Russian Strikes Kill 12 in Ukraine Amid Truce Talks

The majority of the casualties occurred in Dobropillia, a town in Ukraine's Donetsk region, where 11 people died and 30 others were wounded when a Russian assault targeted the town center late Friday. In a separate incident, a drone attack in the city of Bogodukhiv in Kharkiv region killed one person and injured seven others early Saturday, according to Kharkiv’s military governor Oleg Synegubov.

These deadly air raids follow a statement from US President Donald Trump, who warned Russia of potential new sanctions and tariffs in retaliation for its ongoing bombardment of Ukraine. However, Trump also made controversial comments expressing that working with Russia might be "easier" than dealing with Ukraine in the pursuit of peace.

"I find it more difficult frankly to deal with Ukraine, and they don’t have the cards," Trump said. "It may be easier dealing with Russia." His comments came after a tense White House meeting in which Trump criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and suspended US aid to Kyiv, aiming to push for diplomatic resolution.

Trump reiterated his stance on social media, calling for new sanctions against Russia, including large-scale banking sanctions and tariffs, until a ceasefire and final peace agreement are reached. "To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it’s too late," he wrote.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, emphasizing the importance of a swift resolution to the war and a sustainable peace process.

Ukrainian President Zelensky is set to arrive in Saudi Arabia on Monday for high-level talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The following day, Ukrainian officials will meet with US negotiators in an effort to discuss a potential ceasefire. "Ukraine is most interested in peace," Zelensky remarked, adding that the focus of talks should be halting aerial and naval attacks on critical infrastructure as a first step toward de-escalation.

In response to Zelensky’s call for a temporary halt to military strikes, the Kremlin has already dismissed the idea of a ceasefire. Russia’s Ministry of Defence claimed that its air defense systems had successfully downed 31 Ukrainian drones overnight, mainly over Krasnodar Krai. Russian authorities also reported damage to the Kirishi oil refinery after Ukrainian drones targeted the facility, leading to a civilian injury in Belgorod district.

On the ground in Ukraine, Russian precision strikes on energy facilities continued, with significant damage to infrastructure. Ukrainian energy provider DTEK confirmed that its facilities in Odesa were hit for a fourth consecutive night, while gas facilities in Poltava ceased operations after being struck. The head of Ukraine’s energy sector, Minister German Galushchenko, accused Russia of attempting to punish ordinary Ukrainians by targeting vital energy infrastructure.

Despite the ongoing hostilities, the US has maintained that talks with Ukraine are progressing, with the goal of achieving a ceasefire agreement. US envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that he would be engaging with Ukrainian negotiators during the upcoming meetings in Saudi Arabia to lay the groundwork for a potential ceasefire and a broader peace framework.

As the war continues into its third year, the international community remains focused on securing an end to the conflict, with the US and Ukrainian negotiators preparing for critical discussions in the Middle East.