Russian Bombing Triggers Zelensky's Fury

Russian bombing triggered the fury of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after Moscow's attacks caused dozens of casualties.

Zelensky accused the United States of being unwilling to help Kyiv, following a Russian bomb attack on Thursday that killed at least 30 people in the east of the country, raising the death toll from Russian strikes over two days to more than 70.

Hours after the attack targeting Kramatorsk, a city witnessing fierce fighting, Zelensky criticized Washington's efforts to maintain economic ties with Russia while attempting to play a mediator role in the war ongoing for more than four years.

The morning attack came one day after a large-scale Russian assault launched by drones and missiles, which led to the deaths of dozens across Ukraine; including 22 people who died in a residential building in Pryluky, located about 130 kilometers east of Kyiv.

Zelensky stated that 78 people were killed and 215 others injured due to strikes carried out by Russia across Ukraine during the past two days.

In remarks to journalists in Pryluky, the Ukrainian president urged the United States to respond to his requests to expand Ukraine's access to Starlink satellite internet service, to help it target Russian ballistic missile launch platforms.

"Give it to us"
Zelensky said in an emotional statement "Open 'Starlink' service for Ukraine. You activated it when you responded to the situation in Iran... I say it clearly: give it to us, and help us defend and control our airspace. Then (Russian President Vladimir) Putin will sit at the negotiating table."

Ukraine has sought in recent months to seize the initiative on the battlefield from Russia - whose gains have slowed this year - but it still suffers under the weight of the air war.

Zelensky added, referring to statements by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio who confirmed earlier today that the war has reached a stalemate and that the United States will continue working towards a settlement "Where is the truth here? Where is the honesty? And where is the stalemate?.. This is called lack of willingness."

He continued saying "One cannot negotiate with the Russians regarding future economic projects on one hand, then say on the other hand that we find ourselves in a state of... diplomatic deadlock."

Reuters reported today that senior Russian and American officials, including US Special Envoy Jared Kushner, held talks regarding involving an American investor in Nord Stream pipelines that used to transport Russian gas to Germany before Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Zelensky said that a delegation of Ukrainian negotiators would travel to the United States on Friday and Saturday to hold talks, and urged US President Donald Trump to intensify pressure and impose more sanctions on Russia.

He added that Ukraine expects Kyiv's European partners to join the talks with the United States in the coming days.

Intensive Strikes
Authorities in Ukraine said 18 people were injured in the Kramatorsk strike, one of the largest single strikes this year, which occurred in a street where police said two public transport buses were present at the time of the strike.

Vadym Filashkin, governor of Donetsk region, explained via Telegram app that "For them (the Russians), a bus carrying passengers represents a particularly attractive target because a single strike can kill as many people as possible."

No Russian comment has been issued yet on the attack.

Russia denies targeting civilians, although it has repeatedly launched attacks on cities, towns, and other targets in Ukraine since the start of its military operation in February 2022.

Local officials say Russian forces have intensified drone and guided bomb attacks on Kramatorsk and other cities within Ukraine's "fortress belt," which forms the backbone of Kyiv's defenses in Donetsk.

Russia demands that Ukraine cede the remaining parts still under Kyiv's control in the region before halting the fighting, which Ukraine rejects.

In a separate incident on Thursday, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said three people were killed and 14 others injured in drone attacks targeting the capital in the morning.

Russian forces are launching repeated waves of attacks on Kyiv amid shortages in Ukrainian air defense systems.