Ukraine and Russia exchanged air strikes tonight, a few hours after the Russian government agreed to temporarily interrupt attacks on energy infrastructure targets, but did not sign a wider ceasefire sought by the US.
President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump spoke on Tuesday (18), with Russian leader not agreeing with the 30-day truce the president endorsed and Ukraine agreed.
The White House stated that a narrower break in the attack on energy targets would come into force followed by negotiations on a broader ceasefire.
Zelensky said that although Kiev leaned the break in the energy targets, he wanted to know the details behind the proposal and argued that Russia “was not ready for a ceasefire.”
He also said he hopes to talk to Trump for more details about the phone call with Putin.
“Today, Putin essentially rejected the proposal of a comprehensive ceasefire.
More conversations should be held on Sunday (23) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the US special envoy told the Middle East Steve Witkoff to Fox News on Tuesday.
Attacks continue
At night, Russia attacked Ukraine with 145 drones, 2 ballistic missiles and 4 anti-aircraft missiles, the Ukraine Air Force said on Wednesday morning (19).
The attacks targeted the regions of Sumy, Odesa, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, Kiev and Chernihiv. 72 drones were slaughtered, the Air Force reported.
Civil infrastructure has been reached, including a hospital in the eastern region of Sumy and an electrical system that feeds railways in central Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine, according to authorities and state railway, Ukrzaliznysya.
Parts of the railroad have been left out of power, but the trains are working as planned, the company said.
The attacks killed a person and wounded 14 between Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the CNN of victim numbers shared by Ukrainian authorities.
“It is these types of night attacks from Russia that destroy our energy sector, our infrastructure and the normal life of Ukrainians,” said President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Telegram messaging network. “The fact that tonight is no exception shows that the pressure on Russia should continue for peace.”
Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated on Wednesday that he had overthrown 57 drones launched by Ukraine at night, with 35 of them intercepted and destroyed in the Kursk border region.
Authorities in the Krasnodar region of southern Russia reported that a Ukrainian drone caused a fire in a oil tank near the village of Kavkazskaya, Reuters said.
On the morning of Wednesday, more than 200 people were on site working to extinguish the fire, Russian officials told.
Putin announced the interruption of attacks on energy infrastructure on Tuesday after his long connection with Trump. “Vladimir Putin responded positively to this initiative and immediately gave the Russian military the corresponding order,” said a reading of the Kremlin.
As part of his demands for a broader ceasefire, Moscow’s statement established several difficult conditions that the Russian leader had previously insisted-such as the interruption of all foreign military aid and intelligence for Kiev, and the interruption of any mobilization or Ukrainian rearmament during this period.
An exchange of prisoners that should take place on Wednesday will have 175 people coming back on both sides, according to the Kremlin statement.
In addition, the statement pointed out that 23 seriously injured Ukrainian soldiers would also be transferred.
Zelensky said on Tuesday (18) that this was “a pre-arranged exchange. But in any case, the exchanges are great for Ukraine.”
This content was originally published in Ukraine and Russia exchange attacks at night after Putin and Trump connection on CNN Brazil.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
