Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky and Trump consider drone ‘mega-deal’ as Putin’s troops advance on frontline

Russia’s foreign ministry has said that Moscow “did not accept threats” after US president Donald Trump said he would give Moscow 50 days to reach a ceasefire in Ukraine or face sanctions.

Mr Trump announced on Monday a toughened stance against Russia over its war in Ukraine, setting out the ceasefire ultimatum and promising a fresh wave of missiles and other weaponry for Kyiv.

Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian foreign ministry, said yesterday that Trump’s decision to supply Ukraine with new missiles was a signal to “continue the slaughter” and a rejection of peace initiatives.

“An unprecedented number of sanctions and restrictions have been imposed on our country and our international partners. There are so many of them that we view the threat of new sanctions as mundane,” Ms Zakharova said.

“The language of ultimatums, blackmail, and threats is unacceptable to us. We will take all necessary steps to ensure the security and protect the interests of our country,” she added.

Olha Stefanishyna, a deputy prime minister responsible for Euro-Atlantic integration, would become the country’s new ambassador to the United States, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

Zelensky wrote on Telegram that he had appointed her as the special presidential representative to the US so that she could develop relations with Washington while the procedures necessary for her appointment took place.

Ms Stefanishyna has served as Ukraine’s minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration since 2020, during which time Ukraine began its accession process to the EU.

Ukraine’s current ambassador to the US, Oksana Markarova, incurred the wrath of Trump’s incoming administration during the 2024 election battle with his predecessor, Joe Biden.

Ms Markarova was accused by Republicans of helping Biden’s Democratic Party by organising Zelensky’s visit to a Pennsylvania ammunition factory in autumn 2024, which was attended by Democratic politicians but not by Republicans.

The incident was brought up by vice president JD Vance during his spat with Mr Zelensky in the disastrous Oval Office meeting, at which Ms Markarova was present.

Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky are considering a deal that involves Washington buying battlefield-tested Ukrainian drones in exchange for Kyiv purchasing weapons from the US.

The Ukrainian president said his latest talks with Mr Trump focused on a deal that would help each country bolster its aerial technology.

Ukrainian drones have been able to strike targets as deep as 800 miles (1,300 km) into Russian territory.

“The people of America need this technology, and you need to have it in your arsenal,” Mr Zelensky told the New York Post.

The Ukrainian leader said drones were the key tool that has allowed his country to fight off Russia’s invasion for more than three years.

“We will be ready to share this experience with America and other European partners,” he said. Ukraine was also in talks with Denmark, Norway and Germany, Mr Zelensky said.

Russian air defences destroyed a Ukrainian drone headed for Moscow late last night, mayor Sergei Sobyanin said.

The Moscow mayor made no mention of casualties or damage, but said specialists were examining the area where drone fragments hit the ground. Mr Sobyanin on Wednesday said three drones had been intercepted.

Russian news agencies quoted the federal aviation agency, Rosaviatsia, as saying operations had been suspended at two airports near the capital, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky.

“Preparations are underway, we are working very closely with the Germans on the Patriot transfer”, General Grynkewich told a conference in the German city of Wiesbaden.

“The guidance that I have been given has been to move out as quickly as possible.”

Russia’s defence ministry has said its troops have taken control of three villages in three different parts of the frontline running through Ukraine.

Official Ukrainian reports of activity along the 1,000km (600 mile) front disputed part of the Russian account, particularly concerning a key village in the southeast.

The Russian defence ministry report named the three captured settlements as Kamianske in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, Dehtiarne in northeastern Kharkiv region, and Popiv Yar in Donetsk region, the main theatre of Russian operations.

Russian forces are engaged in a slow advance westward, mainly through Donetsk region, and Moscow announces the capture of new villages almost every day.

Ukrainian military spokesperson Vladyslav Voloshyn told the liga.net media outlet that holding Kamianske, southeast of the region’s main town of Zaporizhzhia, was important to keep that city safe from attack.

But Kamianske had been all but flattened by long periods of fighting, he said. Ukrainian forces had moved out of it and successfully attacked Russian troops whenever small groups periodically ventured into it.

“The Russians cannot go into the village and hold it,” Mr Voloshyn was quoted as saying. “There is not a single dwelling left intact, not a single wall left standing, nothing to hold, nothing to enable you to take cover.”

There was no acknowledgement from Ukraine that Popiv Yar had changed hands – the village lies northeast of Pokrovsk, for months a focal point of Russian attacks in Donetsk region.

For at least a week, it has remained in the “grey zone” of uncertain control as reported by DeepState, a Ukrainian military blog based on open source accounts of the fighting. There was no news from Ukrainian officials of the situation at Dehtiarne.