At least six people have been killed and dozens more injured in Ukraine following a new large-scale Russian attack involving hundreds of drones, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday.
Since the start of the day, at least 800 drones have penetrated the country’s airspace, and the attack is ongoing, Zelensky wrote on social media.
“It certainly cannot be called a coincidence that one of the longest massive Russian attacks against Ukraine takes place precisely at the time when the President of the United States arrived for a visit to China – a visit from which much is expected,” Zelenskyy wrote, referring to US President Donald Trump’s current visit to China.
Zelensky had previously expressed the hope that Trump would urge Beijing to end its support for Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Beijing officially describes itself as neutral in the conflict. However, by purchasing Russian oil and gas, China is pouring money into Russia’s war chest. Russia, which is subject to Western sanctions, in turn benefits from Chinese goods, which it uses for its arms industry.
In a speech in Bucharest at a summit of nine Eastern European NATO members, Zelensky called on the allies to further strengthen Ukraine’s defence capabilities.
He argued that Russia must be forced to the negotiating table through further pressure, such as tougher sanctions.
In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated Russia’s demand that Zelensky withdraw his troops from the eastern Donetsk region. Only then could there be a ceasefire, he said.
Zelensky categorically refuses to hand over Donetsk, which is largely occupied by Russia.