In what Russian officials have called the most extensive drone assault on Moscow since the war began, Ukraine launched a massive overnight attack on Monday, just hours before Kyiv’s delegation was set to meet U.S. representatives for peace talks in Saudi Arabia.
According to the Russian military, air defenses intercepted 337 drones across 10 regions, including 74 near Moscow. Despite these efforts, reports indicate that at least one person lost their life, and several others were injured. Moscow’s mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, assured the public that the attack had been “repelled,” though the scale of the assault was unprecedented.
While Ukraine has not formally claimed responsibility, Kyiv officials wasted no time in hinting at their involvement. Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, framed the strikes as a clear warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “All these drone attacks—on Moscow, airports, and other sites—are a message to Putin,” he stated in a video address. “He needs to take our proposal for a truce in the skies seriously. These strikes prove that drones can reach Moscow on a massive scale. Air defenses might take them down, but they can’t prevent the panic.”
Meanwhile, in Jeddah, a high-profile Ukrainian delegation, led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, is set to engage in discussions with U.S. officials. Representing the American side is a team from President Donald Trump’s administration, headed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Ukraine hopes these talks will lead to the resumption of military aid and intelligence sharing, while Washington aims to gauge Kyiv’s sincerity about negotiating peace with Russia—and what compromises Ukraine might be willing to make.
“We will propose a truce in the sky and at sea, but it has to be mutual,” a Ukrainian official disclosed to POLITICO under anonymity. “This isn’t just a symbolic offer. It’s a serious initiative, and the presence of our top officials in Jeddah shows how committed we are.”
With tensions soaring, the outcome of these negotiations could have major implications for the war’s trajectory. Whether Moscow views Ukraine’s drone offensive as a strategic move toward peace—or a provocation that escalates the conflict—remains to be seen.
