On the 1173rd day of the Ukraine war, despite Russian President Vladimir Putin's call for peace talks, Russia has launched at least 108 long-range drones against Ukraine throughout Sunday, following a three-day unilateral ceasefire imposed by him, which ended at midnight today.
Damage was reported in two Ukrainian regions, Sumy and Kyiv, with assaults on the front line even more intense during the three-day ceasefire than before, coinciding with the Victory Day celebrations on the Red Square.
The French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean Noël Barrot, stated that the US is working on imposing 500% tariffs on countries buying Russian oil, gas, or uranium.
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed to Putin today that Turkey is willing to host peace talks during a phone call.
Russia confirms resumption of attacks after the ceasefire ends and accuses Kyiv of non-compliance
Russia's Ministry of Defense confirmed on Sunday the resumption of attacks in Ukraine after the three-day ceasefire decreed by the Kremlin on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazism expired, accusing Kyiv of violating the ceasefire, reports Efe.
"After the end of the ceasefire, the Russian Armed Forces continued the special military operation (in Ukraine)," the military report states.
According to the report, the Západ and Tsentr force groupings "improved their positions" on the front, causing over 600 enemy casualties.
Defense also commented on the three-day ceasefire that expired last night, accusing Ukraine of violating it over 14,000 times.
"In total, 14,043 ceasefire violations were recorded," according to the Russian military, who also reported five attempted incursions by Ukrainian forces into Russian territory during the brief cessation of hostilities.
Merz insists on a ceasefire as a condition for peace negotiations
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reiterated on Sunday that a ceasefire must be a condition for possible peace negotiations in Ukraine, countering Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal for direct talks between the two parties next week in Istanbul, reports Efe.
"First, the weapons must fall silent, then the talks can begin. We expect Moscow to accept a ceasefire, which is the only way to make negotiations possible," Merz said in a statement released on Sunday.
Russia's willingness to negotiate is, according to Merz, "a good sign but not sufficient."
France says the US will impose 500% tariffs on countries buying Russian oil, gas, or uranium without a ceasefire
The European Union (EU) could target the Russian banking and oil sectors if Moscow does not accept the 30-day ceasefire to initiate negotiations with Ukraine, warned French Foreign Minister Jean Noël Barrot on Sunday, reports Efe.
If Russian President Vladimir Putin "does not accept the ceasefire, we will have to go further with a new package of sanctions targeting the financial and oil sectors," Barrot said in an interview on the public broadcaster France Inter.
Barrot noted that the US is already working in this direction, as Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, an ally of President Donald Trump, has the support of over 70 senators for a bill that would impose 500% tariffs on countries buying Russian oil, gas, or uranium.
With this support, the Senate could pass the bill even if there were a presidential veto, the French minister pointed out.
Putin proposed today to start direct negotiations with Ukraine next Thursday in Istanbul, but without an unconditional 30-day ceasefire to begin peace negotiations as demanded by Ukraine's allies.
Barrot considered it "a step in the right direction" but deemed it insufficient, stating that "negotiating under bombs is not acceptable."