Zelenskyy: Russian Assault Reveals Putin’s ‘True Attitude’ Before Trump Meeting

A massive Russian bombardment struck Kyiv overnight, killing at least one person and injuring 27 others just hours before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s planned meeting with President Donald Trump in Florida.

The assault, which included nearly 500 drones and 40 missiles according to Ukrainian officials, targeted energy facilities and civilian infrastructure in the capital. The attack comes at a crucial diplomatic moment as Zelenskyy prepares to present a 20-point peace proposal to Trump on Sunday.

“Another Russian attack is still ongoing,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media Saturday morning. “The primary target is Kyiv – energy facilities and civilian infrastructure. Regrettably, there have been hits, and ordinary residential buildings have been damaged. Rescuers are searching for a person trapped under the rubble.”

Zelenskyy characterized the assault as revealing “the true attitude of Putin and his inner circle” toward peace negotiations. “They do not want to end the war and seek to use every opportunity to cause Ukraine even greater suffering and increase their pressure on others around the world,” he stated.

The timing of the attack—during the Christmas and New Year holiday period—was particularly significant to Zelenskyy, who called for a strong international response. “If Russia turns even the Christmas and New Year period into a time of destroyed homes and burned apartments, of ruined power plants, then this sick activity can only be responded to with truly strong steps,” he said.

The Ukrainian leader emphasized that Western allies have the capability to respond effectively: “The United States has this capability. Europe has this capability. Many of our partners have this capability. The key is to use it.”

Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed it had carried out what it described as a “massive strike” using “long-range precision-guided weapons from land, air, and sea, including Kinzhal hypersonic aeroballistic missiles” and drones. The ministry claimed the targets were energy infrastructure used by Ukrainian armed forces and military-industrial facilities, justifying the assault as retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on “civilian objects” in Russia.

The bombardment comes at a delicate diplomatic juncture. President Trump, who will meet with Zelenskyy at his Florida residence on Sunday, has positioned himself as the final arbiter of any peace agreement. “He doesn’t have anything until I approve it,” Trump told Politico on Friday, referring to Zelenskyy’s peace proposal. “So we’ll see what he’s got.”

The meeting will mark the first face-to-face encounter between Trump and Zelenskyy since Trump’s election victory. The Ukrainian president is expected to outline his comprehensive peace plan, which has reportedly been developed in consultation with U.S. officials.

This latest escalation follows a pattern of increased Russian aerial attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure as winter sets in, a strategy that military analysts say is designed to break Ukrainian morale and strain the country’s energy systems during the coldest months.

Meanwhile, Russia reported that its air defenses shot down seven Ukrainian drones over the Russian regions of Krasnodar and Adygeya overnight, highlighting the ongoing cross-border nature of the conflict.

The war, now approaching its third year, has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions. As Zelenskyy heads to Florida with his peace proposal, the Russian bombardment serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing any diplomatic solution to the conflict.