US President Donald Trump confirmed on Sunday that he is prepared to move forward with further sanctions against Russia, hours after Moscow launched its largest-ever aerial assault on Ukraine.
“Are you ready to move to the second phase of sanctions against Russia?” a reporter asked. Trump replied, “Yeah, I am.”
The strikes, early on Sunday, killed four people and set government offices in Kyiv ablaze. Flames were seen rising from the roof of the sprawling cabinet complex, the first time it has been hit in over three years of conflict. Drone strikes also damaged several high-rise buildings in the Ukrainian capital. “This is already routine for us, unfortunately,” said Olga, a 30-year-old resident of a damaged building.
Russia denied targeting civilians, claiming it struck a plant and a logistics hub, with “no strikes … on other targets within the boundaries of Kyiv.” Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko posted footage showing damaged floors in the cabinet building. “We will restore the buildings. But we cannot bring back lost lives. The enemy terrorises and kills our people every day throughout the country.”
At least 810 drones and 13 missiles were fired at Ukraine between late Saturday and early Sunday, setting a new record. President Volodymyr Zelensky called the attacks “a deliberate crime and a prolongation of the war,” and spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron, who pledged support for Ukraine’s defence. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the attacks “cowardly,” while EU chief Ursula von der Leyen accused the Kremlin of “mocking diplomacy.”
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington could impose secondary sanctions on countries buying Russian oil. “The Russian economy will be in full collapse. And that will bring President (Vladimir) Putin to the table,” he told NBC. Trump also criticised India’s oil purchases from Russia, saying, “We put a very big tariff on India, 50 per cent tariff… I get along very well with (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi, he's great.”
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