As the clock ticks toward a new round of peace negotiations, Russia and Ukraine have dramatically escalated their conflict, casting a heavy shadow over the diplomatic table. In a striking show of military force, both countries launched some of their most aggressive attacks to date—highlighted by a massive overnight drone assault, a bridge explosion in Russia, and an unprecedented strike on nuclear-capable aircraft deep in Siberian territory.
After days of speculation about whether Ukraine would participate, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed that Defence Minister Rustem Umerov would represent Kyiv at the second round of direct talks with Russia, scheduled to take place in Istanbul. These talks, initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin, have already produced the largest prisoner exchange of the war. However, they have yet to produce any mutual understanding on how to bring the fighting to an end.
Despite the diplomatic overtures, the battlefield tells a different story. A deadly explosion struck a highway bridge in Russia’s Bryansk region—bordering Ukraine—just as a passenger train carrying nearly 400 people passed underneath. The blast killed at least seven and injured 69 others. Meanwhile, Ukraine launched a long-range aerial assault on a Russian military base more than 4,300 kilometers away in Siberia. A Ukrainian intelligence source claimed that the strike damaged or destroyed 40 strategic bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
The scale of attacks did not stop there. Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched a record-breaking 472 drones during a single night, along with seven missiles—the highest drone count in a 24-hour period since the war began. Concurrently, Moscow announced its troops had advanced further into Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region. Independent maps by pro-Ukrainian sources showed that Russian forces captured roughly 450 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory in May, marking their fastest territorial gain in half a year.
International pressure is intensifying. U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly urged both nations to reach a ceasefire, warning that if peace is not achieved, he may withdraw American support—leaving European allies, who lack the same financial and military capacity, to carry the burden. Trump's envoy, Keith Kellogg, stated that both delegations will bring forward their own proposals for peace during the Istanbul talks. Still, observers note that after three years of relentless warfare, the two sides remain deeply divided.
Leaked details of Ukraine’s negotiation strategy reveal firm non-negotiables: no limits on its military capacity post-agreement, no international recognition of Russian control over occupied Ukrainian regions, and a demand for financial reparations. Additionally, Kyiv’s document suggests that any future discussions on borders should begin from the current front-line positions. As of now, Russia controls approximately one-fifth of Ukraine—an area about the size of the U.S. state of Ohio. The vast distance between each side’s demands raises doubts about whether Monday’s talks can deliver anything more than symbolic progress.