Russia launches ‘record’ strikes on Ukraine: Kiev

Russia has launched a "record" number of drone strikes on Ukraine as the United States hints at progress in negotiations to end the conflict. 

Ukraine's Air Force said on Sunday Russia launched an unprecedented number of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) against Ukraine, claiming that overnight between Saturday and Sunday 267 drones were spotted in Ukrainian skies.

This is “a record for a single attack” since the war started in February 2022, Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ignat said.

Ignat claimed in a Facebook posting that 138 of the drones were intercepted by Ukrainian air defenses while another 119 were “lost” without causing damage. What had happened to the 10 remaining drones was not specified in the report.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in related news on Sunday that 20 Ukrainian drones launched into Russia were “destroyed” overnight.

Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Saturday that US President Donald Trump is "very confident" that he will reach a deal to end Russia's war against Ukraine, possibly as early as "this week."

Trump has said he planned to negotiate a swift end to the war. Members of his administration held direct talks with Russian officials earlier this week and are currently working to secure a critical minerals deal with Ukraine.

US presents Ukraine with deal to access its minerals but offers no guarantees

The US presents Ukraine with a document to access its minerals but offers almost nothing in return.

"The president, his team are very much focused on continuing negotiations with both sides of this war to end the conflict, and the president is very confident we can get it done this week," Leavitt said at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), adding that US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz will be "working around the clock all weekend to get a deal and end this conflict with Ukraine."

Meantime, the Kremlin has highlighted the importance of the upcoming talks over Ukraine, referring to Trump and Vladimir Putin as two "extraordinary" presidents.

"This is a dialogue between two extraordinary presidents," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday on state TV.

"It is important that nothing prevents us from realizing the political will of the two heads of state."

Ukraine may be Russia’s someday, Trump says

The US president says Ukraine may belong to Russia someday as Russian troops continue to make advancements on the eastern Ukrainian frontline.

In the meantime, Trump's apparent efforts at fraternizing with Putin on the Ukrainian issue have triggered alarm in Europe.

Last week, Trump appeared to blame Ukraine for starting the conflict. He also called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a "dictator," and said he didn't need to be present during peace talks.

However, UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer told Zelensky by phone on Saturday that Ukraine must be at the heart of any negotiations to end the war.

Starmer also spoke with Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, the European Union's executive arm.

His spokesperson said the two leaders "agreed that Europe must step up for the good of collective European security."

Starmer is scheduled to meet with Trump at the White House on Thursday.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir