CNN
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Ukraine and Russia accused each other of launching an attack drone overnight, hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone with US Donald Trump – and once again refused an immediate ceasefire.
Russia has launched 108 Shahed drones and “various types of decoid drones,” the Ukrainian air force said on Tuesday on a telegram channel, adding that air defenses have destroyed the country’s east, central and north 93.
The strike comes after Trump and Putin were calling from an oval office after nearly two hours of conversation on Monday.
Following Cole, Trump said Kiev and Moscow would begin ceasefire negotiations “quickly.”
But Putin said the Kremlin is ready to work with Ukraine on “the possibility of a ceasefire for a certain period of time” if a corresponding agreement is reached.
Neither Putin nor Trump discussed the time frame for a possible ceasefire, said Yury Ushakov, presidential aide of the Kremlin.
Putin previously ignored proposals for a 30-day ceasefire from Washington and Kiev, and last week called Ukrainian President Voldimia Zelensky to meet in person at talks in Istanbul.
As turkey talks circulated, Trump said he didn’t think there would be a major breakthrough in peace talks until he spoke directly to Putin.
“Unfortunately, following the Trump-Putin call, the situation remains the same,” said Mikaylo Podraic, adviser to Ukrainian President Voldimir Zelensky.
German Prime Minister Friedrich Merz in a post on X late Monday said European leaders decided to increase pressure on Russia through sanctions after Trump gave them an explanation with a call with Putin.
Trump said he would not take part in progress “because there is a chance” in new sanctions on Russia.
“I think there’s a chance to accomplish something. If you do, you can make it even worse, but there may be times when that happens,” Trump said.
Following Cole, Zelensky said there will be discussion about future locations for further talks.
The Russian state communications agency TASS said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has told reporters that “no specific decisions have been made so far regarding the location for future contacts” with Ukrainian officials.
“We are primarily interested in a swift settlement by eliminating the root cause of this conflict,” Peskov said.
Putin “wants Ukraine to surrender,” William Taylor, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine and a well-known fellow at the Atlantic Council, told CNN’s “The Newsroom with Rosemary Church.”
“He wants Ukraine to surrender. He wants Ukraine to be disarmed… The Ukrainians are in a position where they can’t protect themselves,” Taylor said.
“That’s what Putin means when he says “the root cause.” ”
