Russia Launches Massive Strike, Vows to ‘Liberate’ All of Donbas

KYIV— As US and Ukrainian negotiators met in Florida for talks on a durable peace plan, Russia launched one of its largest aerial barrages in recent weeks, underscoring the deep geopolitical gulf that keeps the conflict escalating despite diplomatic efforts.

Overnight, Russia deployed 653 drones and 51 missiles across Ukraine, hitting critical infrastructure in eight regions, including a railway hub outside Kyiv and energy facilities that caused widespread blackouts.

The military escalation was coupled with a sharp warning from Russian President Vladimir Putin. In an interview, Putin warned Ukrainian troops to withdraw fully from the Donbas region—comprising Donetsk and Luhansk—this week, stating Russia would otherwise “liberate these territories by force.”

The warning follows televised footage of Putin being briefed by commanders claiming the capture of the strategic city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, a claim Ukraine swiftly rejected. These moves highlight the vast disagreement over territorial concessions, a major point of contention in any future peace agreement.

The current round of diplomacy, spearheaded by US special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner, saw the US team brief their Ukrainian counterparts in Florida on a difficult meeting with Putin in Moscow earlier this week. The Kremlin stated “no compromise” was reached on the draft US peace plan, which had previously been criticized for being too favourable to Moscow when an initial version leaked.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha directly linked the Russian attacks to the faltering peace process, arguing the missile barrage showed that “no decisions to strengthen Ukraine and raise pressure on Russia can be delayed.”

The core of the long-term conflict hinges on Ukraine’s future security. While Kyiv and its European allies believe Nato membership is the most effective deterrent against future Russian aggression, Russia remains staunchly opposed.

The Kremlin confirmed that the prospect of Ukraine joining Nato was a “key question” tackled in the five-hour Moscow discussion. However, President Trump has repeatedly signalled he has no intention of allowing Ukraine into the military alliance, leaving the door open for continued diplomatic struggle over Ukraine’s future security guarantees.