KYIV — Heavy smoke choked central Kyiv on Friday after Russia launched its biggest aerial assault in its war against Ukraine, as Russian President Vladimir Putin showed no indication of wanting to end hostilities after a conversation with President Donald Trump.
Russian forces pummeled Ukraine with 539 drones and 11 missiles, with the “main direction of the strike” targeting Kyiv, Ukraine’s air force said in a statement. That barrage surpassed the previous record, made Sunday, when Moscow hit Ukraine with a total of 537 missiles and drones. At least one person has been found dead so far, and there are more than two dozen injured.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense said, as it always does after attacking Ukraine’s cities, that the assault struck only military targets.
Trump said that he was “very disappointed” in his conversation with Putin on Thursday and that he did not think the Russian leader wanted a ceasefire or an end to the three-year-old conflict.
“I don’t think he’s there,” Trump told reporters. “I don’t think he’s looking to stop.”
Trump spoke with Zelensky by phone Friday after the latest aerial attacks. They discussed “increasing the protection of the sky” over Ukraine and potential joint weapons production, Zelensky said in a statement.
The call came at a fraught moment: This week, the United States said it was reviewing its weapons supplies and pausing the delivery of several key weapons systems to Ukraine promised by the previous administration, including air defense.
NATO chief Mark Rutte said Friday that allies recognize Washington’s need to maintain its stocks but hope to ensure Ukraine keeps getting military supplies.
“I totally understand for the U.S. to make sure that the stockpiles are at a level that we have the collective defense we need,” he told reporters. “At the same time, of course, we all hope for a level of flexibility to make sure that also Ukraine has what it needs.” He said the weight of backing Ukraine was already shifting to European allies.
