Kiev strikes two Russian oil depots and Moscow calls on Trump to act as a mediator

Regional Governor Vladimir Vladimirov confirmed the attack on an unspecified ‘industrial facility’ in a post on Telegram.

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has claimed to have foiled ‘unprecedented’ attempts by the Ukrainian special services, ‘with the direct involvement of Western agents’, to carry out ‘a series of acts of sabotage and terrorism against military installations and against several members of the Russian Ministry of Defence’. This was reported by TASS. The FSB added that the attacks were foiled “thanks to a series of operational, investigative, counter-espionage and intelligence measures”.

Following a drone attack by the Ukrainian armed forces, an employee of a transport company was killed in Pervomaisk, in the Russian-controlled part of the Ukrainian region of Luhansk. This was reported by the Russian governor of the region, Leonid Pasechnik. The drones struck a private entrepreneur’s vehicle fleet, an industrial area and a lorry in Pervomaisk, Krasnodon and Severodonetsk. “An employee of a transport company was killed in Pervomaisk,” Pasechnik wrote on the Max platform.

The Ukrainian attack comes after Russian raids on Kyiv. Whilst NATO was meeting in Ankara – where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was also present – Russia targeted Ukraine during the night and early morning, striking civilian targets and causing several deaths.

“It seems that Mr Trump was very busy after all the meetings in Ankara, so he didn’t call yesterday. President Putin is always open to dialogue. They have a truly constructive relationship, despite any differences that may exist.” This was stated by the Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, as reported by the Interfax news agency. Yesterday, during his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Ankara, Trump had announced that he was planning a telephone conversation with Putin by the end of the day.

Peskov also made a point of emphasising that the United States continues to supply weapons to Ukraine, but at the same time – unlike other countries – continues to seek to contribute to the peace process.

“On the one hand,” the United States “continues to supply weapons” to Ukraine, “but unlike other countries involved in this conflict, the United States remains committed and continues to seek to contribute in some way to the peace process. It is through the prism of this stance that we assess all statements,” said Peskov, as reported by Russian news agencies.

Russia hopes that the United States will recommit to resolving the conflict in Ukraine, whilst further escalation could prolong the conflict and force Russia to establish a large buffer zone in Ukraine, Peskov added.

At the same time, however, the Kremlin has warned the Trump administration against stepping up pressure on the ground.

“The rise in tensions and actions aimed at escalation will in no way contribute to the peace process,” Peskov said at a press briefing, according to Russian news agencies.

According to Peskov, the US administration would be mistaken to believe that military pressure can pave the way for an agreement. “We note certain misjudgements within the White House administration, namely the belief that escalation and military pressure can help bring about a peaceful solution. This is a misguided approach,” he emphasised.

The Russian spokesperson did not hold back in his criticism of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

‘NATO, the Atlantic Alliance, is in fact an instrument created for the purpose of confrontation. The alliance has not lost its raison d’être and continues to pursue its objective. The alliance’s main adversary has always been, first, the Soviet Union and, subsequently, its successor state, Russia. And so it remains,” Peskov told the Vesti news portal.

In the Ankara Summit declaration, NATO allies stated that Russia poses a ‘long-term threat’ to Euro-Atlantic security and pledged to allocate 70 billion euros (approximately $79.8 billion) in military aid to Ukraine in 2026, whilst maintaining at least the same level of commitment in 2027 as well.