After Trump’s sanctions threat, Russia attacks again
Russia hit Ukraine with another large-scale overnight attack as the clock ticks on President Trump’s 50-day deadline for more sweeping sanctions if Moscow doesn’t end its war.
Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin pool photo via Associated Press
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an update on social platform X that the latest barrage targeted his country’s energy infrastructure. Fifteen people, including one child, were injured, he said.
“Russia is not changing its strategy — and to counter this terror effectively, we need to systematically strengthen our defenses: more air defense systems, more interceptors, and more determination — so that Russia feels our response,” Zelensky wrote.
Trump warned Monday that Moscow would face tougher sanctions if Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn’t end his country’s attacks on Ukraine in the coming weeks.
“We’re very, very unhappy with [Russia], and we’re going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don’t have a deal in about 50 days,” Trump said during a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. “We are very unhappy — I am — with Russia.”
Russian leaders largely blew off the threat, though.
“Trump issued a theatrical ultimatum to the Kremlin. The world shuddered, expecting the consequences,” Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chair of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, wrote in a post on X on Tuesday. “Belligerent Europe was disappointed. Russia didn’t care.”
Zelensky said Wednesday that Ukraine’s military managed to shoot down nearly 200 Russian drones, and more than 140 didn’t reach their targets.
Trump, who campaigned on settling the Russia-Ukraine conflict that has stretched more than three years, has ramped up pressure on Russia in recent days, publicly voicing frustrations with Putin and backing plans for additional weapons for Ukraine.
Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I’m Ellen Mitchell — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond.
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What We’re Reading
News we’ve flagged from other outlets:
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House panel advances DOD policy bill with sweeping acquisition reforms (Military Times)
Republicans in Congress shift to backing Ukraine, matching Trump’s reversal (The New York Times)
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