the results will be???” He later claimed that Zelenskyy could “end the war almost immediately if he wants to” by accepting Russia’s terms.
European leaders, including Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, France’s Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Olaf Scholz, Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, and Finland’s Alexander Stubb, are joining Zelenskyy in Washington. While they have all voiced support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, they are also under pressure to respond to Trump’s push for a rapid settlement.
Starmer, speaking en route to the U.S., emphasized the need for a “lasting, fair and just peace” but cautioned that rushing into a flawed agreement could destabilize Europe further. Downing Street later confirmed that the UK was no longer pressing for an immediate ceasefire but welcomed Washington’s proposal of providing Ukraine with non-NATO security guarantees.
The talks follow a controversial Trump-Putin summit in Alaska last week, which was widely viewed as a diplomatic win for Moscow. Observers say Zelenskyy now faces the dual challenge of resisting U.S. pressure for concessions while keeping European allies united behind Kyiv.
Civil society voices have also warned against a settlement on Russia’s terms. Yuriy Boyechko, head of the humanitarian group Hope for Ukraine, stressed that Ukraine’s constitution prohibits ceding territory, meaning any “peace deal” that hands land to Moscow would be unconstitutional. “Monday is the day when Ukraine and its European allies must recognise the urgent need to develop their own strategy,” Boyechko said. “Because it is increasingly likely that Trump will walk away from the peace negotiations.”
Meanwhile, Russia’s envoy to international organisations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, said Moscow agreed Ukraine should receive security guarantees but insisted that Russia, too, must be assured of “efficient security guarantees” in any final agreement.
Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet Trump in the Oval Office at 1:15 p.m. Washington time, before joining European leaders for broader talks later in the day. The outcome could define not only Ukraine’s future but the stability of Europe in the years ahead.
