Russia hit Ukraine’s energy facilities with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles Thursday, a day ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s meeting with President Trump at the White House.
Zelensky, who is expected to ask for more American-made air defenses and long-range missiles, said Russia fired more than 300 drones and 37 missiles at his country overnight. He also accused Russia of using cluster munitions and repeatedly targeting emergency crews and engineers trying to repair the power grid.
“This fall, the Russians are using every single day to strike our energy infrastructure,” Zelensky said on Telegram.
Moscow has frequently targeted Kyiv’s power grid since it began its war in the country in February 2022, with Ukraine struggling to defend its skies.
Ukrainian officials have repeatedly pleaded for more Western help to hit back at Russia as well as defend against aerial attacks, asking for U.S.-made cruise missiles and air defense systems.
Zelensky’s visit comes as Trump has indicated he may grant Ukraine’s weapons wishes in an effort to apply pressure to Russian President Vladimir Putin to go along with U.S.-led peace efforts.
Trump floated the idea Sunday that he may send Ukraine long-range Tomahawk missiles should Russia continue its war in Ukraine.
“I might say, ’Look: if this war is not going to get settled, I’m going to send them Tomahawks,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. “The Tomahawk is an incredible weapon, very offensive weapon. And honestly, Russia does not need that.”
On Tuesday he suggested that the weapons would be a central point of discussion when Zelensky visits Friday.
“I know what he has to say. He wants weapons. He would like to have Tomahawks. Everyone else wants to, and we have a lot of Tomahawks,” Trump told reporters Tuesday at the White House.
And Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that should Moscow not go along with negotiating a peace deal, Washington “will take the steps necessary to impose costs on Russia for its continued aggression.”
The United States has mostly declined to give Ukraine long-range missiles, over worries it could escalate the war in Ukraine and force it to spill over into NATO countries.
Trump, however, has been frustrated by Russia’s stubbornness in coming to the table for a peace deal.
Tomahawk missiles, designed to fly at high subsonic speeds and at low altitudes to better evade radars, would provide Kyiv with a lot more range and capability to hit Russian military targets and energy facilities, such as oil and gas infrastructure.
