Zelensky condemned the assault, calling it a “telling attack” that comes “at a time when so many efforts have been made to achieve peace, to establish a ceasefire, and yet only Russia continues to rebuff them all.”

By Titilope Adako

Ukraine has endured its most intense aerial bombardment since the start of the war, with President Volodymyr Zelensky confirming that 728 drones and 13 cruise or ballistic missiles were launched across the country in waves by Russian forces.

Zelensky condemned the assault, calling it a “telling attack” that comes “at a time when so many efforts have been made to achieve peace, to establish a ceasefire, and yet only Russia continues to rebuff them all.”

The strikes came just hours after US President Donald Trump announced a reversal of a previously reported suspension of weapons shipments to Kyiv, which had caught him by surprise.

“We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth,” Trump said in frustration. “He’s very nice to us all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.”

Reacting to Trump’s remarks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was “pretty calm about this,” adding that “Trump’s way of talking is generally quite harsh, the phrases he uses.”

Despite frequent communication between the two leaders, there has been little progress towards peace.

Last week, Trump said he was “very unhappy” after a phone call with Putin.

“He wants to go all the way, just keep killing people, it’s no good,” Trump added.

Reports in the US media revealed that the decision to halt aid had been taken by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Elbridge Colby, under-secretary for defence policy.

But when asked on Tuesday who made the call, Trump, sitting beside Hegseth, said: “I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?”

The reversal of that decision could now see the delivery of 10 Patriot missiles to Ukraine, according to Axios.

Kyiv relies heavily on such air defences to counter the increasing number of Russian drones and missiles.

Meanwhile, Trump said he was “looking at” a sanctions bill proposed by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, which would impose 500% tariffs on countries trading with Russia.

Although Trump has repeatedly threatened sanctions since taking office in January, none have yet been implemented.

Last month, he stated that sanctions “cost a lot of money” and hinted he was waiting to see if a peace deal would materialise.

However, he recently said he and Putin had “discussed sanctions a lot” and added: “He understands it may be coming.”

Tuesday’s attacks struck multiple cities, including Lutsk in the west, a crucial hub for military and humanitarian transit just 90km from Poland.

Explosions were also reported in Lviv and Rivne.

Elsewhere, Russian officials said a Ukrainian drone strike on the border region of Kursk killed three people and wounded seven others.

A five-year-old boy later died of his injuries.

Despite two earlier rounds of ceasefire talks this year, no new meetings have been scheduled.

Both Kyiv and Moscow appear sceptical about diplomacy resolving the war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Zelensky is currently in Rome for the Ukraine Recovery Conference, where he has met with Pope Leo and is due to meet US envoy Keith Kellogg.

Several European leaders are attending the conference, including German Chancellor Friederich Merz, who declared that “diplomatic means to resolve the war have been exhausted” and pledged air defences to Ukraine.

On the battlefield, Russia’s summer offensive continues.

“We are moving forward,” said Peskov on Wednesday. “Each new day the Ukrainians have to accept the new realities.”

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