So much for that cease fire pledge by Putin.
Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky set to speak to Trump after Putin strikes Ukraine hours into ceasefire pledge
Ukrainian president says Putin's words are 'at odds with reality' as Russia continues to bomb energy grid despite promise to stop for 30 days in call with US president.
By Sam Kiley
in Ukraine, Arpan Rai, Alex Croft
for Independent UK
Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump are set to talk after the Ukrainian president hit out Vladimir Putin over strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid within hours of the Russian leader promising to halt such strikes for 30 days.
“Putin allegedly said he has given the order to stop strikes, but 150 drones attacked Ukraine’s infrastructure.” Mr Zelensky told said during a trip to Finland. “Putin’s words are at odds with reality.” Such strikes have been a central element of Russia’s war strategy in Ukraine, but the Russian leader had promised to halt them in a call with Mr Trump on Tuesday.
The Russian missile attack left part of the city of Slovyansk without electricity, military officials said. Meanwhile, Russian authorities said Ukraine attacked an oil depot, sparking a small fire near the village of Kavkazskaya.
"Attacks on civilian infrastructure in the first night after this supposedly pivotal and great phone call have not abated," Germany’s defence minister, Boris Pistorius, said. "Putin is playing a game here"
During the call with Mr Trump on Tuesday, Putin refused to back a full month-long ceasefire that the US hoped would be the first step towards a permanent peace deal.
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Zelensky says he will speak with Trump today
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Downing Street will not say Putin cannot be trusted
Political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports live from Westminster:
Downing Street has refused to say Vladimir Putin cannot be trusted after he was accused by Ukraine of attacking energy infrastructure within hours of promising to halt the strikes.
The prime minister’s official spokesman would not be drawn on whether the Russian dictator can be relied on to keep his word as peace talks continue.
But the spokesman said: “That is why we are always going to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position.
“We are going to support Ukraine as long as it needs, both now and in the event of a potential peace deal.
“Clearly we all want to see an end to the fighting, we share president Trump’s ambitions there.
“But you’ve seen from Russia’s barbaric war in Ukraine they will go to any extent to impose suffering on the Ukrainian people.”
Trump to speak with Zelensky at 2pm.
U.S. President Donald Trump will hold a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at 10:00 am ET (1400 GMT) on Wednesday, a White House official confirmed.
Trump's call with the Ukrainian leader, with whom he has a complicated relationship, comes after a roughly 2-hour call the U.S. president held with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday to discuss steps to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
Zelensky says he hopes Trump will increase sanctions pressure on Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday he hopes President Donald Trump will increase pressure on Russian individuals and entities violating U.S. sanctions.
He made the remark at a talk in Helsinki alongside Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and said Russian President Vladimir Putin will look for any possibility to avoid a full ceasefire with Ukraine.
How many times has Vladimir Putin broken ceasefire agreements with Ukraine?
Vladimir Putin has broken his promise to Donald Trump to stop attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure just hours after his agreement with the US president.
In a readout of the call between the two leaders, the Kremlin said Mr Trump had requested that Russia refrain from striking energy infrastructure. It added that Mr Putin had responded “positively” to this request and had “immediately given the Russian military the corresponding command”.
But Russia fired several ballistic missiles and nearly 150 drones across Ukraine a few hours later, cutting off electricity in the eastern city of Slovyansk, damaging two medical facilities in the northeast Sumy region, and wounding people in the capital of Kyiv.
How many times has Vladimir Putin broken ceasefire agreements with Ukraine?
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky says Vladimir Putin has broken 25 peace agreements in the past decade.
Ukrainian president says Putin's words are 'at odds with reality' as Russia continues to bomb energy grid despite promise to stop for 30 days in call with US president.
By Sam Kiley
in Ukraine, Arpan Rai, Alex Croft
for Independent UK
Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump are set to talk after the Ukrainian president hit out Vladimir Putin over strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid within hours of the Russian leader promising to halt such strikes for 30 days.
“Putin allegedly said he has given the order to stop strikes, but 150 drones attacked Ukraine’s infrastructure.” Mr Zelensky told said during a trip to Finland. “Putin’s words are at odds with reality.” Such strikes have been a central element of Russia’s war strategy in Ukraine, but the Russian leader had promised to halt them in a call with Mr Trump on Tuesday.
The Russian missile attack left part of the city of Slovyansk without electricity, military officials said. Meanwhile, Russian authorities said Ukraine attacked an oil depot, sparking a small fire near the village of Kavkazskaya.
"Attacks on civilian infrastructure in the first night after this supposedly pivotal and great phone call have not abated," Germany’s defence minister, Boris Pistorius, said. "Putin is playing a game here"
During the call with Mr Trump on Tuesday, Putin refused to back a full month-long ceasefire that the US hoped would be the first step towards a permanent peace deal.
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Trump’s call with Putin will reveal if he’s a master tactician – or clueless blowhard
President Putin has outplayed President Trump – now it is not just Ukraine that is at stake
Ukraine left hamstrung by Trump-Putin talks – and can’t agree to their plan
US ‘deletes evidence’ of Russia’s kidnap of thousands of Ukranian children
Key Points
Zelensky says he will speak with Trump today
'Putin is playing a game', says German minister
Putin’s ceasefire promises last just hours
Trump ends programme tracking abducted Ukrainian children, lawmakers say
US-Russia talks on Ukraine war to take place on Sunday in Jeddah
Downing Street will not say Putin cannot be trusted
Political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports live from Westminster:
Downing Street has refused to say Vladimir Putin cannot be trusted after he was accused by Ukraine of attacking energy infrastructure within hours of promising to halt the strikes.
The prime minister’s official spokesman would not be drawn on whether the Russian dictator can be relied on to keep his word as peace talks continue.
But the spokesman said: “That is why we are always going to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position.
“We are going to support Ukraine as long as it needs, both now and in the event of a potential peace deal.
“Clearly we all want to see an end to the fighting, we share president Trump’s ambitions there.
“But you’ve seen from Russia’s barbaric war in Ukraine they will go to any extent to impose suffering on the Ukrainian people.”
Trump to speak with Zelensky at 2pm.
U.S. President Donald Trump will hold a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at 10:00 am ET (1400 GMT) on Wednesday, a White House official confirmed.
Trump's call with the Ukrainian leader, with whom he has a complicated relationship, comes after a roughly 2-hour call the U.S. president held with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday to discuss steps to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
Zelensky says he hopes Trump will increase sanctions pressure on Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday he hopes President Donald Trump will increase pressure on Russian individuals and entities violating U.S. sanctions.
He made the remark at a talk in Helsinki alongside Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and said Russian President Vladimir Putin will look for any possibility to avoid a full ceasefire with Ukraine.
How many times has Vladimir Putin broken ceasefire agreements with Ukraine?
Vladimir Putin has broken his promise to Donald Trump to stop attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure just hours after his agreement with the US president.
In a readout of the call between the two leaders, the Kremlin said Mr Trump had requested that Russia refrain from striking energy infrastructure. It added that Mr Putin had responded “positively” to this request and had “immediately given the Russian military the corresponding command”.
But Russia fired several ballistic missiles and nearly 150 drones across Ukraine a few hours later, cutting off electricity in the eastern city of Slovyansk, damaging two medical facilities in the northeast Sumy region, and wounding people in the capital of Kyiv.
How many times has Vladimir Putin broken ceasefire agreements with Ukraine?
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky says Vladimir Putin has broken 25 peace agreements in the past decade.
