The main topic of Friday's meeting between Presidents Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump will be the possible delivery of American long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.
This source indicated that the two leaders will also address "the Patriot issue", the American anti-aircraft defense batteries. Zelensky is expected to arrive in Washington on Thursday, before the meeting, and meet with representatives of the defense industries, added the official.
Russian Bombing Causes Power Outages in Ukraine as Zelensky Seeks Trump's Help
Russia attacked Ukraine's energy facilities with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles in its latest massive bombing against the country's power grid, authorities said on Thursday, as President Volodymyr Zelensky prepares to ask his counterpart Donald Trump for more anti-aircraft defenses and long-range missiles made in the United States during a meeting at the White House.
Eight Ukrainian regions experienced power outages following the Russian offensive, according to the national energy operator, Ukrenergo. DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company, reported cuts in the capital, Kiev, and noted that it had to halt natural gas extraction in the central Poltava region due to the attacks.
Zelensky stated that Russia fired over 300 drones and 37 missiles at the country overnight. Additionally, he accused Moscow of using cluster munitions and repeatedly targeting the same objective to hit emergency teams and engineers working on grid repairs.
Russia Says Decision on Repairing Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Could Be Made Friday
A Russian official indicated that a decision could be made as soon as Friday on a pause in fighting to allow repairs to the power lines of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, controlled by Russia in Ukraine, reported state media.
Alexei Likhatchev, director of the state nuclear corporation Rosatom, was quoted as saying that implementing a "calm period" would allow work on two damaged power lines supplying the plant, one in Russian-controlled territory and the other in Ukrainian territory.
Russia Expects India to Continue Buying Russian Oil Despite Trump's Comments
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak expressed confidence on Thursday that India will continue buying Russian oil despite U.S. President Donald Trump stating yesterday that Delhi will cease its imports of Russian hydrocarbons.
"Our energy resource is in demand. It is economically viable and feasible. And I trust that our partners (India) will continue working with us, interacting, and developing energy cooperation," Novak responded to the press during the Russia Energy Week forum, cited by Interfax.
Novak added that at present through the press, what they see are "signals that our partners declare that no one can dictate to them and that they will choose their own path."
Tomahawk Missiles, "Main Topic" of Zelensky's Visit to Washington
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet on Friday in Washington with his American counterpart, Donald Trump, to discuss the possible delivery of Tomahawk cruise missiles to his army, the "main topic" of the visit, a senior Ukrainian official told AFP on Thursday.
Zelensky will arrive in the U.S. capital from Thursday to meet with representatives of the defense industry, the official said on condition of anonymity. They aim to determine "when the supplies will actually be possible," he stated.
Ukraine Claims to Have Hit Another Russian Refinery in Saratov Region
The Ukrainian Army struck last night in another long-range attack on Russian territory a refinery located in the Saratov region of the Russian Federation, as stated by the Ukrainian General Staff in a statement.
According to Kiev's General Staff, the refinery processed around 4.8 million tons of oil in 2023. The refinery contributes to supplying fuel to the Russian Army, according to the Ukrainian military note.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Russian anti-aircraft defenses shot down 51 drones last night over seven regions of the country and the annexed Crimea peninsula.
Naftogaz States Ukraine Will Need to Import Gas to Cover Production Losses After Russian Attacks
Ukraine will need to import more gas to compensate for internal production losses after Russian attacks, said the CEO of the Ukrainian state energy company Naftogaz.
Sergii Koretskyi pointed out that Russia's nighttime attack halted operations at several critical facilities. This was the sixth major attack on gas facilities since early October, he added.
Fourteen Russian Missiles and 37 Drones Hit Various Points in Ukraine Last Night
Fourteen Russian missiles and 37 drones hit fourteen unspecified locations in Ukrainian territory last night in a new massive attack targeting energy and other infrastructures.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force report, Ukrainian defenses neutralized 283 out of the 320 drones launched by Russia.
Regarding the 37 missiles, five Kh-59 guided missiles were shot down, and another 18 unspecified missiles did not hit their targets as they were diverted with interference by the Ukrainian Army.
Merz to Propose Using Frozen Russian Assets at EU Summit
German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, stated on Thursday that he will propose to the European Union to use frozen Russian assets in the West to grant a loan of 140 billion euros (163 billion dollars) to Ukraine and finance its war effort during the upcoming EU summit. Merz had previously advocated at the end of September for an interest-free European loan backed by these frozen assets.
"We do not want to do this to prolong the war, but to end it," Merz stated in a speech to the lower house of the Bundestag. "(Russian President) Putin must understand that our support for Ukraine will not diminish but increase, and he cannot count on surviving our determination."
Zelensky Claims Russia Used Over 300 Drones and 37 Missiles in Overnight Attack
Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, stated that Russia used over 300 drones and 37 missiles in the overnight attack on Ukrainian infrastructures.
hit our energy infrastructures," Zelensky declared on Thursday on the X social network.
Russia Shoots Down 51 Ukrainian Drones Over Seven Regions and Crimea
Russian anti-aircraft defenses shot down 51 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones over seven regions of the country and the annexed Crimean peninsula last night, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on its Telegram channel today.
According to the military report, the highest number of downings occurred in the regions of Saratov (12), Volgograd (11), and Rostov (8), the latter being the only one with a border with Ukraine.
The defense systems also downed six drones over Crimea and two over the Black and Azov seas, whose waters bathe the peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014.
Russian FSB Chief Affirms NATO's Involvement in Alleged Drone Incidents over EU
The head of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) stated on Thursday that Moscow has no doubt about the involvement of NATO intelligence services in incidents related to alleged Russian drones over European Union territory, reported the RIA agency.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, proposed the creation of a "drone wall" after about 20 Russian drones allegedly entered Polish airspace last month, a member country of the EU and NATO.
Russian Attack Halts Gas Production Operations in Ukrainian Poltava Region
Ukrainian private energy company DTEK reported that a nighttime Russian attack on energy infrastructures forced the suspension of operations at gas production facilities in the Poltava region.