Zelensky seeks more help after Russia pounds Ukraine with drones, missiles
But he cited recent missile and drone attacks as evidence that Russia will not be deterred unless it suffers greater military and economic consequences.
“The pressure on Russia is still insufficient,” he said in a video speech published on X.
“And any weakening of existing forms of repression will only encourage Putin to prolong the war and inflict further damage on our country, our people and other people around the world.
“The weak response to Russia’s arrogance encourages Russia to continue the war.”
After the failure to make progress at the August summit and the cancellation of the second summit last month, Trump intensified economic penalties against Putin, which led to US sanctions against Russia’s two major oil exporters.
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Trump demonstrated his friendship with Orban by announcing at a White House meeting that Hungary would have a one-year exemption from the sanctions regime so it could continue importing Russian oil through long-standing pipelines.
The Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air, a nonprofit analyst group, estimates that the European Union has cut imports of Russian oil by 88 percent in two years through 2024, but Hungary and Slovakia continue to buy it. Türkiye, a NATO member, also buys oil from Russia.
According to Associated Press Ukrainian Air Force estimates, Russia fired a total of 458 drones and 45 missiles, including 32 ballistic missiles. The air force stated that Ukrainian forces intercepted 406 drones and nine missiles and 25 sites were hit.
Emergency services said a fire broke out in a nine-storey building in Dnipro, destroying several apartments. While rescue teams reached the bodies of 3 people, it was stated that there were 2 children among the injured.
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, firefighters extinguished the fire after a Russian rocket attack hit a multi-storey apartment building in Dnipro.Credit: access point
The Russian Defense Ministry said its forces shot down 82 Ukrainian drones Friday night and early Saturday, including eight in the Volgograd region. Two people were injured in the neighboring Saratov region when windows of an apartment block were blown out in a Ukrainian drone strike, Russian officials said.
Orban told Trump at the White House on Friday that it was a “misunderstanding” to think Ukraine could win the war on the ground.
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“All other governments prefer to continue the war because many think that Ukraine can win on the front line, which is a misunderstanding of the situation. So this is a complex issue,” the Hungarian leader said.
Trump asked him: “So you think Ukraine can’t win this war?”
Orban replied: “You know, a miracle can happen.”
with AP
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